Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-02
A BURGLARS GHOST.

the dropping branches OF mountain ash, /
with its wildly green, pointed leaves look |
ing curiously into his hooking face, | |
knew that he was not a creature of solid |
parts. Why as | stood, awe stricken, a
few yards away could see the ground on
which he was lying clear through him.
He was absolutely transparent He evi
IDENTIFY enjoyed my terror, and sneering
smile that rippled over his whole form, from
top to bottom, proved that, in his ghostly
way, he reioiced 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 10 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
Of being shown up in the rosy glow Of an
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 a large mountain
ash throws heavy shadow do not
know that had any real reason 70 feel sur
prised. The ash grew in the heart OF
thicket some distance from the road, and
If ghost was to be found anywhere in the
large, closely wooded grounds surrounding
Colonel Hintou's fue old mansion, surely
l. rr4lI ry
choose for his haunt. There was an ag
gressiye 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 WIS 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 theirremarls short as if oppressed
by the general quietude.
/ had often noticed the mountain ash
from afar. and had seen that its bright
green leaves waved mournfully at times
when / was not aware Of the presence Of a
breeze / had wondered. IN "A careless way,
what power il was that sent the heavy
clusters sweeping TO and fro as monOto
nously and persistently as the pendulum
Of Dutch clock. ] may have even con
jectured as 20 the existence Of a super
natural agency in the vicinity. But never
for long. Whenever had occasion to pass
through Colonel lIinton'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 20 keep love tryst.
Sweet Nellie Hinton and had met in
the regulation way at a 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 70 mine, as we waltzed-one
couple among perhaps ifty-at hop in a
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 moi
have told her father at once. The cOlone
liked me, and though | knew he would moi
relish the idea Of parting with Nellie who
was 70 him wife and daughter in one / wa
sure he would not raise any objection u
me on the score Of worldly considerations
Our families were on excellent terms. Blu
then it was very pleasant TO meet Nelli'
secretly in the cool Of the evening undo
the trees, with the lights Of her house jus
visible blit lDAlfif1tf anu W ihAfAt5 ~
that all the world were against u.s. o
course it was ridiculous, but leave IL 4
any Young lovers IL il was not natural
Love without persecution is but tam
affair after all and verify believe that
should have been pleased TO face opposition
for Nelie's sake-always provided that
would heroically overcome it at last
We had never found ourselves near tn
mountain ash before There was som
wild story ahoat that the spot was haunted
that an ancestor Of the colonels had on
night found a burglar IN bis house, an
being Of a choleric disposition, had chase
him into the grove and ielied him dca
with one blow Of his fist under the mour
tain ash. There the dead man had lain al
night with bis white shirt gistening j
the dim light-for be Rad taken OF hi
coat and vest on entering the house-an
there his ghost was 70 De- occasionally see
ever afterward according 10 popular trad
tion.
On this evening Nellie and had agree
TO meet under the mOnuiain ash. as the n
suit OF "A laughing rpaHFk she had mad
as TO the burglars ghost Neither Of g
believed IN his existence. ana we had r.
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, a. If be ha
breatbed icily in my direction, sent a shiy'
through me from head to foot With a
effort ! recovered myself and moved res
lutely forward
.'Pshawl" said aloud. What a fancy
Fancy articulated a gurgling vol
a. the ghost indulged in another Of tho
peculiar smiles that agitated him from o.
end to the other Fancy. am II Well,
like that fla bal haF
must say that the ghosts laugh was
most unpleasant thing. Not that II wi
loud or harsh. but it gave one the impre
sion that be laughed from force Of hal
contracted in the flesh. and not becau &c
afforded him any pleasure In his prese