Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-11-20
A SPECTRAL PEDAGOGUE.

blood here on the floor the body on
the divian with the cash in the throat,
the razor in the right hand and these
samples scattered over the floor"
Left no note or letters that would
throw any light upon the subject"
Nothing" replied the hotel clerk,
Except the order book on the man.
tel these letters from his house and
this sealed envelope on the table"
Open the envelope and read it's
co ntents." said the coroner, lit may
give lis a clue"
The clerk broke tho seal and read
the following:
Il had returned to my native vii
lage after many years of absence. to
spend my vacation among the haunts
and scenes OF my boyhood days, where
l had hoped TO get a respite from
business cares in the worlds mad rush
for gold. But alas! time and the
greed OF man had wrought many
changes on my native heath; new and
strange faces stared at me as l wan
dered sorrowfully through the streets
where on every side dern-designed
structures had supplanted the humble
homes of the long ago. The creek,
whose crystal waters started from the
wooded hills far to the east was now
but dry landmark. and the spot
where had stood the vine encountered
water mill, whose ponderous over
shot wheel turned in tuneful time to
the wild music of the fretful waters,
was unmarked. save fast decaying
remnant of the old oak mud-sill' On
the hill paused near a simple head
stone and read
Z" The mills of Time grind slowly,
But surely the Cycles roll,
And they even demand of the miller
That measure of immortal toll
Living in the past | slowly re-
viewed the scene before me. The set
ting sun was kissing the erstwhile
wooded hills, where in days gone by |
had sauntered with my sweetheart
and carved her name on the smooth
gray bark Of the giant beach. The
hills were now barren of forest trees
and in their place were fields of waving
grain.
I'm the vast panorama before me
but one familiar sight greeted my
eager eyes-'twas the village school
house. Litigation in chancery' had
stayed the hand of progress, and the
old frame building was the sole relic
of the past. AS one who rushes to
meet friend among strangers scaled
the moss-grown rock wall that en-
vironed the unkempt grounds and
stood with uncovered head and tear
full eyes beside the ancient structure.
Along the brown walls | saw familiar
names of old schoolmates cut deep in
the weather beaten boards - names,
some of which are now cut high on
the Temple of Fame-names many of
which are now traced in sacred mem
ory' on cold marble. Here the name
of my dearest chum, here the name
of my young hearts rival, here the
name OF my schoolday sweetheart.
Mary, lovely, beautiful Mary, whose
girlish charms made her queen among
the village lads. Oh. trusting, con-
fiding, credulous lass the memory of
your love, and the rash. sinful act of
! my young manhood, have haunted me
through these many years and blasted
With such memories of the I'M
pleasant past crowding fast upon the
present. strange feeling possessed
me, my senses seemed to leave mel
passed into trance.
Come to books. / heard strange
ly familiar voice call | looked and
beheld standing on the threshold the
| ghostly figure of the old teacher
Come to books" he repeated, and
with down-c cast head and trembling
limbs | obeyed the command. An I'M
earthly smell pervaded the long silent
hall and cold damp chilled my bones
to the marrow. Seated in the old arm
chair was the spectral pedagogue
around him were maps and musty pa
! pers, in his thin. white hands he held
the daily record" he was calling the
roll. School kept again, and alone
| answered present" As he called
the names of schoolmates / arose and
explained their absence. A few | told
him had climbed many rungs in the lad
der of fame-some were respected by
their fellow men-a few were in
shackles and confined in prison walls.
and many were dead or scattered to
| the four winds OF the earth. But
when he called my old sweetheart |
trembled, weakened and staggered to
my seat.
Speak out James Fulton" he
cried; 'you know why Mary is not at
school to-day"
| was speechless with fear
every morning" he continued 'she
was an innocent and trusting child and
she loved you. James Fulton; tell me
what you have done with Mary Ben
ton or will send your sinful soul to
perdition!" He arose from his seat
as he spoke and pointed his long.
bony finger straight at me, his eyes
possessed an unnatural fire. there was
the mold of the grave around his
mouth. and the dust OF the tomb fell
from his long hoary locks. Speak,
or you diel speak again he Kissed
and his feshless hands clutched my
throat and the dry. sharp nails cut
deep into the flesh.
In my agony / awoke with a wild
cry and piteously evoked the mercy of
| the friends that seemed to inhabit the
| Egyptian darkness. fell many times
| in my flight to the door-unseen bats
swished around me--a scresching
nghthawk clawed my hair with his
sharp talons. and beat my head with