Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-07-25

the day grew cool. The maid was
pretty and alert No home in the
country seemed less likely TO attract
ghosts to itself, and Mrs. Smith, when
questioned, always said that she had
never caught glimpse OF Martha
Penny's specter.
But though Mrs Smith told the
truth, she did not tell the whole
truth. Sometimes at night-yes mid
night-when little Tom and the maid
were sound asleep, the lady wrapped
in a double gown and with wooden
slippers on her feet, would glide out
into the hall, and there, with her ear
to the light partition that divided the
wing from the main building would
listen to feet that went to and FRO, to
walls and means, to what seemed to
be prayer, and to many repetitions
of the name, martha Penny-Martha
Penny" but oftenest Martha"
alone. She never spoke of this to any
one, and it was plain that she felt no
terror, but sometimes she wept bitter
ly, as if she was very sorry for the
poor, wandering ghost.
This went on for months, until one
night Mrs. Smith did strange thing,
She arose in the middle of the night
and let down the great coil OF her
brown hair, and braided it in one braid
and tied it with white ribbon. She
dressed herself all in white and over
her head threw a square OF tulle.
Then she left her house, taking a lam
tern with her, and stole toward a side
door OF the main building and tried
key in the lock and entered in.
The place was dry with dust, and
dust rolled beneath her feet as she
climbed the stairs, and spiders crawled
alongthe balustrades and up the walls.
She passed the big chamber and the
little chamber, and stopped at the
linen closet. Opening the door, she
saw piles OF clothes and sheets and
towels, and pillow cases, once white,
but now powdered gray as though a
snow of that hue had fallen on them.
She lowered her lantern and beheld
across the sill stain of blood, and
within. on the floor, a deeper one; but
she did not shudder. Indeed, a smile
crossed her face-a pitiful, tender
smile
Poor little Martha Pennyl" she
said, and, without culver or cry,
she entered in and shut the door be-
hind her A small, round window,
high up in the wall, let in q little
gleam of moonlight, broken pane
admitted a breath of air; but amid
| the wooden blankets at the
further end moths burrowed. She
could see their tracks, and
a curious smell that fingers in moth
eaten wool made the air heavy. Al
ready her lanterns light attracted in
sects that came through the broken
pane above to flutter about it. She
closed the slide, and now looked like
very ghost itself-all white in the
faint moonlight,
She listened intently. Soon she
heard the sound of a door closed care
fully, feet upon the stairs, feet in the
passage without the door. Some one
began to pace slowly up and down.
Martial" said voice; Martial
Then there was silence. Then again
Martial MARTHA"
| 1t was aman's voice which spoke
Now it went on:
''They say your ghost haunts this
house. | have come here so often ano
heard nothing, seen nothing, Martha
give me some sign that you hear me-
The widow lifted her hand and tap
ped lightly on the door.
There was little cry without, ther
"Martha" came again, and now thu
, widow spoke:
/ ''Youcall Martha. Sheis here. Fo,
, once, and once only, she is permitted
to listen to you. Who are your"
! 'SThe man who loved you-Jaci
, Parker" replied the voice. MAY
see you Martha--angel Martha-ma!
= l see you?
! "If you swear not to move-not t,
try to touch me" said the widow.
. 81 swear" replied Jack, in a chok
ing voice.
The door of the linen closet move,
. slowly. The man on his knees in tn
| passage without saw white drape'
7 figure with long braids of hair hangin
| below it's waist.
my God" he painted do ! Sc
you again, Martial"
7 81 am Martha Penny" replied tn
t widow, in soft whisper. "Why hay
5 you called me?"
4 ITO ask your forgiveness" the ma
e replied. without it / am lost i
{. this world and the next. Speak t.
S me, sweet angel; tell me that you kno1
Y that did not kill you with intent t
D do so. Let the world think what
: will. Tell me you know it was not 8
D that you knew it even when you fe
/ there, where you stand now-tell m
i so and save my soul"
e "When fell, y" the faint voice whit
q pered, "when the blood gtlshed fror
the wound y2,t gave me | believe
t that you had SHOT me purposely. !
p this belief / lost my consciousness
e Yes, when / seemed to die | though
e you had killed me-
s but now" said Jack.
e "0h, unhappy man." replied I'll
J spirit, might after night have hear
d your means; night after night | hav
t heard you swear by all that isholy t
e your innocence. do not doubt yo
y now. Be at peace. We shall NEE
ID ! again. and forgive yOI.D