The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-12-19

Mrs. Blaire and were left alone
rgain the next evening. AS we again
drew our chairs up before the crack
ling fire. my companion said without
any Introduction;
MY dear, I'm going TO tell you q
strange story"
] did not speak.
Twenty years ago my only sister.
then IA beautiful girl OF eighteen. mar
ried. just fifteen months after she and
her baby were buried In one coffin.
Before my sister died she discovered
that her bosom friend Lyddy Baker.
had cared tor her John and had hoped
to marry him. We all knew John had
never shown Lyddy any attention. but
she tried TO make Sarah think he had
said her life was wrecked and much
OF that kind OF talk. Sarah was sick
and nervous and IL made her very un-
happy and have not doubt that IL
FASTENED her death. John was wrap
ped up in Sarah; any one could see
that He was kindness itself to her.
II nearly broke his heart when she
died. Bad as | felt myself felt sor-
rier for him. It's awful TO see strong
man so unstrung. Every one mourned
for Sarah but Lyddy. II never seemed
TO me she cared much.
We'll one morning. about a year
after Sarah died. John came down 20
breakfast looking so haggard and
white that was frightened. asked
him what was the matter. He shook
his head. but when we were alone he
told me that he could not sleep the
night before. so he got up and lighted
his pipe and sat by the open window
smoking. There was no light In the
room but the moon had just risen
from behind the hills. He felt pres
ence near him and turning, saw
Sarah in her grave clothes with tho
baby in her arms She came quite
near him and said;
John. denr, | want you TO marry
Lyddy and then she vanished.
- Why said John 10 me. i can't
marry Lyddyi never can marry any
one
THAT was the beginning OF our
trouble. After that there was scarcely
n night that we did not have some
manifestation OF Sarah's spirit hover
ing about us. 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 the garrett or in the
cellar. IL was more often in the
cellar.
Once Sarah herself came 20 me-
Mrs. Blair paused and | drew nearer
10 her, but | could not speak. She
went on:
1T was just after sunset one sum
mer evening. Our well in the back
yard was low. and / had taken my
basket OF fine white clothes down 10
the spring in the meadow TO rinse
them. You know where the spring is
at the foot OF the slope. near the
pine grove? IL was u lovely evening.
The sky was bright with the colors OF
sunset but the pines looked dark and
lonesome ! remember thinking so as
! spread the things on the grass.
had just finished and was taking up
my empty basket when, just as plain
as | see you this minute ! beheld
Sarah and her baby just in the edge
OF the grove. She waved her arm to-
ward the house and said John
Lyddyl' aud disappeared.
"Of course, all these things made
great deal OF talk in the village. and
many wild, exaggerated stories were
told.
For years this state OF things con
tinued. Oh. those terrible years /
was never left alone an evening that
! did not hear sad music. weird laugh
ter. or see fickering will-o the wisp
lights. Steps would come up the walk
but no one come In. The whole town.
OF course. was in state OF excitement.
Some few believed In the spirit The
minister did. Others believed that
Lyddia Baker was at the bottom OF the
whole thing for every one knew she
was possessed 10 marry John.
"A party OF men from the village
came one night to investigate. Tho
minister was with them 80 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 the far corner OF the dark cellar
flashed that curious light Only for
an instant and though we waited a
long time II did not come again.
Tho minister came up into the yard
and told the others While they were
talking OF il in hushed whispers stand
ing In groups about the yard, Sarah
appeared. with her baby still held
closely In her arms and glided among
the group almost touching them and
disappeared as mysteriously as she