The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-06-21
Fhe Gray Ghost of GilSum.
BY FLETCHER REEDE.

ghosts"
Nevertheless, continued Chauncey
De Wolf, leaning against the mantel and
looking grSvely down at the smoldering
embers Of the fire, II am prepared to
affirm that if any man ever saw a ghost,
an 1hStman-n ,sa.sez=- r11Izls y5u
will expect US to believe next that it was
your interview with a ghost which
turn d your hair white before you
reached the thirties.
''Exactly that, madam
''rhen you have a great deal to thank
him for. -
sob, l have more than that to thank
him for" replied De Wolf, smiling
'sshall / tell you the storyq'
''0h, yes, do tell it by all means, and
madam folded her white hands and
lifted her pretty, incredulous face toward
her guest. He was an old college friend,
and had come to spend the Christmas
holidays with US in our pretty country
home on the Hudson. AS he stood in
front Of the fire, his shrewd, kindly face
telling its own story of a successful
career, he was, perhaps, the last person
one would have supposed guilty Of such
an anacnronism as q belief in ghosts.
A Roman nose IS natures bet on a
mans success, and De Wolf had all the
benefit Of the bet His clearly cut feat
ures and fine, dark eyes were rendered
the more striking by the frame work of
snOW-white hair which was brushed
straight back from his forehead, giving
him, in the opinion of the ladies, an ap-
pearance altogether irresistible.
Twas not greatly concerned about his
appearance, but knew him to be a thor
onghly good fellow, aud in spite of his
Drofession-he was q lawyer-in the
main Z truthful one; 1 was, therefore,
surprised at the new role which he
seemed DESTROYS OF playing.
''Are VIC expected to believe every.
thing you tell us7n asked madam, in a
mocki7g tone, as she assumed listen
ing attitude
Yes everything" replied De Wolf.
''NO one who knows me ever accused
me Of having that fatal gift-imagina-
ton, and you may rest assured that
shall eonfne myself in the most abject
manner 10 simple facts. am incapable
Of doing otherwise
As he spoke, the wind. which had
been working with nervous, uncertain
fingers at loose fastened blind, finally
tore II open, slamming it against the
SlndO'F with a crash that startled even
the cat from her drowsy dreams on the
hearth raies.vtt- rs
q the great elms outside with a sharp.
CONTINUOUS sound like the noise of mus
kerry. Within, the IRE had burned low.
aud the long, white curtains at the win
dows, looking strangely weird and un-
familia; in the lin light. shivered and
trembled as II, in some occult way. thev
were in silent sympathy with the spirit
Of the storm
When We had gathered up the broken
fragments Of glass and had closed the
shutteris De Wolf, who alone had been
unmoved by this little household dis
turbanee and the tremendous uproar Of
tne elements, went on with his story.
1T was on night not unlike this, Z"
be said, when I left Boston to stay a
few days with Earle Russell at GiIsum.
You renember him at Yale-a very good
fellow. put witha penchant for missions.
de had married and settled down as
pastor Of little country church. The
wonder is that he did not go TO Nova
lemtla 'lr Central Africa, but perhaps
bis wife saved him from that. How.
ever, he had found a mission at GIlsum.
and as his wife had gone on to New
York TO spend a week with her sister,
Russell invited me to keep bachelors
hall with him during her absence. Well,
We were having coy time of it to-
gether, when, one night, Just as we had
settled ourselves in front Of the library
hre, with our cigars and newspapers, a
boy drove up TO the door in an old, uE-
painted sleigh. and announced that one
o. Russel's parishioners, an old man.
who lived in an outlying district, was
dying, and wanted to see the minister.
OF course, Russell prepared to obey the
summons at once, and he did not return
till midnight. When he came in his
hands were stiff with the cold and his
ears were half frozen, but there was a
glow on his face as he threw off his over
coat and came forward to the fire, which
was something more than simple salts
faction at being safely honsed again.
actually believe he did not know whether
ais hands were cold or not.
We'll, he exclaimed, with a bright
mile, 4 have seen one more happy soul
ltart on its long journey. You've no
ldea, De Wolf. ne went OF, how it
axes away the fear Of death, if you ever
asd it to see good man die. 1t is
such simple thing. after all, and it is
wonderful how simply these people look
Il such matters. When l entered the
house the old man was lying with his
s5es closed, but he looked uD and smiled
IS | took his hand in mine.
'stt' ION are ready and willing to 20.
ire you, deacon' I asked, as his eyes
net mine.
The cd man half raised himself on
bis elbow and replied, in a low whisper:
Wal, 20 tell the rsal truth, elder, [
I'd rather stay where Pm better &C.
iuainted- You see. I've got used to
.hings here an I don't know as | care
ioout making any change. But the
ord knows best, and Pm willingness, (
IN willing" When the end came, his .
ID face frightened into beautiful
mile
Two days after, I went with my .
riend 70 attend the old mans funeral. .
About six miles out, we drove up to q
oneiy farmhouse and aIighted. The
hort, impressive service was soon over. 4
1ut It was already growing dark when
We turned our horses head homeward.
1T had been showing in light, fitful
-usts all the afternoon, but when the
IN won't down the wind rose, and we
ouDd ourselves Obliged to face q beat
ng, driving storm. The soft, treacher-
'us snow-lGkes had changed TO sleet,
hat was hurled at US as if with some
'endish intent. It was impossible TO
.eep our eyes open, and Russell, holding
he reius in his hand from force Of habit,
rusted 70 Providence and the horse, and
nd his face in his coat collar. In spite
+ the storm, however, we should
lrobably have reached home safely
{, at turn in the road, we had not en-
q party coming in the oppo-
tie direction. The two horses, coming
bus unexpectedly upon each other. be,