Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07
to sit ON fence, or even stand in the road
for me to run toward him."

I0r me 70 run toward MIN.
NATURE AT HER BEST.
rode away up Cane creek yesterday. q
wild and lonely road, to see old Mrs. TO
forth, out on North Toe river, who is sort
of institution. She has religious ecstacies,
frances and visions. She also gets little
violent occasionally, and they do sometimes
talk of shutting her up in the county Jail.
insanity is hereditary In the family; her
father is harmless lunatic. I started out
after dinner and found the road lonely,
! wildly rugged, and picturesquely beautiful.
rode slowly under the heavily shading
trees, through sunny stretches where shat
low streams sparkled across the road, and
felt more deeply than ever the glory and
the beauty of living close to natures heart,
or at least Of getting there occasionally.
think even Phebe, unregenerate little
sinner, felt the quiet influence, for she went
along soberly, her small feet falling softly
and regularly on the springy soil, or clink.
ing lightly on the rocky places. She stopped
for the fiftieth time to drink lew mouth
fuls from little stream, when, looking
dreamily into the wood, l was startled to
find two big liquid eyes gazing at me from
among the leaves. The next moment saw
it was deer, crouched trembling in the
thick underground; then heard, very far
and family, the bay OF hound, and with q
barely seen and heard futter and rustic Of
leaves, the poor, pretty creature was gone.
PHEBE FRIGHTENED.
tarried so long over the beauties and
allurements of the way, that day closed, and
the nearly full moon was rising as rode to
the foot of a ridge, where flowed silvery
creek, the gap in the timber made BY the
road letting the moonbeams fall full upon
its dimpled surface.
"Tbe holy time is quiet as nun" I said
to Phebe, as sat and gazed.
1t is natures revenge that when we slight
and neglect her too long, giving our hearts
and minds to the getting of sordid or trivial
gains, we have no longer eyes for her beau
. ties. nor ears for her music; that
All unmoved we hear the blackbird sing,
As blind men wake not at the sudden light.
But while I fingered a heavy cloud
climbed up over the moon, and as hurried
on faster and faster the darkness increased.
A storm broke suddenly and violently upon
us. I was now on top of the ridge, the road
running between walls of dense laurel.
Phebe was wild and trembling with terror;
we only went ahead in the prolonged blazes
Of lightning, between which the blackness
was utter and appalling, when suddenly
she whirled around, almost unseating me,
and ran back, snorting, some distance be-
fore could get her stopped. brought her
back slowly and with difficulty, watching
in the flashes for the cause OF her fright.
There was a more than usually fierce ilIu-
mination, and I saw at some distance ahead
whitish object, like draped human fig
ure standing in the road.
THE GHOST IN THE ROAD.
The horse saw it at the same moment and
again flew round and went back. l brought
her up again, only to have the maneuyre re-
peated. Finally in despair-for the light
ming was becoming fainter and more infre-
quent, the rain heavier, and knew that my
destination was not more than a mile ahead
Il dismounted, grasped the bride reins
close to the bit, and dragged Phebe up
towards the motionless object. She wasn't
much more afraid than I was; but in my des-
perate anxiety to solve, if possible, the diff
Guilty, I raised my whip and struck the
earthly scream; Phe5e tore loose and sprang
away from me, and stood fairly paralyzed
with terror, when the shrieking voice burst
out: "What came ye out for to see?"
1t flashed over me that had found what
caue OUT W see-Wltn VenSeaDcej LnaL tnlS
must be Mrs. Goiorth in one of her spells"
rushed back with "ye generation of vi
pers" ringing after me, and found Phebe,
fortunately engaged in shying and making
dashes at something could not see. ran
right into her in the darkness, caught the
bride, found the stirrup, and climbed upon
her. succeeded in getting her past the
screaming woman; for, though was more
afraid, Phebe was much less so, since she had
seemed to realize that was q human being.
rode as fast as dared and soon heard
voices and met several people looking for
the crazy woman. One turned back toward
the house with me, the others went on to
bring her back. They were out nearly all
night searching; and finally came in, weary
and wet, bringing her in an exhausted. al
most comatose condition.
My curiosity was entirely satisfied, and I
willingly came away this morning, leaving
the celebrity had gone SO tar to interview
still asleep. ALICE MACGowAN.