Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-15

distinguish supple, willowy something
clad i'm white and moving without noise
almost without motion, he thought, toward
the dismal shadows Of tho Graysyille
graveyard There it di-appcarai, as usual
Strange 20 say, when my father was re-
hcarsing the story at the breakfast table, / !
seemed to have known il all before; ANA
had he left Off, leltsure could haye gone
on with it myself.
This was due, doubtless, to the fact, as
thought, Of my having visited the swamp
80 often in my dreams.
The same day my mother came to me
with instructions not TO visit in my daily
ramblcs over the plantation certain low
sections where / was fond Of going for the
/ wild blossoms and ripe fruit. ] could not
understand the restriction, and said 50
very freely. She then showed me the boots
/ | had woru-as she suppoged-the day be-
/ fore in my rambles
But did not go out Yesterday eN-
claimed, no little astonishcd at the sad
condition Of my rubber walking boots, 50 |
necessary for the low, moist LOUISIANA
lands 49,,
"They were found at your door this |
morning" she told me, where you usual |
ly place them TO be cleaned"
1t was odd, 10 be sure, and for many
weeks remained 10 me an enigma. My
mother / was sure believed was telling
her a deliberate falsehOOd, inasmuch as
the very next morning the boots were
found in the same place and in precisely
the same condition.
At length my mother removed the boots
: to her own closet, and locking the door
, put the key in her pocket, saying as she
did so: "Now we will see who it is that's
in the habit Of wearing your shoes. NO
body knows where the key of the closet
door is hid except yourself, Elsa
\ must explain that by this time, owing
= to my vehement denial as to having worn
: the boots, suspicion had fallen upon Louise,
my mothers houSemaid quadroon girl
!, about my own size and age.
n That night my dreams were terrible
II the boots played no inconsiderable part IN
NV nervous and excited fancies. First
"a imagined that must have them, and IN
nc order to get them it was necessary to Cd
q tain the closet key hidden in the pocket OF
Va my mothers blue chintz gown that always
~ hung at night upon a chair Immediately
= behind her bed.
n. Idreamed that had seen her forget 70
, fasten the door leading into her bedroom,
II and that arose, and tiptoeing across the
re hall went down the stairs, and, sure
!" enough. found the door untastened'
\. went in, and cropping in the darkness loullI
the blue chintz, removed the key ana VIII
Il. the utmost ease found-and htted II IN
III the closet door. / found the boots full a
~ easily, locked the door, returned the key U
%, its place and went out as ho'sol'97'S 80
q had entered. ~.
sat down upon the doorstep in tn
nc moonlight, drew the shoes upon my bar
feet and started out as rapidly as kne'
~, how toward the graveyard, across the rlc
'y field. through the white looking laSoo
u and into the horrd shades of the DlSmt
!" SWAMP. All night long in my dreams
nc followed the wild birds or fled from I'll
hiss of the serpents which made their hou
Ti' in the deadly morass. The plover, sJartle
ne from its nest, brushed by me with
'es shrek. and once I fancied a long serpei
~" swung from a swamp willow ana plahJ'
its fangs in nv cheek But when l pr
'u' ont NV hand to brush it aside found TN
an. a branch of trumpet vine had sWeI
ler across NV face, the rich red blossoms dro
Les ming the dew from their cups into my M
Cne which were parched and dry. | was n
Inc in the least frightened, but plunged
deeper and deeper into the vast wllderne'
1ue Once heard the blOOdhOunds baylug, al
ave knew they We're on the track OF some ru
W" away slave who had fled TO the proUecCll
iuugles Of the Dismal Swamp.
'ei' At last | grew weary and turned non
pol ward crossed the lagoon, lying still a
i''S white in the gray dawn, and travers
Il Vi again the rice field and the lonely pa
''S' across the graveyard; then | SAT uo'
g.. upon the doorstep and removed my 10
IL boots, carrying them up 70 my door, "h'
Ihe I left them for Louise to have clean
yhaI Then | crept to bed and remembered no
h . ing more until noon, when | awoNe 70 i
MN INV mother bending over me with hea
troubled eyes as | had seen her man
- time when some OF us were ILL.,
- | yawned YEARLY.
leau ,Nother." | said, Il went through
l's y, Dismal Swamp again in my dreams
LA night"
wiid @And the Graysvile ghost was s
e III again last night, " she replied hesitatinj
us us as if afraid TO tell me-
Why who saw il this timer asked.
: : e 81. q"
i JUG "Mother!"
q, | sat up in bed startled and pale wi
ne9, great fear | brushed my hand across
OlouS temples to make my thoughts clear
e VI And as did so | felt long, deep
e" VI upon my cheek.
"Motherr' tried to say. Moth
ST OF And throwing of the bedcovers spi
u Vne out upon the floor.
any Nv long uightdress was spattered
'sooll draggled with mire; my knees were
Icros9 and bleeding. Cookie burrs and IN
llsaP mosses were cinging to my hair but
es the 'eIo - ,n5orstood il all. and
iVlI 1t with a shrek into my mothers arms
l3 anna was the Graysville ghost, and wa
nun nun somnambulist who had, night after
al ,,L plunged deeper and deeper in the Jul
~ of the Dismal Swamp.
.,i nuu They followed my tracks as Tar as
49, dared penetrate into that dreary me
''O'"' How | did it remains a mystery ou
tain it is that, asleep, had wandered
antcen vL - d,adly evyar9ir, which ey
wamp - ,aL,,Idorei 70 thinl< of.-Wi
Cd my ny 'y - l., IJ,,r,ance