The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-07-12


She closed the slide and now looked like
very ghost herself-all white in the
faint moonlight.
i She listened intently. Soon she heard
the sound of a door closed carefully. feet
upon the stairs. feet in the passage with.
out the door. Some one began tu pace
+ slowly up and down
/ Martha said a voice. Martha"
Then there was silence; then again:
Martha Martha"
/ 1t was mans voice which spoke.
1 Now it went on:
I They say your ghost haunts this
house. | have come here SO often ana
heard nothing, seen nothing Martha.
give me some sign that you hear me
/ The widow lifted her hand and tapped
lightly on the door.
! There was a little cry without; then
Martha came again. and now the wild
ow spoke:
You call Martha. She is here. For
once, and once only. She is permitted to
listen to you. Who are you?"
The man who loved you-,Iack Par
ker. replied the voice. MAY | see you.
Martha angel Martha-may see YOU"
If you swear not to move-not To try
TO touch me" said the widow.
Il swear" replied Jack in choking
voice.
The door of the linen closet moved
slowly. The man on his knees in the
passage without saw a white draped fig
ure with long braids of hair hanging be.
low its waist
My God" he painted. "Do | see you
again. Martha?"
Il am Martha Penny" replied the
widow in a soft whisper. why have
You called me-"
To 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 do So Let the world
think what it will. Tell me you know it
was not so-that you knew it 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 Won
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.
'Oh. unhappy man. replied the spirit.
might after night | have heard vour
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 cry the man flung himself upon
the floor, and great sobs burst from his
bosom.
at last" he gaspcd, "at last! Oh.
dear angel, at last. Oh. God be praised"
Inc white figure came nearer to the
fallen man. 1t bent over him.
Jack, it said in more earthly tones.
Il am so glad that YOU did not mean to
kill me. Poor boy. you were always han
ding that revolver recklcSsy. hut 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, a poor little orphan
SO | swore to myself that | would 60
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 oven moro distinct
and fun of earthly tenderness wont an.
"No. Jack no. Won ,,o o,i,,' ..,,..,' ,,,,;,o
sane. Ecmrnbrr how rho L,dy If n',nr
Martha Penny was spiritnJ ovav IIavn
Won never thoucht t,ot nn,hans ,bn ,.as
not dead. though that stupid old doctor,
in his dotage. declared her sd Ia.E
poor lack. She WIS alivn Rnt Whom s,,n
came to herself The horror H. III, ,hat
YOU should murder bor w,s varv ,,r,.a,
And yet she did not ,visb ~ ,,iyo IN. ~;
deuco that womb sopd ynn - nris,,m W.,
resolved Ia Av TLn an nc..ross Loln"}
her away and lied TO cover the net Jar
| am no ghost. nm aliye. am Ho.h