Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-06-14


chanced that she who was to be my
wife lived some two miles distant, and
to reach her house | must cross the
bridge, or else ford the stream. AS l
had not been at home for six months,
and had not seen her during that time,
felt called upon to pay her visit
that evening. Mother illustrated my
intentions from divers preparations l
was making, and she tried to prevail
upon me to start before it should be-
come dark. l had put little faith in
the story, and l laughingly tol5 her
that had never seen a ghost
The land Immediately about Branch
bridge was covered with thick forest
on either side for nearly quarter of a
mile. The water beneath the bridge
was quite shallow, so much so that
many of the rocks in its bed were
quite bare, and one could have leaped
from one to the other, and so crossed
dry. .shod.
Susan was at home and glad to see
me, and it was past midnight when l
gave her parting kiss on the door.
step and set out for home. I think
she was proud of my courage, for a
woman always likes pluck in the man
she has chosen for husband. Her
last words, when she found | was go.
ing, were caution to be careful; and
then she closed the door, and I was
alone with the lonely walk and the
ghost before me.
However, l summoned all the cour-
age | could muster, and went boldly
forward; and in few minutes I was
so close upon the bridge that I could
hear the water as it rippled over the
stones beneath.
Although 1 told myself that there
was no occasion for any feelings of
dread and alarm, l did not feel much
at ease as neared the spot where the
ghost was said to be seen. Every one
l had met since had got home told
the same story, Susan among the num-
ber; and she, at least, regarded as a
person of sense. If there really was a
ghost, l was just in time to see il; and
l approached the bridge, which l could
now see in the glimmer of the star
light.
Everything looked peaceful about. 1
neared the bridge; moment more 1
would set my foot upon it, when a
sound fell upon my ear, coming up ap.
parantly from the earth beneath my
feet. 1t sounded like the ring of
hammers striking upon metal, but in a
measure deadened by the passage of
the sound through the earth. I paused
for moment, listening eagerly, and
glanced about me on every side. The
sound of the several hammers khpt up
their ring beneath my feet, but all was
quiet about me. Nothing spoke of
life, save that strange sound that came
up from the solid earth on which I
stood.
I moved forward and set my foot
upon the bridge somewhat heavily
and then I paused and listened again
The rat.tat of the hammers had ceased
and although I waited several mo.
ments it was not renewed, and l be tc
think that 1t might be -peckel
at work on a dead tree that stood
near by.
Imoved slowly across the bridge
The fear I had ten minutes before as
approached the bridge, l beheld 6
sight that caused the hair on my head
to rise violently, while I felt cold shlv.
ers running over me strangely.
On the opposite side OF the bridge
in the very spot where I had stood but
a moment before, now lowered a tall
figure wrapped in a sheet that touched
its feet. One hand was held aloft, in
which was grasped what appeared tc
be bloody dagger. The eyes seemed
burning with blue fame, and SINH.
lar light shone from its nostrils, and
when it uttered a fearful groan it was
more than I could stand, and, taking
to flight, I left the bridge behind me
at a'pace not to be despised by those
who value light pair of heels.
reached home without further ad-
venture, and went to bed; and I made
up my mind to sift the matter to the
bottom. Atany rate, Iwould pay the
bridge a visltby daylight, and see what
discoveries I could make.
When next morning was ques-
toned as to what I had seen, I told
them all, and also my determination
to 90 to the bridge that afternoon. As
the visit was to be made in the day
light, father offered to accompany me.
For one hour we wandered over and
under the bridge, and then discov-
cred a clew.
Nine o'clock that nigh. saw a half
score of men secreted about the bridge,
Detective Blark among the number,
and quarter Of an hour later l came
whistling down the road. I crossed