Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-04-30

ed), there was sore need OF 1T al
home, and, besides, he remembered
the So dollars he owed at the store
for provisions. But the boy loved
and the situation made him sad
Love is unselish, and he thought oi
Mary sitting in the school-house
watching all the other girls receive
presents and never hearing her own
name (dear name to him) called out.
Love is also selfish, and he thought,
"Can Mary love me as well as other
fellows girls them, when they make
their sweethearts presents, while I'm
too worthless to make mine any,
OF course the silent stars could not
answer the question; but there the
boy sat, gazing at them wistfully as
if for an answer.
After awhile the stranger inside
the store seemed to tire of the dis
cussion, arose, inquired about lodg-
| ing for the night, was directed 10 the
! 'squire's house, and came out of the
store to mount his horse. The boy,
aroused from his revere, arose and
stepped outside the door to let him
pass.
"And what do you think of ghosts,
young man. the stranger asked the
lad, as if so anxious for the concen-
sus of opinion on that subject, that
he valued even the views of this poor
boy.
II don't know what to think, !"
was the answer. "But | believe if
them wuz ghosts what wuz seen in
the Ragland graveyard, they lives in
Saltpetre cave
whats that? A cave? Where's
Saltpetre cave?"'
Why, right under the graveyard
But the way to get to it? Where
is its MOUTH"
"Right on the river bank, on yon-
der side, about a mile above the fer
ry."
Is there boat in viii ch you
could carry me there tonight"
"Lordy, mister! You wouldn't
go where's hants wuz Nv night
time, would yer:' and the boy eyed
The stranger with an expression
which clearly indicated that he
thought hlm either the greatest
crank or the bravest man he had ev-
er seen.
"Well, yes, my young friend; you
see | believe in ghosts on general
principles, but never saw one. l
would like TO prove my theory cor
rect by the sight of a ghost and if
you'll guide me up to Saltpetre cave
tonight, I'll give you dollar for
your trouble"
\ dollar. To the rich man it is
merely hagatelle-not even money
enough with which 10 treat friend,
see show or fee servant; but to
that poor country boy, worried half
to death with shame and sorrow be-
cause he had not cent with which
to buy his sweetheart a Christmas
gift, it seemed a fortune,
Love is akin 10 superstition, but
is stronger; so there was not a very
long parley there in the darkness,
outside the couatrY stOrehouse, The
stranger was persuasive. "ios, 1t
should be a dollar in any case-if he
caught even glimpse of the ghosts,
it should be SO. What danger was
there! They might safely row up
near the cave, creep up into it, and
! if the ghosts were there, take a peep
al them and quickly slip away"
A few minutes later, as the boy
noiselessly padded the dugout up
stream. ho told in whisper all he
knew of Saltpetre cave and its ghost
/ ly tenants. The entrance to the cave,
he said, was on the bank of the riv-
er, at the foot of a high, steep bluff
and was hidden by the holly and
young cedars that grew there. Pass
ing the small entrance they would
reach large apartment containing
huge powders and several recesses,
and from this chamber many narrow
passages ran up through and honey
combed the cliff, one Of them even
extending up into the old Ragland
graveyard, which was situated in q
worn and wasted iield over the bluff
long since ovcrrun by scdge grass
aud voluntary cedars and sassafras
bushes. The cave had once heen
worked some for saltpetre, but
not successfully, and only long
enough to give it the name it bore.
rhe hnr said that not LONG ago hc