The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-15
MAGGIE'S GHOST.

" be called q dabbler in the occult or ,
believeri in things supernatural, and yet
as his intimate friends will remember
he did believe implicitly that he hat
seen one ghost.
The story-for there was O romance,
and q tragic one, connected with thi.
ghost-was not one that the lawye,
cared to tell, except to those who en-.
joyed his personal confidence. He die
not like 70 be charged with superstition
fancies, nor did he appreciate attempts
TO ridioule him ont of his faith in the
evidence of his own keen eyes. TO his
death he maintained firmly that it had
been his fortune 10 meet face TO face
the spirit of q who had passed from
life.
It was early in the fifties when Hay
mond, then . stranger in California,
became IN express rider. He used to
make regular trips into the mountains,
visiting the camps at stated intervals,
carrying in his big saddlebags letters,
papers and such small articles a. could
be transported In this way.
On one of his first trips away up in
the Sierra he came to an almost deserted
camp, where a rich strike had been
made and the pocket quickly exhausted.
Only one family had remained-that of
q nan named Rodden. In q small, COM
Portable house close against the wall of
rock which rose behind the camp q
light was burning as Raymond rode
into the deserted place. A knock at the
door brought forth the occupant To
Haymond's request for lodgings the
man growled a surly response and re-
luctantly let him in.
The express rider was surprised to see
sitting beside the little table, on which
stood the lamp, q young and pretty
woman. He was surprised 10 recognize
in her a schoolmate whom he had sup
posed TO be still safe in her eastern
home. After their greetings had been
said Raymond explained 30 the ungra-
cious husband how he had known Mrs.
Rodden back east. Rodden grunted
some response, but Raymond and the
woman were too busy asking and an
swering questions to heed his manner
The man seemed relieved by Haymond's
departure the next day. He told the ex-
press rider 20 call whenever he was
passing over the trail, and the woman
urged him TO come again and stop for
the night, that they might talk about
people and things at home.
It was more than q month before he
again came to the deserted ANN and
this time, reaching IL at an earlier hour,
he found the woman alone, her husband
having not yet returned from his work.
learned from her that she had
married Rodden against the wishes of
her family and had come to the mines
with him without letting her parents
know where she had gone. She said
little about her life in the mountains
but that little showed that Ii had not
been o happy n They had come TO
the camp with q number of others, but
some quarrel had arisen between her
husband and the rest OF the miners, 20
when they moved ON he had remained
behind, and by hard work was making
fairly good pay in the deserted diggings
She dreaded the loneliness of the place;
but, with q patient sigh, said she hoped
before another winter her husband
be willing to move ON to some
camp where they would have company.
Raymond made two trips more, call
ing each time at the cabin where his
lived. When leaving the |
second tirne. he told them that one trip
more would be all he could make before
the snow blocked the trail. Two or three
times Raymond had suggested to Rod
len that he take his wife TO some settle
ment before winter shut them in, but
mad received no answer. He did not feel
liberty to say more, SO with the prom
Ise TO visit them ON his return in q few
weeks he mounted his horse and rode
Town the narrow trail.
A few steps took him ont OF sight of
he cabin. He heard q faint call, and
back saw Mrs. Rodden running
Town the trail after him. She waved
hand for him 10 return, and he rode
back.
"Will you do an errand for me while
ron are in the city,, he said.
OF course he consented, and she gave
hin her commission, and with a few
words she III ND the trail,
while he turned his horse again to de-
cend He looked back after his friend,
md, TO his surprise, saw Rodden rise
behind q bush near the trail. He
hought the man had been hidden.
Watching his wife. bat d reflection made
he idea seem absurd-probably IL was
mere coincidence. Even II Rodden
lad heard every word Of the CONVERSE
ion II could only have spoiled Mrs.
sodden's little plot, which was nothing
worse than . Christmas surprise for her
Iusband.
Raymond was detained d week longer
han he had expected, and when he
tarted for the mountains again his
riends told him he would never ret
through, but DE persisted, and inaily.
fter q long battle with the snowdrifts.
% reached the last camp on his route.
Iaving lost D week on the way.
IL was almost night and snow ana
q In riotous possession Of the
fountains when he found himself rid