Daily globe., 1883-07-22
A STRANGE STORY.

SUfuck as l. clOS0u my Q6AFy 1S0S&80
laid down my pen, Lit cigar and start
ed homeward.
It was a beautiful, clear November
night. The air was cool and invigorat-
ing, the stars were out in all their glory,
and the mellow light of the moon gave
the dull streets of the town--and Oma-
ha is a dull enough town-a weird and
romantic appearance. It was so still
that the cracking of the dry leaves,
as the sudden gusts of wind swept them
over the streets, almost seemed painful
to the ear. At that hour the streets in
the vicinity of my Office were compare
lively deserted, and as I moved toward
the corner of Tenth and Farnam streets
there was nothing to break the silence
but the sound of my own footsteps.
But as I reached that corner I was
startled to hear coming toward me, as
from distance, the rapid strokes of
horses feet Gathering over the stones.
Nearer and nearer they came, until
they swept past me with the speed of
lighting, going southwark. But what
was my amazement when, although the
sound of the horses feet shook the
pavement on which I stood, and al
though I could feel the rush of cold
wind as it swept by, the horse itself
was invisible to my eyes. It seemed
impossible that should not see him in
the cie3r, cold night, under the stars;
and yet, wonderful as it may seem, I
could discern nothing whatever of the
creature either before or after it passed
mel
Here was mystery. [ am anything
but superstitious, and Immediate
ly began to argue myself into the belief
that 1 had been deluded, but, in spite of
all the commonplaces that we console
ourselves with in cases of this kind, I
could not drive away strange and I'M
comfortable feeling of nervousness that
was creeping over me. determined to
step in and ask a friend, who lived close
by, if he had heard anything of this
mysterious horseman.
X. was man apparently of high
culture, who had travelled, and always
seemed to have plenty of money. He
was at this time about 40 years of age,
tall, and of fine appearance, except that
he seemed perpetually haunted by the
deepest melancholy. I understood that
he had experienced trouble in his youth,
but on this point he was very reserved,
and never let word escape from which
we might obtain clew to his past his
tory.
He had been reading as I stepped
into his room in the hotel, but, noticing
my pale and troubled face, he laid down
his book and said: "You seem excited,
George. Anything occurred to disturb
your serenity Of mind?"
well, I replied, "my dearX., have
such a strange story to tell that you'll
laugh at me sure. You know I'm not
superstitious, or nervous, and yet to-
night heard the strangest-hark
There it Is again, and I rushed to the
window, dragging him after me. Then
swept by the strange clattar of hoofs
which had before startled me. and died
away in the distance. Dread and as
ton1shment froze me to my place, and
an icy thrill of horror shot through nv
veins.
But never did see the face of man
change as did my friends His pale
and noble countenance seemed sudden
ly OF greenish hue, and like two red
and glowing Goals his eyes blazed under
contracted brows. "My fate my fatel"
he muttered, in a harsh and grating
tone, L cannot escape from thee-thou
followest me ever. But the grave will
soon shut me from your sight, and
then our warfare will be ended!"
was so agitated and shocked at
hearing these words from him that I
sank down powerless on sofa.
He, seeing. my distress, seemed sud
denly to recollect himself, and, going
to a small cupboard, poured out
glass of brandy, which he offered me.
Then, addressing me in an altered tone,
mournful, indeed, but calm, he told me
the following story:
George, my dear fellow" he began,
L have never told you anything of my
past life, but [ feel now that the time
has come. In little while this voice
which is speaking to you will he still
forever. Nay, start not, I have no evil
design, but know my fate. Now for
my story. In my youth 1 dwelt in a
city far away from here on the shores
of the Atlantic. 1t is unnecessary that
yon shonld know any more of that.