Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-11-21

in Sarah; any one could see that. He was
kindness itself to her. II nearly broke his
heart when she died, Bad as | felt my
self felt sorrier Cor him. les awful
10 see strong man so unstrung.
Every one mourned for Sarah but
Lyddy. Il never seemed to me she cared
much
"Well, one morning, about year after
Sarah died, John came down to breakfast
looking so haggard and white that | was
frightened | asked him what was the
matter He shook his head, )ut wien we
were alone he told Ice that he could not
sleep the night before, so he got up and
lighted his pipe and sat by the open VIM
dow smoking There was DO light in the
room, but the moon had just risen from
behind the hills. He felt presence near
him, and, turning, saw Sarah in her grave
clothes with the baby in her arms. She
came quite near him and said:
John, dear, | want you to marry
Lyddy, and then she vanished.
"'Why, said John to me, 4 can marry
Lyddy; | never can marry any one.
THAT was the beginning OF our trouble.
After that there was scarcely a night that
we did not have some manifestation of
Saran's spirit lowering over us. We all
heard strange sounds, rapplngs, sad music
or a baby crying. Neighbors passing the
house late at night would tell of seeing
light either in he garnet or in the cellar.
1t was more often in the cellar,
"0nce Sarah herself came to me, Mrs.
Blaire paused and drew nearer to her,
but could not speak. She went on;
lit was Just after sunset one GUNNER
evening. Our we'll in the back yard was
low, and had taken my basket of fne
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 "A lovely
evening. The sky was bright with the
coors 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. Sac waved
her arm toward The house and said John
Lyddy! and disappeared,
"0f 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
was with them, so we let them in They
began at the garrett 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 cornor Of the dark cellar flashed
that curious light. Only for an instant,
and though we waited long time 1t aid
not come again.
80, nh ri
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
and ghded among the group almost touch
ing them and disappeared as mysteIiously
as she came
This was the last time she ever appeaI
ed, but nearly every one believed after
that night. Until last night heard roth-
ing for several years. "
We sat in silence long while after she
had finished Then | said
Where is John now, and ldddy2'
After that night John went to sea. We
did not hear from him tall year ago be re-
! Susned. He is now master Of a large vessel
thst carries granite from here to New York
! We expect him every day, ldddy never
| married She has lived right here. joan
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 "a 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 few days
liter Mrs Bare met me at the door
greatly excited,
"John has comet she exclaimed, 'and
--aud Lyddy. They are married-were
married the nigat we heard the music y"
E1 4. HELEN M SMITH