The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-01-31

as dear 10 me,
For its presence lights life gallery as gift Of
memory,
The little mzidens golden hair has turned to
twilight gray;
Her girlish dreams have wakened as she passed
along LIES way;
Yet hand in hand together, youths hope fulfilled
wesee
As meath times fading shadows shines loves
eternity.
THE GH0STLY RIDER.
My shanty was situated in the Bighorn
Mountains, Wyoming. With the excep-
ton of twolcompanions and some friend
ly trappers, who lived about five miles
distant, had not seen a white man for
nearly year.
One dayI wasout hunting with An
derson Picket. We had just sighted an
antelope and were occupied ia stalking
the animal, when we suddenly heard the
neighiDg of a horse near US. Surprised
at such en- unusual sound in aneighbor-
hood where very few human beings were
10 be encountered, we looked up and saw
hardly three hundred PAGES from US,
rider whose head was uncovered ana his
long hair floating in the wind that blew
across the hills. He was white-faced,
haggered man, mounted on thin horse.
For few seconds he remained mo-
tionless, and then disappeared as sudden
ly as he had come.
"a highwayman," whispered Picket.
"What should marau1er be doing
here?' 1 replied, doubtfully, "for dis
lance Of three or four hundred miles, no
one, with the exceptions of YOU, myself
and the trappers upon the creek, can be
found. Not a single soul to hold up. Let
US see who the fellow is.
Quickly mounted our horses, and drop
ping our game for the time being, We
galoped up the hill, following the s,raDg
er, who was slowly riding toward the
north.
That animal hasn't Lad much fodder
or rest lately" laughed my companion.
"i'll wager he hasn't ten pounds of flesh
on his bones"
"Td like to know who the man is aud
Whist he is doing alone in these solitary
hills?" said /, inquisitigely. "Come, get
a gait on the horse, lets get our game and
follow the fellow"
After acting upon the suggestion We
returned to our pursuit aud were hardly
hundred PAGES behind him when
shouted:
"Hello, my mani Where are you bound
for?"
The horse turned its head towards Us,
but the rider did not move, and im me
diately started Off at br-akneck gallop
Although We were well mounted and en-
deavored to fellow, he soon disappeared
in a path thickly overgrown with brush
wood. We consequently lost scent Of the
fugitive, and my companion very sensi-
bly, observed that we had better not fol-
low him, as he might easily blow out our
brains, under shelter Of the rocks or hid
den behind the brlshwood, before We
were aware of his presence. We there
fore retrsced our steps toward our cabin,
which We reached an hour later.
My second companion, who in conse-
quenoe of slight wound had remained
at home, came toward rs in grea. excite
ment
"I'm glad you're back, boys" he cried.
Heavens! man, what has happsned?"
| asked, anxiously.
He was as white as corpse, and sighed
as ifrelieved when we reached him.
'It was awful, | tell you, awful In all
my life shall never forget what has
happened to me-"
Come along, stop your qla&ing and
tell what's wrong. Seen any suckers or
ghosts?7 said smilingly, while Anderson
added impatiently:
You've had visit, haven't yOu? A
highwAyman on an old gray nag
"How do you know THAR s.ammsred
jim, quickly interrupting him. same
was here, but it wasn't roadman, it was
ghost"
While he said this he shivered from
head t. foot and looked around anxicusly
on all sides.
Don't be foo" laughed. "Tell US
straight story. What has happened
your"
Meanwhile We had reached the cabin,
and as l sprang from the saddle Jim
pointed with trembling hand to the
ground.
Here, look at this; you can see the
prints of the ghostly horses hoofs. said
be in a voice full Of excitement. II was
cleaning up things in the cabin, when |
suddenly heard a noise outside.
thought you fellows had returned, and
went out Of doors to meet you. HOrri-
fed, sprang back before me, on horse
nothing but skin and bones, was man
without a hat, with long black hair. He
sAt cO4e uptlsut Al tuc o1AAlcf nc H6~ a
thick black beard; his face was ashen
gray, and two eyes. wide open, stared at
me in a CHASTITY wsy as only a spectre can,
| wanted to cry out, but my tongue glued
TO my MOUTH felt my hair standing
on end. Then the ghost turned his
horse-started oil at a gallop-I could
plainly hear the rattle of the riders and !
the horses bones"
Jim shuddered again at the remem-
brance Of the horrifying spectacle.
That was the same fellow We follow
ed = cried Anderson; and | could only |
agree with him.
We then told jim Of oar adventure.
and ouieted him bv reasoning tha, 10 /