Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-07-04
THE SPECTER.

Wnen Hr>t took orders, went 10
serve cUracy of one of nv friends in a
wild and remote part of Donegal The
village As not far from the sea, and the
church stood half way between them, in
a dismal place, which even in summer is
exceedingly dreary, but in winter il was
bleak ard deserted.
In the village lodged medical student
who pretended To possess the faculty of
forctclisg the death Of his ncighbors
He often exercised his powers of
dlvination for revenge, but he carried
on his practices with 50 much skill and
canEin" that the simple villagers feared
as mGch as they hated him. His prcdic
tons sometimes hapI eued to be true.
but they might lave been very safely
made without the intervention of any
supernatural agency. The rogue thought
fit to call in the aid of superstitious
tradition, and for this purpose used to
pass AllhallOws Eve alone in the church
porch, where, he said, he beheld the
shadowy forms of those who were DOOM
ed to die passing in weird professions
along the churchyard path.
Among others. he declared he had
seen the specter of a young man who
was serving with his regiment in South
Africa; and he declared that to his
belief and certain knOwl edge the young
lieutenant would die in the cOurSe of the
wear. Til mischievous prediction was
likely to have very serious consequences.
Lieutenant Nevill was betrOthtd to
beautiful and innocent girl who lived in
the village, and they were to be married
on his return. Eveleen NerschCyle was
at this time about Is years ofage, lovely,
accomplished and refined. She had
borne up for a long time against the
appreh, nsions and anxieties which Mus
graves dreadful prophecies had aroused;
but now her health rapidly declined, her
spirits failed, and it seemed but too prob
able that she would form one of the
grim troop, who on Allhallows Eve were
to make their terrible journey through
the church gate.
The cause of her illness was well
known. The matter was talked Of
every where, and had spread panic
through the place, which had greatly
vexed my friend, Lord O'Grady. He
told me that Harold Musgrave enter
tained for Eveleen Verschoyle love as
violent as it was hopeless, and he had
been heard to swear that if not his. she
should De no other mans.
Lord O'Grady Gow visited me, TO con.
suit as to what could be done to put a
Stop to this daring imposture, and tc
restore peace TO the mind of this unhappy
GIRL. He might have compelled Mus
grave to leave the place; but this would
not have remedied the past evil, anu he
| wished first to convince the people that
the pretended vision was false. He
therefore proposed to me that should
pass the fatal I've in the chnIch porch,
and that should publicly proclaim the
result of my observations during this
terrible hour to my credul"ns parish
toners.
| Allhallows Eve arrived d:ned with
Lord O'Grady, and spent a delightful
evening with him and his family until
within half an hour of midnight, when
left them, with great reluctance, ] con
fess; and, protected by a warm anC
capacious great coat, / walked rapid!
towards the church.
| took my seat in the porch of The
ancient building, the appearance o
which. in the moonlight, was at least a
strange as the times in which it wa
erected. The wind moaned and blew
with mournfill force from the sea acros
the flat highlands which lay between
1t shrieked through the old chruci
: tower with Wild and fitful sound, an
r rushed round the corners ofthe buildin
with swift and hurrying blasts.
| had not sat there long before / begal
7 to wish with an exceeding great desir
E that the hour of my lonely watch ha'
expired. | was chilled to the very bon
bv the keen wind, and could no longe
control a painful shudder which RAJ
g through nv over5trained nerves. L a
e last had only few minutes to stay.
: I began to pace quickly across tn
e small porch, hoping to warm my shivei
: inc frame. when ] distinctly heard tn
4 creakiny of the churchyard gate.
a turned instantly toward the place whenc
;. the sound proceeded, and looking dOSI
$ I saw in the now clear moonlight
figure advancing up the path that run
r through the churchyard.
o At this moment | must confess tna
terror got the better Of reason, and ths
INV shivering increased with alarmin
violence as / continued to gaz- on tn
approaching object. could imagine n
Il natural cause for which it was pessibl
is that any one could be traversing tn;
" path at such an hour.
The figure suddenly stopped, an
stood with his back towards me. ] sa
rs that it was dressed in soldiers uniforr
d The scarlet clothes showed in the mool
k light: the glittering buttons and II
d sword hanging from the belt, all co
re yinced me that the apparition wore u
er dress of an officer in the army.
lg Musgrave's prediction:rushed back
K INV mind. and in the confusion of Il
IN moment was almost inclined to adm
;ts truth. II is true that | had new