Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-02-21

and at dusk on the thiru Gay was seen
alive and well by people who came with
grist When the sheriff and his men
came stealthily through the woods an
hour later the mill was perfectly dark.
They lighted their lanterns and went
through II, calling the miller by name,
but receiving no answer, until they
found him In his own room lying on his
face, O pistol In his hand. an overturned
lamp beside him. dead. He had been
shot through the heart. There was no
living human being In the old mill. and
for long while nobody went near II.
At last people began to say that the mil.
Ter had shot himself by accident and that
the negroes had frightened him. An.
other miller applied for the place and
remained three days. In fact. to cut
long story short. the only other miller
who dared to brave the warning that the
ghost gave them all was found dead. a.
the first one had been.
The mill was soon spoken OF as haunt
ed by every one. No one would work
there. and finally Mr.. McKin closed II,
and II was left to itself and TO the ghost.
All this while Nine. McKin remained
m alleged invalid. shut In her room all
day, watched by her maid and talked
Of In whispers by her servants
No one believed McKin's mill would
ever run again. but one day u tall, strong.
broad shouldered young fellow walked
up the steps Of the McKin mansion,
asked to see the master, and begged to
be allowed to take charge OF the girls,
mill.
1--WE heard the story be said. as Mr..
| McKin began to explain. 81 don't be-
lieve In ghosts. and they can't scare ME
anyway. I'm In hard luck, and I'm a
| good miller. Trust me and your mill
shall work better than ever. You'll do
me service, and I'll do you one"
In vain Mr.. McKin set before him the
fact that two millers had been already
killed there In the haunted mill. The
young giant declared that he should moi
be. and finally the gentleman engaged
him.
The mill was opened and the miller
act to work. He took with him into the
I mill q Bible. q revolver and a large
sharp ax.
For the first two nights he saw moth
ing. but heard noises like the falling OF
heavy millstones upon the floor above
and feet upon the stairs. He had ex
pected something like this and remained
In his room reading his Bible by the
light Of q shaded lamp.
On tho third night, having heard the
same noises and quietly disrcgarded
them. his door was dashed open and d
hideous form entered. Il was something
between woman and great bird OF
prey. II wore auttering white robes
and had instead Of hands great blacl
claws. Il hoated toward him through
the air, and behind It came another like
unto II. but smaller.
The first creature swooped downward
and made a clutch Mt the lamp. As u
did 90 be snatched his revolver from hi
belt and fred. emptying all the cham
bers. The strange beings vanished will
wild shrek. but In u moment they en-
tered again. This time the largest on
made q furious clutch ut the lamp. Al
she did 30 he lifted his ax above hi
head. and with one blow severed th,
hideous black claw from what looked
like a shriveled human arm; then III
hurled his Bible ut the head Of tin
smaller fend. Instantly screams, oath
and horrible curses filed tho air. Th'
strange beings vanished and silence
reigned.
The black claw dropped to the table
Il was such hideous sight that the mil
Ter covered II with q cloth, that he nigh
not SEQ II. He kept watch all the night
and early In the morning Mr.. Mckin
who had been told that firing had beei
heard In the mill. came to make inquir
les. Tho miller told his tale, and Mr
McKin compliinented him on his bra
very. OF course he was desirous OF see
ing the amputated claw, and the mile
proudly drew away the cloth. Behold
there lay upon the table, not claw, bu
woman's beautiful hand-a right hand
on the middle finger Of which cleaned
splendid cluster diamond ring. At TN
sight Of this horror seized the miller
and Mr.. McKin seemed about to die. III
knew the hand; he knew the ring. Then
without word, he walked out OF tn
mill and homeward and into his wife
chamber. She was In her bed, as usual
The maid, pale. and with great bruis
upon her forehead. interposed to preven
his approach.
MADAME Is very ILL.," she said.
"Out Of my way. woman! no cries
and pushed her aside.
Then, bending over his wife's bed, bu
without his usual show Of tenderness. b
said sternly.
"Show me your hand"
She thrust forth her left one.
"The other" he said.
She uttered "a scream and turned dow
the counterpane. but there was none &
show-only a bandaged stump, fron
which the hand had been severed.
The next morning the whole yillag
was In wild excitement, for Jack Nc
Kin, whom they all knew and loved y
well, had gone to the graveyard AM
there shot himself through the heart be
side his mothers grave. And the sery
ants had told their tale and the mile
his, and there was the lady's hand. witt
the ring upon It. to be seen by all.
Burn the wretches." man cried, an'
o band Of men, both black and white
bore down upon the McKin mansion
They entered the door and marched ri
!. the stairs and into madame's room, bu
there was no one there. Nobody ha'
seen the two women depart, but the,
were gone and were never seen again
AMI since that time no fool has ever en-
tered the old mill and II has slowly fall
en- into decay.
The lady's hand, however, Is still pre-
served In spirits In the town hall, an
the old negro who acts the part OF watch
,. man declares that at midnight It alway
changes to hideous black claw. How
!, ever, no one else ever witnessed thi
transformation.-Mary Kyle Dallas u
Fireside Companion.
The Ibos on the Niger.