Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-02-22


the ghost-walk, curtained with dusly shad-
| ows, with an enthusiasm which proved to
be short-lived.
AS l proceeded, a solemnity seemed
settling down through the gloom that
amounted to oppressiveness; but was fain
to account for it from the story my young
friend had just related, and so pushed on.
A few stars now lighted the cleaning, and
the wind went hurriedly by, while strained
every sense to catch sight, sound or unseen
presence of the supernatural.
Presently became aware of something
coming toward me, although heard moth
ing, much less saw any thing. Neverthe-
less, was sure of a presence somewhere
i'll the vicinity, and, instinctively, stepped
TO the side of the road to let it pass. As it
came closer, distinguished the form of a
dark horse, and l involuntarily started I
held my breath as it dashed past, in mad
alright, with keenest terror depicted in
every motion. saw plainly the outline Of
a saddle, partly turned on him, and noticed,
| with strange attertiveness, that his hind
| feet were white.
''After he had fed by me, 1 stood still,
feeling like beating a retreat. / vaguely
wondered when the rest of the strange
scene would put in its appearance, and
whether had better go, or still remain in
| this uncanny surrounding. While / hesi-
trated. became conscious of losing nv
identity and will-power, and found that /
could not move, try hard as might.
sin a moment more the form of q tall,
lithe-looking man came around bend in
| the road, and In his arms he bore the ap-
| parently-lifeless form of girl. saw dis
| tinctly the white drapery and long golden
hair of the womanly figure, floating in the
wind, but her face was partly hidden
against the bosom of her phantom lover. I
am certain, too, that / never, before or
since, beheld face so full of despair and
wordless grief as that of the apparition,
passing me at rapid gait. In all this ex-
perience was not conscious of the least
noise. Not footstep nor the sound Of a
single hoof-beat had come to my ears, even
when the frightened steed galloped madly
down the road.
What or whom had seen I could not
say, unless the story Of young Slater was
true, and had seen the spirits of the hap
less girl and her lover enacting the sad
tragedy OF Harlem road, as was their won't
when / same to myself again, felt
that the half had not been portrayed in the
story, There was grandeur of terror
about the whole adventure not to be put into
words; TO be understood it would have TO
be experienced.
u found my young friend waiting FOR
me some distance up the main road, which
l reached without further incident. 1t
seemed TO me that had been gone an age,
notwithstanding the protest of my compan.
ion and the time indicated by my watch to
the contrary. So sure was I that had
spent the greater part Of the night, at least,
with supernatural associations, that could
not credit the truth of Dorr Slater's asser-
fiOn trrhf fn1 =
the time-piece He was greatly relieved.
however, to find me safe and unlrarmed on
my return from my stroll down Harlem
roao; and l re-mounted my horse, and we
proceeded homeward.
II told him my experience as we rode
along, and he vowed that he should never
be fool enough to go incoming down that
bv-road; the recital Of the affair was
enough for him.
The next day had to go through the
recital of my thrilling experience in 81 Har-
lem cross-cut" for the benefit of the mys-
| tery-loving friends and acquaintances !
mad made during my sojourn near Atlanta.
| As rehearsed the adventure I'm detail /
felt the sensation of horror stealing over
me that experienced in that lonely spot.
and from that day to this the wordless
| dread settles oyer my very soul as / re-
count the story.
"There, gentlemen, you have my ghost
story; an experience, once undergone, can
never be forgotten-no, never!- and the
sad-lookinR stranger pulled his hat down
over his eyes again and lit cigar.
| The vindication of the supernatural was
clear, the old landlord of Merrills, Inn
was triumphant in his "backing of the
| ghost business" and Harry Ludwig hut,
toned up his ulster, and, with cyaical look
around the room, as if it's inmates were moi
| good enough for him, declared that it was
time to go home.p MANDA L. CaocKER.