The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-12-26

10 marry him. We all knew John hat
never shown Lyddy any attention. bu
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 1t mado her very un-
happy. and have not doubt that Il
hastened her death. John was wrap.
ped up in Sarah; any one could see
that He was kindness itself 10 her.
1t nearly broke his heart when she
died. Bad 40 felt myself felt sor-
rier for him. It's awful to see strong
man so unstrung. Every one mourned
for Sarah but Lyddy. 1t never seemed
TO me she cared much.
We'll, one morning. about . year
after Sarah died John came down tc
breakfast looking SO haggard and
white that was frightened. / asked
him what was the matter. He shook
his head. but when we wero 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 the
baby in her arms She came quite
near him and said:
"Johu. dear. want you to marry
Lyddy. and then she vanished.
- Why said John to me. i can't
marry Lyddy; mover can marry any
one.'
That was the beginning OF our
trouble. After that there was scarcely
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 garnet or In the
cellar 1t was more often in the
cellar.
Once Sarah herself came to me-"
Mrs. Blair paused and drew nearer
to her, but l 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 to
the spring in the meadow to rinse
them. You know where the spring is
at the foot of the slope, near the
pine grover 1t was lovely evening.
The sky was bright with the colors OF
sunset but the pines looked dark and
lonesome remember thinking so as
l spread the things on the grass. I
had just finished and was taking up
my empty basket when, just Us 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
Lyddy!' and disappeared.
"Of course, all these things made a
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 Pickering will -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
Lydia Baker was at the bottom of the
whole thing, for every one knew she
was possessed to marry John.
"A party Of men from the village
came one night to investigate. The
minister 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 far corner OF the dark cellar
flashed that curious light. Only for
an instant and though we waited
long time it did not come again.
The minister came up into the yard
and told the others. While they were
talking OF 1t 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 Us mysteriously us she
came.
This was the last time she ever
appeared but nearly every one be-
lieved after that night Until last
night / had heard nothing for several
years"
We sat in silence long while after
she had finished. Then l asked:
Where is John now. and LiddyP"
After that night John went to sea
We did not hear from him till a
year ago he returned. He is now mas
Ter Of large vessel that carries gran
tie from here to New York. We ex-
pect him every day. Lyddy never
married. She has lived right here.
John went to see her when he came
home. Everyone except me seems to
have forgotten about Sarah's spirit
Lyddy is away somewhere now on
visit.
l thanked her for telling me the
story. babe her goodnight and went
TO bed to dream OF this strange ro-
nance in real life.
When / came from school few
days later Mrs Blaire met me at the
door greatly excited:
John has come" she exclaimed.
.nnd-and Lyddy. They are married