The Delta independent., 1891-03-24
WHAT WAS IT?

"A numoer OF years ago there was
] Employed in one of the large wine
Manufacturing houses at Egg Harbor
Jity steady young fellow OF German
lescent. named Joseph Zeieler. But
rs sometimes happens to German
foung men as we'll as to those OF strict
American parcntage, Joseph was in
| I'VE.
Two or three evenings every woell
sould this devoted young Deutscher
valk four miles out into the bush to
,all upon a pretty, yellow-haired
Fraulein who answered to the name of
Minna Vanzandt, and to whom he ex-
oected to be married as soon as he was
able to support family. So it is not
great source OF wonderment that it
vas often we'll along toward morning
,eforc he finally entered the little
room at Egg Harbor where at present
.s was lodging.
Thus it came about that Joseph was
snce trudging on along through the
iand OF narrow and bush bordered
road, among the wee small hours at
The little end OF the day. He had just
| eft the Vanzandt homestead and tine
charming and ample Minna; and nat
rally enough, he was a happy man.
| More than two miles Of dusty high
Tay lay before him before the next
| clearing would be reached. and large
racts of land thickly covered with
Grub oak and pine crowded close
| !pon the roadside. Occasional paths
md openings led out into the wood
and on either side, but in spite CT
:hese the walk was decidedly lone
some, and so thought the young fellow
II question in spite OF pleasan
thoughts OF the fair-haired Madchen
Thom he had just left. So he rather
wished he could have company, though
The evening was bright and moonlit
sne.
Suddenly, and without the slightest
previous warning, Joseph became con-
scious that he was not alone. An old
man. with long gray beard was walk
m. along by his side. though seem
ngly ignorant of his proximity.
The young man wondered much ut
ais presence there at that hour. but
his company was decidedly welcome;
.or, il tho truth be told Joseph was
feeling trife timid.
Good evening, sir: il it is not too
late" said he to the stranger with u
flew to being sociable.
The old man pnid not the slightest
Attention TO the salutation; he did not
,ppeara as if he had even heard it. for
ne kept walking along in the same
absorbed and silent manner.
"Wie gents, mein Freund," said
Joseph in u little louder tone, think
Ing his companion might not under
stand English or was somewhat deaf;
but still there was no sign that he
was heard. The old man only walk
ed along a1 quietly and unsociably as
aver.
Joseph looked at him even more
,harply than before. but he could not
zee anything about him to occasion
the least alarm. The silent old man
not only made no offer to molest him
In any way, but he paid no more at
tention to him than he would to "a
tencepost, il one had been there.
Evidently he was not a tramp. for
he was well-dressed, and the glitter OF
3 gold charm crossed his vcst-front.
Ieigler also observed that he walked
nth stout staff, whose head was
srotesquely carved into the semblance
Of human skull. and that his features
were pale, even to ghastllness-
The taciturn stranger walked along
by his side for nearly mile, and.
though Joseph spoke to him several
times in both German and English, he
could not even attract his attention.
Then he suddenly turned down q
narrow by-path that led off among the
bushes on the right and disappeared
In the shadows.
Much mystified, Zeigler walked rap.
idly homeward, ind when he again
called upon his beloved n few even
ings later, he made some inquiries in
regard To the matter. Bat Herr Van
Landt knew OF no one answering at
all to the young mans description. No
one lived out in the bush in that di-
rection, and there were no paths there
except cattle-tracks. leading nowhere
In particular.
The fair Nina soon engrossed
Joseph's attention, however, SO the
queer old man was entirely forgotten.
de thought no more about the affair
ill he set out on his return that night
pr rather the next morning. for it was
considerably past midnight
Al about the same spot Zeigler
was thunderstruct by suddenly dis
covering that the my mysterious old man
was again walking ut his side How
and whence he came, Joseph could not
explain; tho first he knew tho old man
was there. As before. all efforts to
attract his attention were useless.
At the same rift through the bushes
the old man suddenly stopped, und for
the first time looked at his some VIII at
alarmed companion. 1t WAS piercing
glance. II only u momentary one. and
Joseph noticed that his eyes had dim
! pbosphorescen light as OF smouIderinp O