Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-07-26

III Voluntary watcher
oy the shrouded forms OF the dead, a
dark-robed follower of funerals. |
had heard of her, and confess that
the tales told me by my garrulous
tandlady were not greatly in her ia
vor.
There's lots ofmystery about that
Soman," said Mrs. Hodges, as she
poured my coffee one morning, flor
they do say that she sees sperrits,
an is never so much enjoyin' Of her
self as when she is sittin' up with a
corpse. An then that long black
veil she wears! They say it's sign
she belongs to some secret society o.
sperrits that nobody knows nothin
about, and they don't low her to
show her face, though | don't 'b'leye
the poor soul does any harm. /"
Ny curiosity was aroused, but
though l piled my landlady with
questions, failed to elicit any more
definite information regarding this
strange woman than is contained in
the foregoing paragraph.
But / inwardly resolved to know
more about her when l became
better acquainted in the town. l
was never bold and curious enough
to wish for ameeting thateame when
I least expected.
had but recently arrived in the
town; | knew no one save my land
lady and the man who roomed with
me. and | saw the latter so seldom
that | can hardly say we were well
acquainted. The little | saw of him,
however, convinced me that he was
"a gambler. He never confided his
affairs to me. but his habit ofspend,
ing his nights away from home, bis
bouyant spirits when he would enter
the room one morning, and tht
gloom which seemed to possess hin
tie next, plainly betrayed his char
acter.
remember that ne knocked at thu
door somewhat earlier than usual on
night. | was reading and was jus
prepared to retire. Without wore
he drew chair near the fire, 81
down. and looking steadfast at tin
Goals in the CRATE, seenIedlost i'll lned
itation. rudely broke his revert
with question:
did you ever see this mysteriou
woman about whom there is so nue.
talk, who goes in mourning and wear
a sad face the yearround?" Iasked
He trowned and seemed annoyed a
the question. Yes, he answernd, g
crazy bag that haunts the street
nights, frightening little children an
furnishing old women with them
for gossip over their teacups."
"Then there is nothing remarkabl
about her after all, +" said in a ton
ofinquiry.
II don't care to discuss her." h
replied. "Ihave other things to thin
about just now. | lost $500 tx
night"
I'm the street?''
II suppose so" was the reply.
amounts to the same thing. NJ
cursed luck was"
The sentence was unfinished. Their
was a knock at the door-a quicl
excited rap, might call it-and m
companion arose and opened it, an
the iull, bright light from within r
vealed to my astonished gaze I'll
black-robed form of woman.
leaned forward to get a glimpse
her face. but black veil hid it fToi
view. But noticed the face of Il
man who opened the door on th
-dreary figure. 1t was livid with rag
Great knotted lines deiormed
brow, and | thought heard mufflt
oath escape his lips. Then the woT
an stepping back into the shade
and whispering hoarsely said:
thought you were alone. wantl
to see me. For Gods sake come i
to the street,"
He closed the door, and witho
addressing q word of explanation
me seized his hat and went out in
the night.
| could not have sat still in til
room after that, if my life had {
pended on it. The mystery Of tn
meeting compile 'elymastered me. a
j was determined to fathom it.
Ont into the dark followed the
my slippered feet making no SOU
upon the stony street. On they we
strange dark figures, darker tn
the night whosefe few, feeble stars sho'
indistinctly in q gloomy sky
they went, and still followed, vi
step as noiseless as that of fate.
could family hear their voices in
distance, but could distinguish
word that was said.
How far | followed them l KIN
not. Once or twice saw the WON