Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-09-07
MAGGIE'S GHOST.

The late Creed Raymond, chief coun
sci of the Southern Pacific, could hard
ly be called dabbler in the occult or 6
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,
ghost-was not one that the lawyer
cared to tell, except to those who en-
joyed his personal confidence. He die
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.
It was early in the fifties when Hay
mond, then stranger in California,
became an 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 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-tha OF
a man named Rodden. In a small, COM
Portable house close against the wall OF
rock which rose behind the camp a
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 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, young and pretty
woman. He was surprised to 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 to 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 Raymond s
departure the next day. He told the ex-
press rider to call whenever he was
passing over the trail, and the woman
urged him to come again and stop fol
the night, that they might talk about
people and things at home.
It was more than a month before he
again came to the deserted camp, and
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 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 i'll the mountains,
but that little showed that it had not
been happy one. They had come to
the camp with number of others, but
some quarrel had arisen between he1
husband and the rest Of the miners, sc
when they moved OH 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 patient sigh, said she hoped
before another. winter her husband
might 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
schoolmate lived. When leaving the
second time, 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
den that he take his wife to some settle
ment before winter shut them in, but
had received no answer. He did not feel
at liberty to say more, so with the prom
Use to visit them Oh his return i'll q 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
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 a 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. He
thought the man had been hidden,
watching his wife, but a 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 Christmas surprise for her
husband.
Raymond was detained a week longer
than he had expected, and when he
started for the mountains again his
friends told him he would never get
through, but he persisted, and finally,
after long battle with the snowdrifts,
he reached the last camp Oh his route,
having lost q week on the way.
1t was almost night and snow and
wind were i'll riotous possession Of the
mountains when he found himself rid
ing 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 mile from the cabin He pressed
Oh as fast as he dared, when suddenly
his horse stopped short with snort ant
stood q,livering. Raymond could SCI
nothing, and soothing the animal will
hand and voice urged him On. There
was still light sufficient to see arount
clearly enough to distinguish object:
near the trail. Raymond thought as III
started again that he saw something
move across the trail a little way ahead
The horse went slowly forward, bu
with great reluctance, and when they
reached all open spot VI the ligh
was sufficient to show objects for some
distance he again stopped, trembling
and Raymond for moment could no
persuade him to start. At last the horse
started forward with bound, and a:
he did so Raymond saw Maggie Rod
den On the trail, her hair hanging
around her pale face, her hands stretched