Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-24

ing down, read them. 1t was the grave
Of the wife of a year. No filter place for the
spell which I had almost made myself be-
lieve would bring my darling's spirit to
me. I closed my eyes, placed my hand up
on the chain, and solemnly encircled the
plot nine times. Then l suddenly opened
my eyes. A tall, slender young figure stood
before me. 1t was dressed in black. Its
hair curling and very fair, fell to its waist.
It stared at me with splendid, velvet black
eyes, saw on its breast small golden cross.
It was face 1 never could forget, but it
was not the face of my lost love. l ap-
preached it slowly. 1t put out its hands
warding me off.
"In the name of Heaven, don't touch
it cried.
Then my foot slipped in the tall wet grass.
I fell, struggled to my feet, and looked
about me and saw nothing. Nor did careful
search reveal any living creature near me.
I went back to the rest bewildered. They
questioned me. / owned | had seen Wo-
man, but no one desired to test the truth OF
All-Hallow-E Zen stories that night. A few
hours after this we had forgotten everything
but that we were soldiers.
I do not intend to write about the fight.
Anyone who has lived long enough knows
too much of that already.
had no fear of death. A great sorrow
had deprived me of that; but it seemed for
long time that bore charmed life. 1t
was in the last battle of Virginia that |
was wounded and left for dead upon the
field. l suppose I was unconscious for a
long while. Then I had strange dreams,
strange visions all the phantasies of fever
and starvation.
Out of them I came for few moments, to
see bending over me the figure of my Hal
low-Een mystery.
The slender gure and the black dress
were the same, and the long, fair and gold
en- cross, that swung from her neck by a
ribbon, touched my breast as she bent low.
Above all, knew the splendid eyes, and
the expression of the pink young mouth
and round chin. But this was living
woman, no ghost.
"Give him a little more brandy, Pete" /
heard her say, "a few drops. There, it
helps him again."
A black hand hovered over my lips. l
tasted the liquor.
"Can you carry him on, Pete?" the girl
said.
II kim" said Pete; but it goes agin me.
He's Yank; Pm Souf."
"You're Christian, too aren't you Pete?'
asked the girl.
II hope SO, Miss Katy" replied the negro.
"Then remember you must forgive your
enemies" said the girl. Garry him in."
Pete obeyed.
l was nursed very carefully after this by
this same Pete, and slowly come to realize
my surroundings. It was an old Southern
mansion, battered out of all recognition.
Carpets were gone, worn out as horse blank
cts long before; windows were shattered.
There was bullet hole in the head of the
beadstead l lay upon. Pete told me the
story of the house. There were two gentle
men, father and son, under its roof when
the war commenced but both had fallen.
The mother was also dead.
"And all de no count niggers run away"
said Pete. "Seems dat l was de only one
what had sense enough to do what | had
oughter. staid to protect Miss Katy.
She's all dat's left. My wife and me stayed.
All de rest is gone"
AS soon as | could paid my respects to
the young lady. thanked her ardently-
as indeed, I had reasOn-for her hospitality.
She answered me very coldly, but apologis-
ed for having depended on Pete for medical
advice. ... -..-.. ..
"To tell anybody that you were here would
not have been safe at first" she said, now
it is different"
She turned aside. saw that she struggled
with tears. This war meant two different
things to US, and her father and brother had
died; but all that could have been said to
me could not have altered two facts.
I was in love with her, and it was her
wrath that 1 had seen on that All-Hal-
low-Een before the battle. / left her with
a pain in my heart, and l could not forget
her. A year passed-two. One day re-
turned to the spot with purpose in my
mind. 1t was autumn again-It happen
ed to be All-Hallow-Een, and l feared it
was too late TO pay an unexpected call. l
wandered about until / came to the old
graveyard and entered it. l made my way
to that tombstone about which | had cast
my spell so long before. 1t no longer lay
alone-another was beside it and on the
stone were the added words:
'In death they are re-aAnited.'
sat down upon the stone that bordered
the plot, rested my head between my hands
upon the chain, and thought. Assuredly, if
my love looked upon me from Heaven, she
could not have been angry with me. What
I sought was salve for a bruised heart and
broken life. Then heard little cry and
looked up. Katy Earle stood there. l ut
tered her name. She uttered mine; and
then it grew easy to say what had to say.
Her answer was strange one:
1--WE should be enemies, but Fate has des-
tined us for each other. have relinquisf-
the struggle :" and took her to my heart.
AS we walked homeward, she said this to
me:
eff Fate's hand were not so plainly in
this, l could never marry one who had been
Northern soldier, but years ago before
you came near the spot II saw you. 1t
was ALL HallowE Zen. Some Scottish friends
were with us, and had urged me to try a
trick by which l could see my future sweet
heart. They dared me to come to the
churchyard-s | came. repeated the
spell and turned about three times, and
saw YOU. You wore your uniform.
"The moment I saw you afterward, when
you were wounded, | knew you. Else'-
and her eyes flashed brightly on my own
"else would not marry you; but | cannot
fight Fate, and II love YOU"
And so l knew the truth. 1t was Katy
that had seen, and no wrath, and treas
ure the secret within my soul. Even after
all these years I prefer that my sweet
Southern wife should cherish the supersti-
tion that gave her to me.
CURISTMAS GH0ST