The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-07-16

The door of the linen closet moved
slowly. The man on his knees in the
passage without saw white draped fig
ure with long braids of hair hanging be-
low it's waist.
my Godp' he painted. do see you
again, Martha7"
81 am Martha Penny" replied the
widow in a soft whisper. "Why have
you called me?"
ITO ask your forgiveness" the man re-
piled. Without it am lost In this world
and the next. Speak to me, sweet angel;
tell me that you know that did not kill
you with intent to dc so. Let the world
think what it will. Tell me you know it
was not so-that you knew 1t even when
you fell there, where you stand now-tell
me SO and save my soul?'
when FELL" the faint voice whisper
ed, when the blood gushed from the
wound you gave me / believed that you
had shot me purposely. In this belief
lost my consciousness. Yes, when SEEM
ed to die, thought you had killed me-"
"But now?" asked Jack.
ooh, unhappy man." replied the spirit,
might after night l have heard your
means; night after night / have heard
you swear by all that is holy to your inno-
cence. do not doubt you now. Be at
peace. We shall meet again, and for
give you"
With a cry the man flung himself upon
the floor, and great sobs burst from his
bosom.
"At Iastw he gasped, Eat lastt oh,
dear angel, at last. Oh, God be praised"
The white figure came nearer to the
fallen man. IT bent over him.
Jack" it said in more earthly tones,
II am SO glad that you did not mean to
kill me. Poor boy, you were always ham
ding that revolver recklessly, but you
know you threatened me. / loved you,
Jack, but could not marry you-your
mother was so proud, and yet she had
been so good to me, poor little orphan.
So l swore to myself that l would go
away and never see you again unless she
called me back. That is why / refused
you, Jack; that is why"
Thrilling and chilling, Jack lifted him
self on his elbow and stared into the veil
ed face.
Certainly am really mad at last" he
said.
But the voice. now even more distinct
and full of earthly tenderness went on:
mo, Jack, no; you are quite sane, quite
sane. Remember how the body Of poor
Martha Penny was spirited away. Have
you never thought that perhaps she was
not dead, though that stupid old doctor,
in his dotage, declared her SO? Jack,
poor Jack, she was alive. But when she
came to herself the horror she felt that
you should murder her was very great.
And yet she did not wish to give any evil
dence that would send you to prison. She
resolved to fly. The old negress helped
her away and lied to cover the act. Jack,
l am no ghost. / am alive. / am flesh
and blood. Touch my hand. ! give you
leave. Poor Jack, poor fellow, how you
have suffered all these yearsw
GAS they suffer in hades," he said and
humbly put his lips to the hem of her
robe.
II worked hard for awhile; then good
old man married me-" she went on. ''He
was kind as a father, and have little
boy. / am q widow now, and / came
back to see the old place. l live in the
wing that the agent had to let, and night
after night heard you through the par
tition, weeping and praying forgiveness
of my ghost, swearing you did not mean
to harm me. And ! meant that you
should only think my ghost forgave you.
But II could not help telling the truth,
dear Jack, once | saw you SO near me
and so broken hearted"
Then indeed Jack grew holder and
dared to touch her hands and to lift them
to his lips. He was thankful and hum
BILE, as though heaven had Vouchsafed
him vision of angels, and he left her at
her door as he might have parted from
one. But after all she was living wom-
an, he a man who loved her, and ere the
autumn leaves fell they were wed.