St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-07-04

SAlu, stllu, N4tIlouI " QulSef Oh u CT Y.
she entered in and shut the door be
hind her. A small, round window,
high up in the wall, let in little
CLEAN of moonlight, broken pan.
admitted q breath OF air; but amid
the WOODEN blankets at the
further end moths burrowed. She
could see their tracks, ana
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 tiutter about it. She
closed the slide, and now looked like
a very ghost itself-all white III the
faint moonlight,
She listened intently. Soon she
heard the sound of u door closed care
fully, feet upon the stairs, feet in the
passage without the door Some on.
began to pace slowly up and down.
"Martha!" said q voice; "Martha!'
Then there was silence. Then again,
"Martha! Martna!'
1t Was ;.man's voice which spoke
Now it went on:
"They say your ghost hnunts this
house. | have come here 80 often and
heard nothing, seen nothing, Martha
give me some sign that ysu hear me"
The widow lifted her hand and tap
ped lightly on the door.
There was little cry without, then
"Martha' came again, and now the
widow spoke:
"You call Martha. She is here. For
once, and once only, she is permitted
to listen to you. Who are vou7'
"The man who loved you-Jack
Parker" replied the voice. May ]
see you Martha-angel Martha-may
| see you?
"If you swear not to move--not to
try to touch me, said the widow
II swear" replied Jack, in a chok-
ing voice.
The door of the linen closet moved
slowly. The man on his knees iii the
passage without saw a white draped
figure with long braids of hair hanging
below it's waist.
"AIy Godn' he painted. "Do / see
you again, Martial"
II am Martha Penny" replied the
widow, in soft whisper. "Why have
you called me?'
"'o ask your forgiveness, the man
replied. "Without it | am lost in
this world and the next. Speak to
me, sweet angel; tell me that you know
that | did not kill you with intent TO
do so. Let the world think what it
will. Tell me you know it was not so
that you knew it even when you fell
there, where you stand now-tell me
so and save my soul"
"When fell, the faint voice whis-
pered, "when the blood gllshed from
the wound you gave me [ believed
that you had shot me purposely. In
this belief lost my consciousness.
Yes, when seemed to die | thought |
you had killed me-
"But now" said Jack.
"Oh, unhappy man. replied the
spirit, might after night have heard
yUlr means; nil ht after night | have
heard you swear by all that is holy to
your anocence. do not doubt you
now. b. at peace. We shall meet
again, and lforgive you"
With cry the man flung himself
upon the floor, and great sobs burst
from his bosom.
cat last" he gasped, "at last. Oh,
dear angel, at last. c.. God be prnis-
ed"
The white figure came ksarer to the
fallen man; it bent over hirk.
"Jack," it said in more earthly
tones, II am SO glad that you did not
mean to kill me. Poor boy, you were
always handling that revolver reck-
lessly, but you know you threatened
me. loved you, Jack, but l could
not. marry you your mother WAS 80
proud, and yet she had been so good
to me, poor little orphan. So
swore to myself that would 90 away
and never see you again unless she
called me back. That is why refused
you, Jack, that is why"
Thrilling and chilling, Jack lifted
himself on his elbow and stared into
the yelled face.
Certainly am really mad at last"
be said.
But the voice, now even more dis
tinct and full of earthly tenderness,
went on:
"No, Jack, no, you are quite sane,
quite sane. Remember how the body
Of poor Martha Penny WAS spirited
away. Have you never thought that
perhaps she was not dead, though
hat stupid old doctor, in his dotaor
declared her 80? Jack, poor Jack,t
vas alive. But when she came to her
'elf the horror she felt that you should
murder her was very great. And yet
the did not wish to give any evidence
hat would send you to prison. She
'esolved to fly. The old negress help
ID her away, and lied to cover the act.
lack, | am no ghost, am alive, | am
lesh and blood. Touch my hand,
i've you leave. Poor Jack, poor fel. {
ow, how you have suffered all these
Tears."
GAS they suffer in Hades," he said,
md humbly put his lips to the hem OF
Ter robe. ,
II worked hard for awhile, then
God old man married me-" she went
IN. "He was kind as Il father, and 9
ave q little boy. lam widow now,
md came back to see the old place
live in the wing that The agent had !
o let, and night after night heard
'ou through the partition, weeping q
nd praying forgiveness of nay ghost, o
wearing you did not mean to harm
ne. And | meant that you should
My think my ghost forgave you. ,
'ut II could not help telling the
ruth, dear Jack, once ! saw you 80
ear me and SO broken hearted"
Then indeed, Jack grew holder and D
AIRED to touch her hands and to lift u
hem to his lips. He was thankful q
nd humble, as though heaven had :
him vision of angels, and II
e left her at her door as he might D
ave parted from one. But, after all,