Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-03
Maggie's GHOST

counsel of the Southern Pacific, could
hardly be called a dabbler in the
occult or a believer in things super
natural, and yet, if his intimate
friends will remember, he did believe
implicitly that he had seen one ghost
The story-for there was a romance
and a tragic one, connected with this
ghost-was 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 supersti-
tious 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.
1t was early in the fifties when Ham,
mond, then a 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 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 SierraS he came to an almost de-
serted camp where a rich strike had
been made and the pocket quickly eX
hausted. Only one family had re-
mained-that of man named Rodden.
In small comfortable 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 Haymonds
request for lodgings the man growled
n surly response and reluctantly 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 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 bow he had
known Mrs. Rodden back East. Rod
den gIruntCd some response, but Hay
mond and the woman were too busy
asking and answering questions to
heed his manner. The man seemed
relieved by Haymond'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 come again and stop for the night
that they might talk about things and
people 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 mine 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 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 diggings. 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
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 sug-
gested to Rodden that he take his wife
TO some settlement before winter shut
them in, but had received 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.
A few steps took him out of sight OF
the cabin He heard a faint call. and
looking back. he saw Mrs. Rodder
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?' she said.
him her commission. and with a few
parting words. she ran up the trail
while he turned his horse again tt
descend. He looked back after his
young friend, and. to his surprise. saw
Rodden rise from behind a bush neal
the trail He thought the man hai
been hidden. watching his wife. bu-
a reflection made the idea seem alb
surd-probably it was a mere coinci
dence. Even If Rodden had heard
every word Of the conversation. /
could only have spoiled Mrs. Rodden's
little plot which was nothing wors,
than a Christmas surprise for he
husband
Raymond was detained weel
longer than he had expected AM
when he started for the mountains a
gain his friends told him he woul,
never get through. but he persisted
and finally. after long battle witt
the snowdrifts. he reached the las
camp on his route. having lost a weel
on the way.