Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-06-09

lief in what she said, almost carried |
to me, in spite of reason.
AS I sauntered away, ridiculing these
ignorant and superstitious village
folk, 1 found myself almost uncon
sciously wandering back through the
old burial ground to the witch grave.
Carelessly glancing at the inscription,
| was surprised to find that very day
was the one hundred and fiftieth an
niversary of her death, and still more
when the thought occurred
to me of watching at her grave that
night. / ridiculed and scoffed at the
idea. Where was my boasted COM
mon sense and incredulity? But, still,
returning ever, came that wayward
thing called fancy-and it conquered.
The world was wild and weird that
night, when I stole forth from the
village. The wind was moaning
through the trees, and sobbing pit
eously; the black clouds were driven
in broken patches across the sky, now
letting down the moonshine, and
again shrouding all in blacklist night,
making the shadows chase each other
about, and steal around corners upon
one in manner that made me vince
iu spite of myself. Climbing the low
stone wall-rather nervously, / con-
fess-I stole away through the old,
down-trodden graves, pushing through
the weeds and briers as silently as
possible, and making my way towards
that dark, dreary corner, where the
old witch reposed.
A graveyard at noon is a very diff
ferent spot from Il graveyard at mid
night, especially if one is there to
interview with spirit.
/ reached the place and stood by
the tomb. 1t still lacked a few min
utes Of twelve, and, as | stood there
watching the moonlight fitting over
the graves, longed for little ray
to creep in with me. But no-ap-
preaching and receding, and waver-
ing all about me, it never touched this
grave, but fed away as often as it
approached, as though frightened at
the black shadow forever lurking
there.
By and by the village clock tolled
twelve. AS the slow, tremulous tones
stole out on the night, the wind ceas-
ed moaning, the coulds covered the
face of the moon, the insects stopped
chirping, and when the last stroke
was finished the almost unbearable
silence was broken only by my own
breathing, which | strove in vain tC
suppress. The darkness was intense,
and could see nothing. A terrible
feeling of guilt aud terror seized me,
that /, mortal, should be intrudin9
there at such an hour Mechanically
/ strove to speak the words | had
been told, but my lips refused tc
form q sound.
Still | stood in that awful black 81.
lence, chilled with fear, until with {
mighty effort | reached out my arm
over the grave and grasped-a hand
1t was only for an instant-no
that, for it was jerked away in 6
twinkling-but long enough to fee
how warm and velvety it was ant
how very small. Not that l fingered
there to reflect upon these novel quail
tiles in the hands of a ghost, and al
old witch at that, for although yol
mistake my bravery in supposing it
but it was after I had cleared the ole
wall at bound and was out on tht
moonlit road, walking at a rattlins
good pace towards town that / re
called it.
From a state of intense cold | hat
changed to one of burning heat. Th,
touch of those soft fingers thrilled
me through and through as with al
electric shock, and / walked taste
still in my excitement. Gradual,
the consciousness forced itself upol
me that l held something in m,
clenched hands. There first was
glitter and then a sparkle, as th,
moonlight fell into the hollow of ~,
upraised hand, and / saw there
glistening ring set with flashing
stones. The icicles began slippin!
up and down my back again, and
hurried on again.
Some persons may be inclined t.
deride my nervousness on this occa
sion, but / assure such that | am no
naturally a timid man. l have
medal hanging in my room at hom
which asserts that / am not tlmi'
man, and above all, | had alway
been particularly void of supersti
tious fear; but truth compels me t
say that l not only lighted all th
lights on reaching my room at th
little inn that night, but turned then
very high into the bargain; and tha
| made systematic inspection O
all the closets, and removed from it
peg long cloak that was hanging i
a very suggestive position on tn
wall. This done, / sat down-wit
my back against the wall-and eS
amined the ring.
1t was quaint old ring, curiousl
; carved and massive. The settin
was composed of several small color
ed stones set in circle about a larg
diamond. My financial circumstant
es had rendered it unnecessary fe
me to acquaint myself with preciou