Daily Republican., 1888-08-08
rnu OnOsx OF OAK xHOLL.
Br AID n. GIBSON.


stition Is ever the foe 10 reason and
courage. Instead Of ferreting out the
mystery, no one manifested any inten-
tlon Of investigating 1t. Even those
who rldlculed the story made no effort
70 prove 70 the credulous It's falsity.
It might have remained Q mystery
unsolved TO this day had not Martiny
Garrad made q novel proposition TO
her two lovers, Ike Peters and Dick
Baxter.
Marliny was the belle of JAqueco.
bie's Prairie. She was a tall, light
haired, blue-eyed girl Of nineteen,
who was considered by far the smart
est and prettiest maiden In those
parts. Old Dad GsrrAd, as the boys
one and oil familiarly denominated
him, perhaps because he had so many
daughters, was able to dress MArtlny
well; so arrayed Ia ribbons of various
lengths and breadths, Of as many hues
as the rainbow, she outshone all the
girls round about that region.
To use Dad Garrad's characteristic
words:
ats nip an tuck between Dick and
Ike IS ter whichll git Martiny. She
uses 'em both alike, an hanged ef l
kin tell which she does think the most
loft"
80 Il was, To both Dick and Ike
the girl gave equal encouragement.
Neither had been accepted, neither re-
jected. Martiny had a spice of the
coquette in her. She kept her lovesick
victims in q state Of thraldom, which
was paradise or misery for them, &C.
cording as she SMILED or irowned.
Like many other young girls, Mar
Tiny Garrad was overwhelmed by q
desire to do something romantic. She
had read few sensation novels. and
Lthey hlled her with the wish To do
something after the style Of her pet
herolnss. When the ghost of Oak
Knoll was creating such furore, II
gave the romantic girl an idea. Thoy
would organize ghost party, some
might, and proceed to the knoll, and
whichever Of her lovers proved the
bravest, and captured the ghost or dis
covered what II was, might claim her
hand and heart for his daring deed.
Martiny made this proposition to
both Dick and Ike. Dick was well
pleased; Ike hung his head and looked
vexed. But when he caught Martiny's
blue orbs looking him over rather con-
temptuously, he ssld,-
81 reckon l kin try to win your favor
that-away, Mart, but ye know I'm
H'posed to interferin' with graveyard
truck, sich as hants the knoll"
"'Faint heart never won fall
lady, Dick said good humoredly,
"For my part, I'm willin' to face the
dead, II by so doin' can please Mart. u
"All right You'll find me ready
TO keep my word if you do as l wish, ;
she replied, quite well pleased.
Soon after Martiny had entered intt
this novel compact with her lovers
there was singing class held at thl
old log school house on the prairie
At the close of the musical exercises
the ghoslly party was organized, an
BaIl started to 20 the long way home
Hpast the haunted knoll.
AS they neared tho dark wood
2 " hich looked silent and spectral unde
tthe starlight, even the merrlest of tn
Tllttle crowd ceased talking. II was
good night for his spookship to wande
forth. There was no moon to cast II
friendly beams across the shadow
haunted path, and the stars were ren
dered feeble by the dense foliage c
, the woods.
Some would gladly have retrace
. their steps, but fear made them re
. main with the crowd.
Il As they approached the Tranquil
knoll, white object could just b
seen moving among the oaks. Non
Z of tho superstitious of the party hat
: the least doubt but that this objeC
: was the ghost, and they huddled trem
/ blingly together, too awed even t
. speak.
! A demonstrate movement on th
part OF his spookship, just then, ere
ated little panic among the crowd
several of the girls shiieked loudly.
Lets runi" suggested Polly Jaque
gcobie.
"I'm not one of yer running kind,
said MArtiny, contemptuously. Sh
? was the only girl who had preserve
Z Iany degree Of coolness. "l've oom
here to find out the natur' of the sp
parition, and | won't bulge till | &C
gif it Is real spook. / don't believe i
I Isich, myself, but I'm bound ter know
d what you Is. Ikel Dickl' she callel
to her lovers.
II "What dye want, Msrt2" cam
i from between Ike's chattering teeth.
He was In the rear Of the party.
"Here / am, Mart" answere
: lDlck, at the front, his keen eye on tn
lstrange white object dimly outline
Through the dense trees.
"It you gals are bad scarf, Ne migh
!. fire elods at the critter," spoke EzI
Baker, q fellow noted for his COW
ardice.
: mo, no, Ezlp cried his sistei
. .Igrasping his arm. Don't you tol
nothin' at 1t; fur granny says spooks'
z work ye some sort o spell If they'l
throwed at or abused"
"Hat Barker, shut upi' commando
I Martiny, with more force than polite
lness Then turning to Ike and Dici
). she said: "You boys recollect what
said about this2 Well, I'm not goir
Eback on my word. Now. let's q
ghands proceed to the knoll. When
. give the word, all stop 'ceptin' Ii
/, aud Dick; they must go on; an
. whichever OF 'em captures the spooh
gor finds out its natur' kin claim his rt
ward, when he wants it. "
With fear and trembling the littl
t sparty obeyed Aartiny, and Wake
noisely to the foot OF the knoll, wheE
she signalled them TO halt. At a gel
3 Iture from her, Ike. shaking in ever