The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-05-06
4 MYSTERIOUS VISITOR.


clayey soil, somewhat hiding its scant
proportions. A small headstone marked
the spot, upon which was engraved;
Hilda Graem, aged 49," That was all, j,
yet It caused the greatest commotion in
the little village of Chelvey, for not until
the little grave had been opened and, its
fair occupant laid in her last resting
place had the quiet churchyard been dis
turbed by ghostly midnight visitor.
A few months before the occurrence the
little thatched cottage that was hidden
among the trees few steps from the
turnpike road was suddenly tenanted by n
woman and a younger female, who was
supposed to be her daughter. There
might have been others; II there were,
the village gossips did not discover it.
When Sunday came andth newcomers
found their way TO the village church,
Chelvey at last satisfied its curiosity. The
elder Of the two had 'been beautiful In her
youth, but now thebrown hair was streaked
with silver and the delicate face was sharp
ened and pinched with sorrow, perhaps
hunger. The daughter, for such was the
other, was fair; twas no earthly beauty,
for she was not of this sad world, The
golden waves of hair, framed pure, pale
countenance, illuminated by eyes that, in
their frequent uplifting to the heavens, had
caught the same line. She knelt during
the entire service, and once, when a
severe fit of coughing seized her, would
have fallen had not the mothers arms
supported the frail form.
This was all the inquisitive little village
ever saw or heard of the cottage tenants.
Sunday after Sunday came and went and
with them the mother and daughter. The
only thing noticed by those interested in
the strangers was that the girls cough
grew worse and the sweet face thinner,
while the big blue eyes were larger and
brighter as II in anticipation of the
heavenly wonders they were soon to see.
But one Sunday the couple did not ap-
pear, nor on the next; but on the follow
ing one, after the crowd had departed
from. the holy ediice, a small procession
came slowly from the tiny cottage, and
borne upon the brawny shoulders of the
beAlOH anu u "ho " NOihhs
The only mourner was the mother, but as
they neared the church the sympathizing
neighbors followed with hushed voices
and uncovered hesds In the presence OF
death.
So the beautiful girl was laid to rest, as
all supposed; the simple tablet OF stone
was erected and for two nights she was
forgotten.
But on the third as Owen Dugan, the
sections son, passed through the ground
after fastening the church doors, he saw q
white-robed figure glide from the black
ness Of the trees and move swiftly to the
new grave, and then throw its arms
upward. But the frightened lad, who at
sight of the apparition had remained
rooted TO the spot, now rushed from its
dread presence as II bereft OF his senses,
and with frightened face and in gasping
breaths told his father what he had seen.
The graveyard was haunted, and by the
spirit Of the girl they had thought an
angel That was enough the rumor
spread, was multiplied and exaggerated
until no one would venture near the desc
Grated place, and 80 the disquieted ghost
continued to roam.
''well, my good fellow, don't suppose
you have any communication with the
outside world In the shape OF newspapers,
or have You "
"No, stranger; yer In the wrong there.
In ON the bar there Is the Weekly Gazette
from Flummerton.
THANK you Iwon't make an acquaint-
ance with Flumperton's news just now.
Anything local"
The conversation was between landlord
OF the Boar's Head, the only hotel Chelvey
glori1ed In, and a youngman who sat In a
big bar-room chair tilted back 10 the
farthest extremity, with his feet on the
wooden railing that fenced in the balcony
His hat was pushed back on his head. and
between his lips was the inevitable cigar.
"Well, there is something wonderful
bout here but beingsyer stranger may
be you wouldn't be Interested
ooh, yes. Your mysterious manner eX
cites my curiosity
"Weli," replied the landlord. assuming
the attitude Of n professional story-teller
1--WE have u spook that haunts our grave
yard OF n night, wringing its hands ant
carrying on fearful It's the ghost of i
girl whom everyone thought n saint, but
She must have been wicked, since SHE
can't lie easy In her grave, he wound NJ
In sepulchral voice.
as this the TRUTH mean, has any
one OF good sense seen this ghost ~ In
quired the young man, rising and settling
his hat
last
"what time does 1t make its night,
excursion :"
"'Bout 9. sir. But you amt going t,
brave IL, air yer
"Im not sure Of my valor, but an
certainly going TO see what it's like" h
laughingly saii as he jumped OIL tn,
balcony.
II was then $3.50 as Guy Stanton strobe
down the little village street and across
dew laden fields glistening in the moon
light, until he came TO the gloomy church
yard fence He vaulted lightly over
and crept among the dark shadows OF tn
trees till he came to the open groun,
where the grove OF white tombstone
stood.
1T must come by here" he said, as h
took hasty survey Of the scene.
Steps heard on the gravel walk causet
him TO seek the shelter Of the trees
shadow fell across the path, followed by
figure clad in white; glance revealed 4
TO be girl.
Certainly ghost, else footsteps woult
be heard IL grows interesting. I'll fol
low the ghost whittier II may lead" Stan
ton said, as II 70 some one near him.
The figure glided to the grave Of the deaf
girl and went through the same perform
ance that had frightened young Dugan
that Of throwing her arms upwards ant
falling upon the grave.
Stanton drew near, now almost assure,
Il. Ill II