Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-10-23
sBURa, w VA, SATURDAY. OCTOBER as. 1882

one else. III Gle, Tom, all those
letters are in my desk at home. No.
body will open it while live, but it
may be overhauled after I am dead,
and the letters are all signed.
There's no knowing what mischief
they may do if they are found. Tom
take the desk key out of my pocket
book, and promise me to get those
letters and burn them before any
one else can see tbenl-promise mel'
"He actually raised himself up in
my arms in his excitement, Showing
his loyal love for the woman who
had played him false.
II promise, I said, and as l ut
tered those words he died. / put
him down tenderly and went to see
about having him taken from the
ground where he lay. But there
was no one there to care for the
dead. Too many living called for
help on every side.
yet my promise pressed heavily
upon me. Any moment the news
might be carried to Talbot's farm,
and the desk liable to be opened. /
took the pocket-book and went over
the road Edward and I had travel
led SO often side by side.
81 knew the side door would be
open. and | went straight to Ed
wards room.
GA bright moonlight made it al
most as light as day, and | opened
the desk, found the letters, and then
went down the stairs, out of the
house and back to the terrible scene
to give ono mans help in the bitter
work that was being done there"
"Then you we're the ghost Z"
cried.
~ am the man Mrs. Talbot heard
and saw beyond a doubt, but new
err knew she was awake until heard
your story..tonight. l waited until
daylight before I carried my heavy
news over to the farm, and in the
sore grief there, no one told me of
that supernatural visitation, and, as
| have explained, my errand was a
secret one.'
"What became of Meta ?" asked
fair girl at the age to feel far more
interested in love story than in a
ghost story.
'Meta," Mr.. Dennis said, "died
about six years ago. She was not
so false as l believed her, but weak
Her father discovered her love for
poor Edward, and be had set his
heart upon her marriage with his
partner.
"She was frightened at the thought
of poverty, for her father had threat
ened to disinherit her and TO turn
Edwards friends in Lowell against
her. It is easier to do than one
would think, and Meta was Tighten
ed into giving him up, and marrying
a man she did not love.
81 took the letters to her, for /
feared that if / destroyed them she
might worry over their supposed ex-
istence, and l wanted to keep my
promise to Edward, and give that
poor comfort to the woman he low
ed, for his sake.
ST called when l was sure she
would be alone, and she saw me. 1
told her of Edwards death, of his
dying request, and gave her the let
tiers.
She put them, all tied up as he
left them, upon the glowing Goals of
an open CRATE, and as the last black
speek foated up the chimney, Meta
tainted. left her, after ringing for
her maid, and never saw her again.
But I heard Of her death, and /
know she was very unhappy. 1
think If the dead could visit the liy-
ing, that Edwards spirit would have
appeared to Meta, dearly as be low
ed his mother
"But probably it rested quietly in
greater peace than earth gives" i
said, resigning with these words my
faith, so efectually destroyed, in
my one supernatural yisitation--the
return to bis home of Edward Tall
bots ghost.