Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-01-23
HIS SHADOW.

Ala. Saturday night while entreating q
mob not to attack the jail, recalls a
story, says the New York World, as
strange as anything in fiction = a
story as full of dramatic scenes and in
cidents as anything that was ever pro-
duced upon the stage, and which has
been four times brought by tragedy to
the memory of those who disllked most
TO hear it.
1t was nearly forty years ago that Maj.
John Throckmorton, son of Arts
Throcklnorton, and uncle of the young
man killed at Birmingham, was one of
the leaders of the brilliant society of
the old South. He was the finest type
of the Southern gentleman; impulsive,
generous, kind of heart and open of
hand. He was connected by blood and
marriage with every prominent South
ern family from New Orleans to Louis
vile, and when he came back from col
Iege to live among his people the fair
est prospect was spread out before him.
He went In to enjoy life, and as he had
ample means and was welcome guest
wherever he chose to go, time slipped
by pleasantly enough.
Just when pretty Ellen Goodwin came
unto his life no one ever knew. In all
the fierce light that afterwards beat
upon them their earlier intimacy re-
manned forever buried in mystery, and
both carried the secret to their graves.
Ellen Goodwin lived near Louisville, and
was remarkable for her beauty and the
gentIeness of her disposition. She was
we'll connected and had small fortune
IN her own name. Friends Of Throck-
morton saw them together for time,
and then Suddenly their intimacy
was discontinued. Throckmorton lett
a louisville on y,Io 4r;x, Aid
mot return for several months.
One stormy, clustering night in Janu-
airy, when the snow was beating against
the window panes and the people were
hurrying III to blazing fires, Throck-
morton returned to Louisville and went
direct to the Gault House, a hotel
owned by his lather. When he en-
tered his room he happened to glance
across the street. He saw woman
standing motionless beside gas lamp
directly opposite. She was dressed in
black, and although he could not see
her face, he recognized the outlines of
her figure. She stood there so silent
and specter-Hke that he became fasci-
mated and watched her for hours.
That was the first night that "Throck-
morton's ghost" was seen.
1t was the beginning of what was to
last without interruption for twenty
years. The dark shadow that he saw
from his hotel window that night was to
follow him all over the world; it was to
be with him In the blaze of noon and in
the darkest hours of the night; he was
zto see 1t In every capital of Europe; it
was to be close behind him in his most
secret moments; it was to mingIe with
his own shadow, SO that in delirium of
terror he would wonder if his mind
were not DESERVING him, and If both
shadows were not one and the same. 1t
was in vain that ne tried to put oceans
between him and his awful phantom
like pursurer; in vain that every re-
source of money was tried; from that
first stormy January night John Throck-
morton was never for one moment
alone.
1T was wonderful how she appeared
to know of his movements. If he would
suddenly decide to go to a party she
would be Standing on the opposite side
of the street when he got out of his car
riage. If he remained in his hotel for
days, and if then, in the dead of night,
he slipped out by side entrance she
would be close behind him. Her ap-
pearance on the streets became so COM
mon in Louisville that people merely
glanced at her carelessly as she fitted
by. AS the years passed her name was
forgotten and she was only known as
t'Throckmorton's ghost" Sometimes
when she would be waiting for him
children would gather about her and
often BOYS would boot and taunt her;
but she never complained, and no man
ever heard the sound of her voice.
The weather never appeared to in
convenience her. Sne often would
stand for hours in the midst OF driving
rain or hail without shelter of any kind,
apparently oblivious to everything save
the man she was following. She always
wore the same heavy, black dress. with
q black hat, and thick, black veil,
which concealed her face.
At nrst ThrOckmortOn attempted to
laugh the matter off. The woman was
crack Drained creature, who would
grow tired after a time, he said. He
could keep it up if she could. If it
amused her he didn't object. Thus he
reasoned at first, but soon became rest
i've, and then 1t grew to be a deadly of.
tense to mention the subject in his
presence. At last he determined to go
abroad. He made all his arrangements
with the utmost secrecy, not even tell
ing his most intimate friends, and did
not rest until he had put the Atlantic
between him and what had grown 10 be
a horrible nightmare. He went straight
to London. and the first person he saw
when he got off the train was Ellen
Goodwin. He fled to Paris and he
thought he would lose her in the whirl
of winter in Partisan society. In q
month he gave up in despair. She fol-
lowed him to clubs and receptions and
opera parties. Wherever be was, day
or night, he could never look behind
him without seeing her. He tried all
the large cities of the continent without
avail, and at last returned to Louisville
and again took up the old life.
He used to complain that he was
chained to corpse; that his life was
blasted, and that no man ever before
endured such a persecution. No wo-
man would suffer his attentions, and be