Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-09-21
MAGCIE'S GHOST.

counsel of the Southern Pacific,
could hardly be c,lIed a dabbleI
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 a rom
ance, and tragic one, connected
with this ghost-was not one that
the lawyer cared to tell, except to
those who enjoyed his personal
confidence. He did not like to be
charged with superstitlous fancles,
nor did he appreciate attempts to
ridicule bin out OF his faith in
the evidence of his own eyes. To
his death he maintained firmly
that it hal been his fortune to
face the spirit OF one VINO nad
plSsel from life.
1t was early iu the fitieS when
Raymond, then stranger in Cali.
fOrnia, 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 bis first trips away up
in the Sierra he came to an almost
deserted camp, where a rich strike
had beeh made ald the pocket
quickly exhausted. Only one
family had remalned-that of a
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 for lodgings the man
grOwled surly response and re.
luctantly let him in.
The express rider was surprised
t. see sitting beside the little table.
on which stood the lamp, young
and pretty woman. He was sur.
prised 10 recognize IN her a school
mate whom he hal supposed 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
gruntel some response, bat IL ".
mond and the woman were too
busy asking and answering qnes-
tions to heed his manner. Tue
man seemed relieved by Haymond's
departure the next day. He told
express rider to call when he
was passing over the trail, and the
woman urged him TO cone again
aud stop for the night, that they
might talk about p'ople and
things at home.
1t was more than a month be-
fore he again came 10 the deserted
emp, and this time, reaching il
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 R0 lden against
the wishes Of her family and had
come to the mines without letting
her parents know where she had
gone. She said little about hel
life in the mountains, but that
little showed that 1t had not beer
a happy one. They had come tc
the camp with number of others,
hat some quarrel had ariseT
between her husband and the res
OF the miners, so when they moved
Oh he had remained behind, and
by hard work was making fairl,
good pay in the deserted dlggings
She dreaded the loneliness of th,
place; but, with a patient sigh
said she hoped before another
winter her husband might bo vii
ling to move on to some CAM
where tbeT would have company
Haymonl mlde two trips NOR
calling each time at the cabi
where his school mate lived. Whe
leaving the second time, he toll
them that one trip more would b
a he could make before the sno7
blocked the trail. Two or thre
times HaymoHd hal suggested t
Rodden that he take bis wife {
some settlementbefore winter shu
them 10, bat had received n
answer. lie did not feel at libert
to say more, so with the promi'
to visit them on his return In a fe