The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-08-15
MAGGIE'S GHOST.

The late Greed Raymond, chief ooun-
sci of the Southern Pacific, could hard
ly be called dabbler in the occult or a
believer in things supernatural, and yet,
as his intimate friends will remember,
he did believe implicitly that he had
seen one ghost.
The story-for there was romance,
and tragic one, connected with this
ghost4was not one that the lawyer
cared to tell, except to those who en-
joyed his personal confidence. He did
not like to be charged with superstitious
fancies, nor did he appreciate attempts
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. lFMf44
1t was early in the fifties when Hay
mond, then q stranger in California
became an express rider. He used tt
make regular trips into the mountains,
visiting the camps at stated intervals
carrying in his big saddlebags letters
papers and such small articles as could
be transported in this way. a
On one of his first trips away up il
the Sierra he came to an almost deserted
camp, where q rich strike had beer
made and the pocket quickly exhausted
Only one family had remained-that Of
a man named Rodden. In q small, com
Portable house close against the wall o.
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. IL
Haymond's request for lodgings thu
man growled 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, a young and pretty
woman. He was surprised to recognize
in her schoolmate whom he had sup
posed to be still safe in her eastern
homo. After their greetings had beer
said Raymond explained to the ungra
cious husband how he had known Mrs
Rodden back east. Rodden gruntet
some response, but Raymond and thu
woman were too busy asking and an
swering questions to heed his manner
The man seemed relieved by Raymond
departure the next day. He told the OK
press rider to call whenever he wa
passing over the trail, and the woman
urged him to come again and stop fo
the night, that they might talk abou
people and things at home.
1t was more than month before HI
again came to the deserted camp. ans
this time, reaching it at an earlier hour
he found the woman alone, her husband
having not yet returned from his work
Raymond learned from her that she hat
married Rodden against the wishes o
her family and had come to the mine
with him without letting her parent
know where she had gone. She sait
little about her life in the mountains
but that little showed that it had no
been happy one. They had come t.
the camp with number of others, blu
some quarrel had arisen between he
husband and the rest of the miners, 81
when they moved on he had remained
fairly good pay in the deserted diggings
She dreaded the loneliness of the place
but, with a patient sigh, said she hopet
before another winter her husband
might be willing to move ON to SOM
camp where they would have company
Raymond made two trips more, call
ing each time at the cabin where hi
schoolmate lived. When leaving tn.
second time, he told them that one triI
more would be all he could make befor,
the snow blocked the trail. Two or thret
times Raymond had suggested to Rod
den that he take his wife to some settle
ment before winter shut them in, but
had received no answer He did not fee
at liberty to say more, so with the prom
Use to visit them ON his return in few
weeks he mounted his horse and rode
down the narrow trail
A 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 city," he said
OF course he consented, and she gave
him her commission, and with few
parting words she ran up the trail,
while he turned his horse again to de
scend He looked back after his friend,
and, to his surprise, saw Rodden rise
from behind bush near the trail. Ht
thought the man had been hidden,
watching his wife, but reflection made
the idea seem absurd-probably it was
a mere coincidence. Even if Rodden
had heard every word Of the converse.
ton it could only have spoiled Mrs.
Rodden's little plot, which was nothing
worse than a Christmas surprise for hei
husband.
Raymond was detained week longer
than he had expected, and when he
rtarfaI fox. tho mountains auofu his