Mower County transcript., 1890-07-23

| j
up the matter 40 went along, and hand
in>the copy as soon as reporting At the
Office in the morning The fact Is, I
was fast becoming elated over tho fat
assignment that had been given me, as
l could elaborate on the subject quite
extensively without fear OF successful
contradictory remarks from our es.
teemed contemporaries They were
afraid to enter the haunted house and
ascertain the facts for themselves, and
would therefore have to believe what I
said about the nocturnal occupants
II was busily writing away about
nine O'Clock when had occasion to
straighten up to rest my tired fingers,
and noticed beautiful young woman
standing In the door looking at me. I
mechanically rose to my feet and faced
around toward her. She looked square,
ly at me, and / could see her beautiful
eyes as they danced in the reflected
light of the lantern. Her long hair
hung loosely about her shoulders, her
cheeks were natural pink tint, and
I was particularly attracted by her
milk white teeth revealed by her halt
open lips.
1.-The thought OF ghost never en-
tered my mind rs we stood there looking
at each other. OF course, thought she
was some stranger who had lost herself
and strayed into the house, not know.
ing its repu tation and was about to tell
her that she had made mistake, when
she stepped forward and extended hor
hand with q dazzling smile. also ex-
tended my hand at the same time, but
grasped nothing. l must confess that
Jared on my nerves little, but soon
recovered myself
my beautiful visitor proved to be the
much-dreaded ghost, and she at once
won me over by her kindness and beam
ing smiles. She talked so entertaining
~ that forgot myself and my sur
roundings. She said the once-beautiful
homo had been hers, and she OCCASION
ally revisited it for the sake of, old
times. was questioned closely as to
my mission on the premises, and when
had related the whole story . sill very
| peal OF laughter rang out on the night
air that completely carried me away.
| II acknowledged that l undertook
the task with greater fear than had
ever before experienced.
"'Well, she went on. meditatively,
it was heartless in the man who sent
you here, and don't propose that he
shall reap any benefit from it. You
must not report to the office in the
morning. Your manuscript can not be
published
| hot oh fhn
sheets had written, twisted them into
a wad, and dropped that into a crevice
in the side of the wall.
"'Henceforth you are in my charge
she went on. You will be we'll taken
care of and will never need for money.
will be with you wherever you go and
| see that no harm befalls you
| "She has been as good as her word.
| She told me to call her Nina. and she
| has been with me night and day since,
| and"
| This was the manuscript I saw on
| aged man at a private asylum for the
insane while on visit to that institu-
tion few years ago. When interrupted
| the man looked up from his writing and
| later gave it to me as it appeared above.
! engaged him in conversation, and sub
| sequently we won't out for walk He
was perfectly harmless, and was allowed
the freedom of the grounds We sought
seats on the shady side Of the building,
and he told me his story from begin
ming to end While talking to me he
moved toward the end Of the bench on
which he was sitting, and invited his
invisible companion to take q seat be-
side him. He appeared to talk to her,
and seemed happy, poor fellow.
| When left he shook hands and said
he and Nina would be glad to see me
any time could make it con venient to
call.
Before leaving the premises men,
toned the actions of the patient to the
superintendent and expressed SYM
pathy for the poor fellow.
~ fear his case is hopeless" said the
superintendent, sorrowfully. 'He was
as bright newspaper reporter as ever
knew before his fatal visit to that
alleged haunted house. Something oc-
Cured there to dethrone his reason. on
that subject at least He was found in
the ol 1 house the next morning in the
condition you see him at present. He
apparently has no care, no sorrow, and
says he is guided wholly by the wishes
of his imaginary companion His is, in
deed, a sad case, and the result Of his
trip to the old house has been q source
| of great sorrow to tho editor who sent
the bright young man on his fatal mis-
sion"
As left the grounds l saw poor
Smith walking among the flowers. He
plucked one here and there, and after
inhaling their fragrance himself, would
hold them out as though inviting an
other to share the pleasure with him.
The last heard Of the poor man he
was still at, the asylum, apparently the
happiest man in the world He regard.
his trip to the alleged haunted house as
great streak of luck. His is, indeed,
q strange case, but what mortal can say
he is deluied in the belief Of the angelic
presence OF the woman he slams TO have
taken charge of him forever? We can
oaly wonder at such things, but can not
solve them. This life is a riddle, and