The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-06-29
MISS LUCY.
Br cEIAKLEs .. nLAckBURE.

"
 In the alluvial region of LouisiAna the forest foliage is almost mpeDetrAble by sunshine, and the undergrowth of weeds and vines is e dense as . tropical jungle. Leaving "clearing" and going into the woods is Ike e sudden transition from midday to twilight.
 Near bayou In this wild 'ection stands white frame house, one story high, with a long roof whose slope s % gradual 1t would almost seem the rain would not flow from 1t. Years ago 1t was ten anted. Now 1t has 10 dwellers, for the place is haunted
 The spirits of . pure girl and brave soldier need not create fear. But people are superstitious be- sides, these ghosts never seen, only heard They moan in the garret; they call each others in the parlor; vail comes up from the bayou but those who make these sounds are never visible.
 The old "quarters" arc deserted by all, save one. He saw his young mistress leave home one still morning in autumn. She told him she would return at noon. She never returned, and he Is waiting for her still.
 "Yes, marstersS he said, "Pse heah yit, an heah Fll stay till de Lawd taps on de head an says, Come erlong, Rutus' kain't lebe. couldn't ef tried. Sposen she'd come back some evenin', who'd be heah ter take keer ob herr She wuz 90 good an 90 sweet kin mos sec her now, skippin' erbout de house an CT singin' like mockin- bird Cap'n Herndon come down dat mawnin' ter tell her goodbye, fur he wux gwine ter fight de Yan- kees, you know. He wuz mons'us fine man, ez stout giant, but kine- hearted tz Miss Lucy herself. Ez dey come out en de parlor, Miss Lucy, @3lu ene. stbuIus, W6Fe ROin ter t1kc 8k1m-r1de Tell papa we'll be back to dinner.' seed i'm hep her inter de skin, an won't never fergit how proud he looked an how purty she looked. He pulled out, an dey shot up de stream like an arrer. 1t wuz CT laung pull, mos haf CT mile, fore dey reacht dc ben' an stood on de bank an watcht de skin cut fru de water lilies till dey got outen sight sot down an waited. Dey didn't come. It growed dark, an de moss on de trees swung its arms like if 1t wuz stressed erbout sump'n Dey didn't come Erbout midnight de empty skif come CT Aoatin' down. De whole plantashun turnt out ter hunt fur 'em. Nex' day, erbout mile up de byo, ole marster spied sump'n white layin' on CT water lily. He rowed out and got it. It wuz CT piece ob paper, on which wuz Tit desc words: George Herndon. Lucy Milburn.' Miss Lucy done dat. It was pinned ter de leaf by CT gop brespin whut she wore her purity white frote dat mawnin'.
 drownded dey got cotch ter de bottom-dat byos fearful deep an full ob bresh sn' trees-an' dey won't rise ergin till de sea gibs up its dead. Ole marster died. De las words he said ter me wuz Rufus, don't quit lookin'.' Am hain't rum dat day ter dis. Pse ole an tired am my han trem- mes an my face is full ob furrers like CT coulter makes in CT new groun', but heah I'll stay till de Great Oberseer makes me lebe Is de house haunted7 Yes. But wouldn't be afeerd ter stay dar of could see lem. Elf Miss Lucy's sperret wuz ter come ter me I'd take 1t in desc poor ole arms ob mine. Do wailin' am de moanin' cuts my heart clean in two, 90 keeps away rum dar. Ebery ebenin' stans am looks up de byo tell black dark Hops its wings ober de stream an' de scritch- owl cries like CT los chile.
 "Den goes back home an lights CT taller can'le whut burns all night. Lucy thought come, an case she did she'd sec de light an say: Uncle Rufus is lookin' fur us, George. Seep Fur of dey do come dey'll come tergedder. Elf dey went ter de bottom ob de byo dey went tergedder, an dar dey' stay tell de judgment day, when dey'll stan by de right han ob de Lawd arm in arm."-Eres-