San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-03-24
A BURGLARS GHOST.

IL L saw ullll lilS lull itIlSUn uUuer
the dropping branches of mountain ash,
with its vividly green, pointed leaves look
ing curiously into his hooking face l
knew that he was not creature of solid
parts. Why, as l stood, awe stricken, a
few yards away, could see the ground on
which he was lying clear through him.
He was absolutely transparent. He evil
IDENTIFY enjoyed my terror, and a sneering
smile that rippled over his whole form, from
top to bottom, proved that, in his ghostly
way, he rejoiced in his uncanny appear
ance, and would not have been flesh and
blood if he could
The cold moonlight forced its way
through the hanging clusters of leaves that
depended from the branches of the noun
tain ash, and seemed to shed congenial
glow over the shadowy presence stretched
on the greensward The glow was chilly,
but it suited the ghost. Your average
ghost does not appreciate cheerfulness,
either in the shape of light or heat, and
though this particular ghost differed from
his fellows in that he did not disdain the
comfort of a recumbent position, it is rea-
sonable to suppose that he preferred to
have his uncertain outlines marked by the
sad blue white hue of Luna's rays, instead
Vi D6lIS sHO"u up III bue TOSy SiOW Vi dll
early morning sun.
came upon him quite unexpectedly.
The evening was still young, but in the
late September days darkness falls over the
earth very suddenly, and large mountain
ash throws a heavy shadow. | do not
know that had any real reason to feel sur,
prised. The ash grew in the heart of
thicket some distance from the road, and
ha in 81,
large, closely wooded grounds surrounding
Colonel Hinton's fine old mansion, surely
this was the place he would naturally
choose for his haunt. There was an ag
gressive silence-so deep as to seem to re-
sent even the faint rustling of the leaves
of the mountain ash-prevading the spot.
The bark of the trees was rent into assures
of quaint designs, and gaped at the in.
truder like mouths. Even the katydids
and bullfrogs that occasionally burst into
voice cut their remarks short as if oppressed
by the general quietude.
/ had often noticed the mountain ash
from afar, and had seen that it's bright
green leaves waved mournfully at times
when was not aware of the presence of
breeze. had wondered, in a careless way,
what power it was that sent the heavy
nously and persistently as the pendulum
of Dutch clock. | may have even con-
iectured as to the existence of a super
natural agency in the vicinity. But never
for long. Whenever had occasion to pass
through Colonel Hinton's park my mis-.
sion was one altogether distinct from the
dread influence of mysterious causes over
grewsome objects, and the weird results Of
freaks by unknown forces of the neither
world.
went to keep love tryst.
Sweet Nellie Hinton and had met in
the regulation way at party. We had
been formally introduced had talked, had
danced and-had met again. do not
know exactly how it came about, but one
lovely August evening, when her face was
very close to mine, as we waltzed-one
couple among perhaps fifty-at hop in
ChautauQua hotel, told her that to which
one glance from her ever changing violet
eyes was sufficient response, and my love
romance had commenced
There was no reason why we should not
have told her father at once. The colonel
liked me, and though knew he would not
relish the idea of parting with Nellie, who
was to him wife and daughter in one, was
sure he would not raise any objection to
me on the score of worldly considerations.
Our families were on excellent terms. But
then it was very pleasant to meet Nellie
secretly in the cool of the evening under
the trees, with the lights of her house just
visible through the foliage, and to imagine
that all the world were against Jus. Of
course it was ridiculous, but ! l2ave it to
any young lovers if it was not natural.
Love without persecution is but a tame
affair after all, and verify believe that
should have been pleased to face opposition
for Nellie's sake-always provided that
would heroically overcome it at last.
We had never found ourselves near the
mountain ash before. There was some
wild story afoat that the spot was haunted;
that an ancestor of the colonel's had one
night found a burglar in his house, and
being of a choleric disposition, had chased
him into the grove and felled him dead
with one blow of his fist under the noun.
tain ash. There the dead man had lain all
night, with his white shirt glistening in
the dim light-for he had taken off his
coat and vest on entering the house-and
there his ghost was to be occasionally seen
ever afterward, according to popular tradi.
ton.
On this evening Nellie and had agreed
to meet under the mountain ash, as the re-
suit of a laughing remark she had made
as to the burglars ghost. Neither of US
believed in his existence and we had re-
solved to meet him in his haunt and LAY"
him forever.
When SAW the long, shadowy Thing
stopped short, while a wave of cold, that !
knew came from the ghost. as if he had