The Washington times., 1894-10-29
Magqio'S GhO0t.

a
The story-for there was romance, and a
tragic one, connected with this ghost-was
not one that the lawyer cared to tell, except
10 those who enjoyed his personal confidence.
He did not like to be charged with super
stirious fancies. nor did he appreciate at
tempts to ridicule him out of his faith in the
evidence of his own keen eyes. To his death
he maintained firmly that it had been his
fortune to meet face TO face the spirit OF one
who had passed from life.
Ii was early in the flfties when Raymond,
then a stranger in California, became an ex
press rider. He used to make regular trips
into the mountains, visiting the camps at
stated intervals, carrying in his big saddle
bags letters. papers, and such small articles
as 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 man named Rodden.
In a small, comfortable house, close against
the wall of rock which rose behind the camp
light was burning as Raymond rode into
the deserted place. A knock at the door
brought forth the occupant To Haymond's
request Tor lodgings the man growled surly
response and reluctantly let him in.
The express rider was surprised TO see sit
ting beside the little table, on which stood the
lamp, young and pretty woman. He was
surprised TO recognize in her a schoolmate
whom he had supposed to be still safe in her
Eastern home. After their greetings had been
said Raymond explained to the ungracious
husband how he had known Mrs. Rodden
back East. Rodden grunted some response
but Raymond and the woman were too busy
asking and answering questions to heed his
manner. The man seemed relieved by Hay
mond's departure the next day. He told the
express rider TO call whenever he was passing
over the trail and the woman urged him to
- g. 81 .fF.Ie hot
might talk about people and things at home.
1t was more than month before he again
came TO the deserted camp, and this time,
reaching 1t at an earlier hour, he found the
woman alone, her husband having not yet
returned from his work. Raymond 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 it had not been a
happy one. They had come to the camp
with a number OF others, but some quarrel
had arisen between her husband and the rest
OF the miners. SO when they moved on he had
remained behind, and by hard work was
making fairly good pay in the deserted dig
gincs She dreaded the loneliness Of the
place. but. with a patient sigh, said she
hoped before another winter her husband
might be willing TO move on TO some camp
E MltGEE II4eN NOAll nave company
Raymond made two trips more, calling
each time at the cabin where his schoolmate
lived. When leaving the second time he told
then, that one trip more would be all he could
make before the snow blocked the trail. Two
or three times Raymond had suggested to
R0dden that he take his wife to some settle
ment before winter shut them in, but had re-
ceived NO answer. He did not feel at liberty
TO say more. so with the promise to visit them
on his return in a few weeks he mounted his
horse and rode down the narrow trail
few steps took him out of sight Of the
cabin. He heard faint call, and looking
back saw Mrs. Rodden running down the trail
after him. She waved her hand for him to
return, and he rode back.
'Will you do an errand for me while you
are in the cly?" she as ed.
OF course, ne consented. and she gave him
her commissio ion, and, with q few parting
words. she ran up the trail, while he turned
his horse again to descend. He looked back
after his young friend, and, to his SURPRISE
saw Rodden rise from behind a bush near the
trail. He thought the man had been hidden
watching his wife, but Il reflection made the
idea seem absurd probably 1t was amere &C.
incidence. Even if Rodden had heard every
word of the conversation il could only have
spoiled Mrs Roddens little plot, which was
nothing worse than Christmas surprise for
her husband
Raymond was detained week longer than
lie had expected. and when he started for the
mountains again his friends told him be would
never get through, but ne persisted, and
finally after long BATTLE with the snow
drifts he reached the last camp on his route.
having lost a week on the way.
1t was almost night and snow and wind
were in riOtous possession OF the mountains
when he found himself riding down the trail
a mile or two above the camp where he was
to pass the night with the Roddens.
Dusk came while he was still more than a
mile from the cabin. He pressed on as fast
as he dared. when suddenly his horse stopped
short with snort and stood quiverIng. Hay
mond could see nothing, and soothing the
animal with hand and voice. urged him on.
There was still light sufficient to see around
clearly enough TO distinguish objects near
the trail. Raymond thought as he started
again that he saw something move across the
trail q little way ahead. The horse went
slowly forward, but with great reluctance,
and when they reached an open spot where
the light was sufficient to show objects for
some distance, he again stopped trembling,
and Raymond for a moment could not per-
suade him to start At last the horse started
forward with bound and as he did 30 Hay
mond saw Maggie Rodden on the trail her
hair hanging around her pale face. her hands
stretched pleadingly toward him and an ex-
preston OF mute agony upon her white face.
Refining up as quickly as possible, Hay
mond turned to speak TO her, but she had
vanished. He rode back and called her name,
but there was no answer. He dismounted and
looked for tracks at the spot where she must
have left the trail, but found none.
Puzzled and annoyed, he mounted and rode
as rapidly rs possible to the Rodden cabin.
Hurriedly dismounting, Raymond called
Rodden out and asked if he knew that his
wife was wandering alone through the snow
away up the mountain trail. Rodden was too
much unnerved for a moment to reply. Then
he managed to say that the express rider must
have dreamed he saw her. as she had gone
home, gone back east, more than month be-
FORE. Raymond stuck to his story, but at last
he was obliged to conclude that his magma
ton had played him a trick. He couldn't
help wondering, though, what had frightened
the horse.
There IVES nothing to be done or said, for
If Mrs. Rsdden had gone home month be-
fore certainly she could not have been roam
ing around in the snow, and as there was no
other woman within miles ofthe camp he must
have been mistaken. Rodden. though not at all
hospitable in manner, got supper and allowed
the express rider to stop for the night.
After supper Raymond opened his saddle
bags. saying:
well, as Maggie is not here to take her
package, and as it was intended for you. any
way, l suppose I'd better give it to you,
and you can write her that her Christmas
present got her a little ahead thine
He tossed the package across to the man,
who stared at il as if petrified. He stretched