The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-03-12

the first time looked at his somewhat
alarmed companion 1t was piercing
G. ance if only a momentary one. and
Joseph noticed that his eyes had a dim
phosphoresce light as Of smouldering
fire lurking in their depths. Then he
turned on his heel, walked rapidly off
through the bushes and disappeared
as before.
For reasons that Zeigler could not
have explained even to himself, he
said nothing to anyone of this second
encounter with the gray-bearded
stranger. But when next he returned
from Vandautz's he kept close watch
in order to see where the old man
came from should he again intrude
upon him. 1t was all in vain.
Before he knew it. his silent COM
panion was once more at his side and
he was none the wiser as to whence he
came. In spite of his watchfulness
the first thing he knew the old man
was there.
Thoroughly terrified Zeigler broke
into sharp run in order to leave him
in the rear. The old man never turned
his head and apparently was perfectly
ignorant Of his unwilling companions
existence, yet he still kept his place
beside him. Joseph stopped short in
the road tho old man did the same.
Finding he could not get rid of his
remarkable companion Joseph made
the best of him, but his steps
were rapid for he was much alarmed.
He did not like the singular manner
of the stranger and at once decided
that he must be insane.
As on the former occasion, the old
man stopped and gave Joseph a pierre
ing look from his glowing eyes ere he
turned off into the woods: but this
time he did more than that. He mo-
toned with great earnestness for his
companion to follow him. Finding he
would not do so, he then turned slow
ly away and vanished among the
bushes.
Joseph called upon Minna again. The
risk of eucountering that silent. I'M
canny old man again was too much for
his rather limited amount of courage.
But when the moon was nearing its
full once more he summoned up all
his determination and went. He felt
that he must see Fraulein Vanzandt
again in spite of all the crazy people
in New Jersey.
He dreaded his lonely walk a good
deal, however, and it was not much to
be wondered at that he fortified him
self with more than the usual amount
of Herr Vanzandt's homemade wine
He also started for home at a much
earlier hour.
1t was the same story over again
The old man was apparently on the
lookout for him, as he suddenly ap-
peared at his side. He still carried
the singular staff in his hand, and still
refused to be distanced or to reply to
any remark addressed to him. As he
turned of from the road he beckoned
even more urgently than before for
his young companion to follow him.
Herr Vanzandts wine was having
considerable effect on Joseph's cour-
age, and he felt as bold as a lion. So
he unhesitatingly stepped out of the
highway in obedience to the invita-
ton, and followed the singular mad.
man along through the bushes; but the
hand in his coat-pocket gripped firmly
the butt of revolver with which he
had taken the precaution to arm him.
self.
The path conducted the strangely
assorted pair some ten or fifteen rods
into the thicket, and finally ended in
little opening among a cluster of
low, dark pines. There the remarka-
BILE guide came to halt
He turned around and faced his COM
panion where the moonlight fell most
strongly upon his form and features,
and removed the broad-brimmed hat
that he wore. AS he did so the young
man started back with an exclamation
of horror.
The thick, gray hair was matted
and fairly soaked with blood, and
thin dark stream of it was beginning
to tricl1le down across the pallid
features. 1t was a CHASTITY sight.
Joseph Zeigler had scarcely noticed
all this when it seemed to him as if
the old mans flesh suddenly dropped
away from him and dissolved in the
pale moon-beams before his very eyes,
For a brief instant a bleached and
whitened skeleton stood there in the
flood of moonlight, then the separat-
ing bones fell in confused heap at
his feet with a sharp, dry rattle.
The fictitious courage born of Herr
Vanz sndts wine vanished in an in.
slant at the horrible sight. With a
shrek of terror Joseph turned and
fled from the grisly phantasm, and he
never slackened his headlong pace till
he found himself on one of the silent
streets at Egg Harbor City.
The next morning he headed a little