Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-12-24
THE PHANTOM HAG.


conversation turned upon apparitions, each
one of the party telling story. AS the
accounts grew more horrible the young
ladies drew closer together.
"Have you ever had an adventure with
ghost?" said they to me- "Do you not
know story to make us shiver? Come
tell us something
~ am quite willing to do So" replied
81 will tell you of an incident that hap
pened to myself.
"Toward the close of the autumn of 1868
visited one of my friends subprefect OF a
little city in the center of France. Albert
was an old companion of my youth, and I
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 his two pretty little daughters. |
was feted and taken great care of. Three
days after my arrival / knew the entire
city, ouriosities, old castles, ruins etc.
Every day about 4 O'Clock Albert would
order the phaeton, and we would take u
long ride, returning home in the evening
One evening my friend said to me:
Tomorrow we will go farther than
usual want to take you to the Black
rocks. They are curious old Druidical
stones on a wild and desolate plain. They
will interest you My wife has not seen
them yet. So we will take her
The following day we drove out at the
usual hour Albert's wife sat by his side.
Occupied the back seat alone The wealth
er was gray and somber that afternoon,
and the journey was not very pleasant.
When we arrived at the Black rocks, the
sun was setting. We got out of the phae-
ton, and Albert took care of the horses.
"We walked some little distance through
the fields before reaching the giant re-
mains of the old Druid religion. Albert's
wife wished to climb to the summit of the
altar, and assisted her. l can still see
her graceful figure as she stood draped in
red shawl, her veil floating around her.
How beautiful it is! But does it not
make you feel little melancholy said
she, extending her hand toward the dark
horizon, which was lighted little by the
last rays Of the sun.
"The afternoon wind blew violently and
sighed through the stunted trees that grew
around the stone cromlechs; not a dwell
ing or a human being was in sight. We
hastnned te get down, and silently retracet
out steps to the carriage.
"'We must hurry, said Albert. 'The
sky is threatening, and we shall have
scarcely time to reach home before night.
'We carefully wrapped the robes arount
his wife. She tied the veil around hel
face and the horses started into rapiG
trot. 1t was growing dark; the scenery
around us was bare and desolate; clump:
Of fir trees here and there and furZe bushes
formed the only vegetation. We began tt
feel the cold, for the wind blew with fury
The only sound we heard was the steady
trot Of the horses and the sharp, clear tin
kle of their bells,
Suddenly felt tho heavy grasp of {
hand upon my shoulder. I turned my
head quickly. A horrible apparition pre-
sented itself before my eyes. In the empty
| place at my side sat hideous woman.
tried to cry out Tho phantom placed hel
fingers upon her lips to impose silence up
on me. could not utter q sound. The
woman was clothed in white linen. Hcl
head was cowled Her face was ovcrspreat
with a corpselike pallor, and in place o
eyes were ghastly black cavities.
II sat motionless overcome by terror.
"The ghost suddenly stood up and Leaned
over the young wife. She encircled hc1
| with her arms and lowered her hidcou
head as if to kiss her forehead
| "'What windP cried Nine. Albert
turning precipitately toward me. M,
veil Is torn.
GAS she turned felt the same inferna
pressure on my shoulder, and the place oc
cupied by the phantom was empty.
looked out to the right and left-the roat
was deserted; not an object In sight.
"'What dreadful galep said Nine AL
bert. Did you feel its / cannot explain
the terror that seized me- My veil wa
torn by the wind as if by an invisible
hand. am trembling still.
"'Never mind, said Albert, smiling
Wrap yourself up, my dear. We will sool
be warming ourselves by q good fire ],
home. l am starving
"A cold perspiration covered my fore
head, shiver ran through me, my tongu,
Glove to the roof of my mouth, and coult
not articulate sound A sharp pain ii
my shoulder was the only sensible eyidenc
that was not the victim Of hallucina
tion. Putting my hand upon my aching
shoulder felt rent in the cloak that wa
wrapped around me- / looked at it. Fiv
perfectly distinct holes-visible traces o
the grip of the horrible phantom.
thought for moment that should die o
that my reason should leave me. 1t was
| think, the most dreadful moment Of IN
life.
Finally l became more calm. Thi
nameless agony had lasted for some min
utes, and do not think it is possible for
human being to suffer more than lli
during that time As soon as had recoy
cred my senses thought at first woul
tell my friends all that had pessed, bu
hcsitated, and finally did not, fearing tina
my story would frighten Nine. Albert an
i feeling sure my friend would not beliey
me. The lights Of the little city revive
me, and gradually the oppression Of terro
that overwhelmed mo became lighter.
so soon as we reached home Mime. Al
bert united her veil 1t was literally i
shreds. hoped to find my clothes Who'll
and prove to myself that it was all imae
ination. But no. the cloth was torn
five places. just where the fingers ha
seized my shoulder. There was no mari
however, upon my flesh, only u dull pain
II returned to Paris ,e next day, whei
endeavorcd to forget the strange adver
turc, or at least when thought of it
would force myself to think 1t a halluc
nation.
The day after my return | received
letter from my fricndAlbert. twas edge
with black. opened it with vague feal
Nuir xxifa had din1 tho r1av of my ~