The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-05-12
THE WALTON GHOST.

"e' WV Va viz houoo purity
down to tho old Walton homestead to
celebrate it. There were eighteen OF
us all told-a number to daunt any
hostess but Mrs. Walton. Besides
her natural qualifications, she had
any quantity Of room to stow us away
in, apparently. It's beautiful old
house, and very interesting too. 1t
has q great deal Of fine old carving
and dungeon cell, and other such
conveniences, and ghost.
Old Mr.. Walton told US about him
one evening. Tho story dated back
to the time before the revolution.
There lived with the Walton of that
generation, q certain Stephen Ire
lease. a mysterious sort of fellow.
Strangely enough, considering how
they inquired into tho history Of
strangers in those days, no ono knew
much OF anything about him. He led
a retired studious life that gave him
bad reputation among people who
had not outgrown their belief in
witchcraft.
He worshiped old Walton, and in
the course OF time came to worship
old Walton's daughter Mary. 1t was
q hopeless passion and n silent one,
but she OWNED it, of course, and no
doubt treated him with the usual
kindlinoss OF women under such cir
cumstances. In fact, there is no
reasonable doubt but that she smiled
more sweetly than ever upon the
Puritan youth when Trclease was at
hand to see. Trelcase, though, had
something besides with which to oc-
cupy his attention.
The "little revolution" was brew
ing, and this house was a rendezvous
for tho patriots; there was plotting
and planning, and important papers
were from timo to time brought there
for safety. They were hidden in a
secret closet, whose location was
known to only two REORGANIZATION
and Treleaso,
Well, among Mary's admirers was
one whom Treleaso specially dislikcd.
Ho was n young Englishman, an at
tache OF the governors and. Trelease
believed, spy. So when the ruddy
gallant appeared Stephens tall figure
and dark. spare faco were not far in
the background. We need not boz
lieve that the visitor had designs
upon anything but the daughter of
the house to imagine that he found
this surveillance unpleasant. and that
he was ready to resent IT.
A crisis came one day when Ebon-
ezer Walton was away from home. He
had gone to conference with other
Of tho leading colonists Andres had
been making himself obnoxious. and
/ suppose 1t was a relief to them to
let of steam at each ether, even II
nothing further came OF II.
As tho Englishman rode up to the
door Trclcasc met him. master
Walton is not here" no said. with n
look that limited that the guest might
save himself the trouble OF dismount-
Ing. But he swung himself from tho
saddle with the remark that then he
would chat with the daugh,er-n re.
ply by no means soothing to Steph-
ems ears.
lie lowered around while tho two
sat and talked in the very room in
which the story was told us, and at
length the guest asked his hostess
to show him the house. He had
heard much OF the fine view from the
upper windows, and was II true that
there were blind rooms In the cellar
which a stranger would hardly Gndp
They were moving toward the door
when Trclcaso interrupted.
"ln the masters absence his house
must not bc shown to strangers,
said he grlmly. His look and tone
were n challenge.
lin tho masters absence said
Mary. gravely, .'his daughter has his
house in charge and shows II to whom
she will"
She took up silver candlcstick to
light them in their descent
Faith" laughed the visitor. in
solently. sit would seem that the
master Is here. after all"
master or no MASTER" returned
Trolcasc, "this house Is not open to
spies"
"Ahw cried the other, with quick
motion OF his hand to his sword; then
recovering himself. "but that Is II
game at which two can play. A
gentleman" with tho wave OF his
hand toward Trolcasc. who had turned
very pale. "who is admitted secretly
30 tho governors house and sends
letters in cipher TO England should
DO slow 20 charge others with bad
faith. Mistress Walton, n harm
bcfall your father and he Is seized
ms n traitor TO the king. you need not
look far for tho hand which laid tho
tolls"
Treleaso sprang at him with an
nrticulnto cry. but the other cludod
him and passed out OF tho house
Stephen did not follow him. lie
stood there. white NJ tho ghost ho
af'crward became, before Mary. Her
eyes blazod.
.'My fathers kindness n we'll re.
paid" said shc. III we hrvo
traitor among us II IL VOL thnt wo
knew H. Perhaps even now u IL
TOO late. the cried. ''My father may
be IN Danger
"S'opi" he commanded, catching
her by the wrist MS she pprang toward
the door. II will defend myself TO
you. but here nj your own drosido Ia
the proof Of my good faith "
lio had kept cruel grip Of her
wrist. aud. Us ho finished. she foil
down faintlng AZ his foot When she
recovered she was alone. no mover
saw Stephen 1'roleaso ngain, llla
body was found two days niterwnrd
with sword thrust through tho
heart No one could over prove that
tho quarrel with tho EngllshmRn was
renewed. with this result. but Mary
Walton, as abe tolls tho atofy In hor
diary. clearly thinks such wa, Tho
ease.
We'll. tho night this happened