The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-14


were two sons and 12-year-old daugh-
ter. She did not weep, but she 80 plainly
showed her suffering in her face, and
sank half fainting SO often that just
couldn't get over it and l seem to see her
now, poor girl"
As Mr.. Jones steps carefully about to
avoid stepping on the graves he seems to
see everything in the darkness, and
stoops to replace a wreath of immor-
telles which the wind has blown of.
He says, 81 never carry q lantern or.
build fire, and in the four years I've
been here, there has been neither in the
yard"
what no lights, never! Well what is
that over there beyond the tool house, it
looks like light to me and it does not
stand still eitherp
WELL" said Mr. Jones, $50 it does, but
that's nothing, just stand still min
ute and you'll see lot of them, and what
will seem worse still to you, something
will seem to move between you and them.
Those are reflections of the city's cleo
trio lights on the polished surface of the
granite monuments.
"What makes them seem to move? Oh,
they do flicker and glimmer, aud some
times almost disappear, just as the lights
themselves do, and though they some
times seem to be guilty of strange antics,
nothing has ever come of any of it, and
don't try to investigate or explain.
''I'Ve never seen anything that seemed
unexplainabld to me, though their was a
a motorneer on this line whe resigned his
situation last winter, because as he said
white robed lady walked back and forth
every night just as he made the last trip
out here.
mo; never saw her, and if I ever
saw anything walking about here l
would believe it to be flesh and blood and
thy to find out what was wanting.
As we talked we walked about all the
time and Mr.. Jones told me whose each
monument and lot was.
lie lighted a match aud showed me
the photograph of a man just under lit
tie marble slide on his monument. l was
we'll wrapped up, but as midnight drew
near, my feet would get cold and l was
glad TO walk brisky about. l had meant
TO patrol section 1.-THE yard is divided
into sections) of the cemetery alone, but
kept on finding something of interest
to ask Mr.. Jones.
Had he ever seen any grove robbers?
No.
Did he have trouble with loafers?-A
little In the summer time, but they
always moved on when he spoke to
them
Were there any open graves?-Yes,
he would show me one. 1t was not
quite finished. but we went and stood
beside il, and looked down into it.
1t was unfinished, and was in the east
row Of old soldiers graves.
just to our right the beautiful monu-
ment erected by Mr.. Gage last spring
stood, and the soldier on top seemed to
be keeping watch over and guarding his
old comrades who are SO fast joining
him
The pines and other evergreens, like
so many dark specters, were outlined
very still against the dim sky with its
stars tWlnkling through a half haze.
The tall elms and cottonwoods waved
their interlocking branches and l
fancied whispered softly half indig-
rantly there is an intruder here;
why should the living move about among
the tcmbs when this our abode is given
up to darkness and the dead.
As l stood by that old soldiers open
grave. | suddenly forgot that l had
trembled a being in a graveyard.
What other place so peaceful.
The tall white marble forms seemed
to stretch inviting arms to mortals, and
speak of rest
The granite reflected the myriad
lights, which seemed to say, "We keep
watch here when even the stars, which
can see the busy world beyond, wink
and blink at the wickedness they must
look on"
OF to the right lay the city. where
society smiled in its devotee's face,
where the wornout mourner turned rest
lessly in sleep and dreamed of the loved
ones and perhaps, alas, of grave robbers,
where the solemn brood of care" was
pl0dding on and each one as before
chasing his favorite phantom; and the
dead there seemed to say to ne, 1--WE
pity you"
An unexpected sound made me give
sudden starr, it was-I nearly said weird
but long drawn out and half mournful,
As I turned in its direction, off to the
northeast, long streak of fire seemed
moving swiftly along the edge of the
trees, and Mr.. Jones finished bringing
me back to a realization of the fact that
l was assistant cemetery guard by say
ing, That is a late train, pretty sight
amt it?"
All at once 1 felt sort of nervous
again, and the tombstones resumed their
former mocking attitudes. and seemed
nodding among themselves. Could |
get up the courage to make a trip
around by myself? Well, l could try, SO
just as we reached section 60, where the
splendid Allen Sells monument is, Mr..
Jones said, "PH stand here while you
walk around this section. If you get
frightened just stand still and call to me.
Don't attempt to run or you'll fall over
the iron ratings or small stones"
l started.
For the first few steps felt as if
must turn back. but by the time l was
half way around, distance of two city
block, I was quite brave, and much
ashamed of a predisposition to be afraid
when there was nothing to fear.
By the time I got back to where
Waterman Jones was, I was walking
leisurely and somewhat enjoying the
novel stroll in spite of the fact that 1
was trespassing on the "witching hour"
when only GHOSTS do walk" and 'spirits
=