The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-11-10

J ASaISi ittuS. 81 I7Stf OlS'ONIaStO u
and diSsusted, I determined to pull
down the high fence On my right and
pass through the field.
las l reined ray horse toward the
fence ne refused 10 so, or 10 take his
eyes from the arsve. With wild,
uaearthly cry, such as | had never
heard from horse, the poor animal
ssns trembling to The eGsrtn. him cut
win MY riding Whip, brought him
10 his feet. and swung into the saddle
again. Looking over the wall saw
this thing ccme right up cut CT the
grave There could be no mistake
now, for the moon vas shining almost
;ull. ! ssw it pat out It's hands upon
eitber SIDE. as tnoughit were trying to
lift itself up The white arms seemed
to beckon to ms ia the moonlight and
then it sank back into the grave again.
u was never superstltlous. l had
never seen, up 10 this time, a thing on
earth tha: l would 40. approach. But
This was tCo much for me. It was rot
cf this eayth-it was HceaTtal7, ard I
was sick at heart. No~ [ began to
wonder Go" this story would sound
wcel should 90 home and tell ii.
Il, VINO h&d fscad death upon the
battlefield, day aud night, for weeks
AID months, must say thai I hsc seen
8 ghost IL cr2vsy ard. The very
thought o Il made lie angry, sad !
s1ore that ! would solve this mystery
or die
Lie at best, was not grand, sweet
sopE TO the people of the south st Gha:
tine, and that thought, perhaps,
bel ped me to &c little mite reckless.
Taking firm hold of what was left OF
my once ample stock of courage, l dis
mounted and made my horse fast to
the high fence. Crossing the road, !
looked over the wall, but nothing
could be seen.
- had never been afraid OF this man
IL the flesh, then why should fear
bis Sh"st, CT whatever or whoever was
doing dujy at his open grave. 1 vas
no| aware that was shaking with
ccld.
Il took drink. A friend had given
RE 2 bottle OF brandy in the town,
but I had forgotten it until now
Presently I felt warmer and waited
for the ghost. began to hope that
the thing had taken water at my dis
play of courage I could see my horse
over against the fence resting quietly.
4 graveyard rabbit darted past, rcll-
ing the leaves and causing ne to start
j took another drink
Putting my hands upon the rough
stone, I leaped lightly TO the other
side. felt another chill, but when
my ghost remained out OF sight took
courage aud started for the grave.
From mere force Of habit | took out
my pistol and held it in my hand as I
wet forward.
"Unfortunately for me, big cloud
swept between me and the moon, and
I paused, a hundred feet from the
grave, 70 let it pass. Now up came
the ghost again, and right there is
where I got this hair. Before nor
since I have known a moment like
thst. I was not warm, and yet was
perspiring freely.
Il took another drink, but this time
I could not taste it, I could feel the
three drinks now getting together and
giving me ne1 courage.
Suddenly all sense OF fear lett me.
HI, there. l yelled. Gene out aud
show yourself. and instantly up came
the ghost, but instead of frightening
me it made me laugh, and I laughed
loud, there in the lonely place. and
heard the echo come back from the
hill across the run. l had vseue
feeling that I was insane, and yet l
was not, but could not understand
why was not afraid
i wanted 10 get hold OF that ghost
and have il out with the thing, and
dared it to come ouG and make fight.
I fred my pistol to show that l was
brave. There was sound from the
lane of breaking rails, the snap Of
hitching strap and saw my poor horse
galloping away.
II was IN for it now, sure enough,
and determined to give a good ac-
count OF myself Right there I took
another drink, and TO my surprise the
OOLLIe was empty, also LOOK SuOt a.
the grave, fer It occurred to me now
for the first time that some one might
be having fun with re As the smoke
of the pistol cleared away saw the
white thing lift itself to the edge OF
the open grave. Il had wings. l
could near them and see tEsm beating
wildly against the sides OF he sspul
chre.
":Coms out of that, ! cried.
You've got a pair OF wings; why don'G
you get up and fyT
There was no reply from the gaos:
and It seemed to me that I must end
the suspense or go mad. Rushing up
to the grave I laid hold of the thing,
dragged it forth, raised It high above
my head, and slammed it upon the
earth. !: gave 'squAwk ;"
What was IL" gas2ed the New
Highlander.
1t was sn OF white gand&D, sab. y
New York Sun.