The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-06-19
JUNE 10, 1885
A MYsTKRIous vHsITOR

from the clayey soil somewhat hiding its
scant proportions. A small hesdstono
marked the spot, upon which was en-
graved "Hilda Green, aged 49,"
That was all, We. 1t caused tho greatest
commotion In the little village Of Chel.
vey for not until the little grave had
been openad, and its fair occupant laid
In her last resting place, had the quiet
church-yard been disturbed by ghost.
ly midnight visitor.
A few months before the occurrence
the little thatched cottage that was hid
den among the trees lew steps from
the turnpike road, was suddenly ten.
anted by woman and o younger female
who was supposed to be her daughter.
There might have been others /; II there
we're, the village gossips did not dis
cover it.
When Sunday came and the new
corners found their way 10 the village
church Chelvey il last satisfied It's curl
osity. The elder OF tho two had been
| beautiful in her youth, but now the
brown hair was streaked with silver and
the delicate face was fharpened and
pinched with sorrow, perhaps hunger.
The daughter, for such was the other
was fair twas no earthly beauty, fol
she was not of this sad world. The
golden waves Of hair framed pure
pale countenance, illamined by eye
that, in their frequent uplifting TO ,h'
heavens, had caught the same hue. sh'
kueIt during the entire service, ant
once, when u severe &c Of coughing
siezed her, would have fallen had no
the mothers arm supported the frai
form.
This was all the inquiaitive little vii
lago ever saw or heard Of the cottage
tenants. Sunday after Sunday cam'
and went, and with them the motheI
and daughter. The only thing notices
by those interested in the strangers wa
that the girls cough grew worse and
the sweet face thinner, while the biz
blue eyes were larger and brighter, al
il in anticipation Of the heavenly won.
ders they were soon to see.
But one s unday the couple did moi
appear, nor the next but on the FOL
lowing one, after the crowd had depart
ed from the holy edi6ce, a small pro
ccssion came slowly from the tiny cot
tege, and borne upon the brawny should
ers OF the sexton aud the grAvediggei
was q coffin. The only mourner wa
The mother, but a. they neared the
church the sympathizing villagers fol
lowed with hnshed voices and uncoverec
heads 10 the presence Of death.
So the beautiful girl was laid 10 rest
as all supposed the simple tsblet o
stone was erected, and for two night
abe was forgotten.
But on the third, as Owen Dugan
the sections son, passed through th
ground after fastening the church doori
he saw a white-robed figure glide fror
the blackness of the trees and NOV
swiftly to tho new grave, aud thrown
its arms upward. But the frigbtene
= lad, whs at sight of the spparition hA
remained rooted to :he spot, now rushe
~ from its dread presence as If berefs (
bis senses, and with frightened face an
in gssping breaths, told his father wh'
r. he had seen.
The graveyard was haunted, and b
: the spirit of girl they though. was q
F angel. That was enough The rune
= spread, was multiplied and exaggeratt
e until no one would venture near th
{ desecrated place at night, and 10 Il
;: = disquieted ghost continued to roam.
l. y y
% "Well, my good fellow, I don't sa
u pose you have communication with Il
. . outside world in the shape of newspi
u pers, or Lave you ~
y "No, stranger ; yer in tho wror
u there. In on the bar there is the Wee
o ty Gazette from Flummerton."
. "Tbank you 1 won't make an 9
J. quaintance With Flummertons news 10
e now. Anything local p
II The conversation was between Il
= landlord of the Boar's Head, the on
= = hotel Chelvey gloried in, and q your
,. man who sat in big bar-room chai
Il tilted back to the farthest extremit
2 with his feet on the wooden railil
d that fenced in the balcony. His b
Df was pushed back on his head, and
sr tween his lips was the inevitable Gigs
70 "Well, there be something wonde
70 ,e ful bout here but beings yer
% stranger, maybe you wouldn't be inte
ested."
rE "Oh, yes Your mysterious ma
n. ner excites my curiosity"
be "Well," replied TIE landlord, 4
suming the attitude of a profession
story-teller, 1--WE have hpook tn
haunts our graveyard Of night, wrir