Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-12-11
The Phantom Hag.

4 lie Otfler evening III the ola castle
the conversation turned upon appari-
tions, each one of the party telling a
story. As the accounts grew more
horrible the young ladies grew closer
together.
Have you ever had an adventure
with a ghost?" said they to me. do
you know story to make us shiver?
Come, tell Us something"
Il am quite willing to do So, / re-
piled. Il will tell you an incident
that happened to myself
Toward the close of the autumn
of 1858 | visited one Of my friends.
subprefect of little city in the cen
companion of my youth. and | had
been present at his wedding. His
charming wife was full of goodness
and grace. My friend wished to show
me his happy home, and, moreover,
to introduce me to lis two pretty lit
tie daughters. i was feted and taken
care of. Three days after my arrival
| knew the entire city, curiosities. old
castles, ruins, etc. Every. day about
1 O'Clock Albert would order the phae-
ton; and we would take Il long ride
returning home in the evening. One
evening my friend said to me:
Tomorrow we will go farther than
usual. L want to take you to the
Black rocks. They are curious old
Druidical stones on Il wild and desc
late plain. They viii interest you,
wife has not seen them yet. So we
will take her :"
The following day we drove out ut
the usual hour. Albert's wife sat by
his side. l occupied the back seat
alone. The weather was gray and
somber that afternoon. and the jour
ney was not very pleasant. " hen We
arrived at the Black rocks the sun
was setting. We got out OF the piiae-
ton, and Albert took care OF the
horses.
I'VE walked some little distance
through the fields before reaching the
giant remains OF the old Druid rell-
gion. Albert-s wife wished to climb
to the summit at tie altar and L as
sisted her. 1 can still see her grace
full figure as size stood draped in her
red shawl, her veil floatIns around
her.
.'tiow beautiful it Is! Bus does it
not make YOU feel a little melancholy?
said sue. extending Ter hand toward
the dark horizon. which was lighted a
little 10y ui.e last rays Of the sun.
The afternoon wind blew Violently
and sighed through tie situated trees
that grew around the stone Crofn-
| lechs; not Il dwelling was in sight.
We FASTENED to get down and silent
! ly retraeed our steps TO the carriage.
1--WE must hurry, said Albert. lie
sky is threatening. and we s.iaii lave
scarcely time to reach l.olAe before
night.
I'VE carefully wrapped tile robes
around his wife. She tied the veil
around her face. ana the Horses start
eel into a rapid trot.- 1t was growing
dark: the scenery around us was bare
and des0iate: clumps of fir trees heIe
and there and furze BRUSHES formed
the only vegetation. We began to
feel the cold. foI the wind blew with
fury. The only sound we heard was
the steady trot of the horses and the
sharp. clear tinkle of their bells.
suddenly | felt the heavy grasp of
hand upon my shoulder. | turned
my head quickly. y horrible appari-
ton presented itself before my eyes.
In the empty place at my side sat a
aideous woman. / tried to cry out.
The phantom placed her fingers upon
her lips to impose silence upon me.
could not utter IL sound. The woman
was clothed in white linen. Her head
was cowled. Her fece was overspread
with Il corpselike pallor and in place
of eyes were CHASTITY black cavities.
L sat motionless. overcome with
terror.
The ghost suddenly stood up and
leaned over the young wife. She en-
circled her with her arms and lowered
her hideous head as ii To kiss her fore
head.