Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19

lighted his pipe and sat by the open win
dow smoking. There vas 10 light IN the
i room III the moon bad just risen from
/ beblnFthe hills. He felt presence near
| him, and, turning, saw Sarah in her grave
| clothes with the oaby II her arms. She
came quite near BIN and said:
j hn, dear, | want you to marry
! Lyddv, and hen SIZE vanished.
Why, said JOHN 70 ne, 1 can marry
| Llyody: ! never caa maTry any one.
! That was the beginning Of our trouble.
After that there was scarcely 4 night that
/ We did not have some manifestation OF
/ Ser4a's spirit lowering over rs. We all
! heard strange sounds, rappings. sad music
or baby crying. Neighbors passing the
house late at night would tell Of seeing a
| light either in he garnet or in the cellar.
| 1t was more often IN the cellar.
| ''Once Sarah herself came 10 me-" Mrs.
Blaira paused and drew nearer 10 her,
hut could not speak. She went On:
! 1t was just after sunset one GUNNER
evening. Our we'll in the back yard was
| low, and | had taken my basket Of ine
white clothes down to the spring in the
meadow to rinse them. You know where
| the spring is-at the foot Of the slope,
| near the pine grove? 1t was lovely
evening. The sky was bright with th
colors Of sunset, but the pines looked dark
and lonesome. | remember thinking 50
as | spread the things on the grass. had
just finished and was taking up ny empty
basket when. just as plain as | see you
this minute, beheld Sarah and her baby
just in the edge OF the grove. Sac waved
her arm toward the house and said John
| Lyddy!' and disappeared.
''Of coure all these things made great
deal of talk IN the village, aud many wild,
exaggerated stories were told.
"a party of men from the village came
one night to investigate. The minister
was with them, SO we let them IN. They
| began at the garnet and went through the
house. The minister led the search, and
he was standing On the cellar stairs, half
Way down, and little above him, when
in tie cornor Of the dark cellar flashed
that curious light Only for an instant,
and though we waited long time it did
not come age IN.
The minister came 40 into the yard
and told the others. While they were
| talking of it IN hushed whispers standing
| in groups about the yard, Sarah appeared,
with her baby still held closely in her arms
ana Sllueu among Jne group almost tOucn-
ing them and disappeared as mysteriously
| as she came.
This was the last time she ever appear
ed, but nearly every one believed after
that night. Until last night | heard moth,
ing for several years.
We sat in silence long while after she
had finished. Then | said:
| Where is John now, and Liddy?"
After that night John went to sea. We
did'not hear from him till year ago he re.
Surned He is now master of large vessel
thst carries granite from here to New York
We expect him every day. Liddy never
married. She has lived right here. JOIN
went to see her when he came home.
! Everyone except me seems to have forgot
ten about Sarah's spirit Lyddy is away
somewhere now on visit.
thanked her for telling me the story.
| bade her Goodnight, and went to bed to
/ dream OF this strange romance in real life
! When | came from school a few days
i ter Mrs. Btaire met me at the door
greatly excited.
John has comet she exclaimed, land
and Lyddy. They are married-wert
married the night we heard the music"
! HELEN M SMITp