Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-08-22

in on the floor, a deeper one, but she did
not shudder. Indeed a smile crossed her
face, pitiful. tender smile.
Poor little Martha Penny" she said,
and without a quiver or a cry she en-
tered in and SHIT the door behind her. 4
small, round window, high up in the
wall, let in little CLEAN OF moonlight, a
broken pane admitted q breath of air,
but amid the wooden blankets at the far
ther end moths burrowed She could see
their tracks, and curious smell that lip
gers In moth eaten wool made the air
heavy Already her lanterns light at
tracted insects that came through the
broken pane above to hutter about 1t.
She closed the slide and now looked like
very ghost herself-all white in the
faint moonlight.
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 to pace
slowly up and down.
Martha" said a voice. Martha"
Then there was silence; then again:
Martha! Martha"
1t was a mans voice which spoke.
Now 1t went on:
They say your ghost haunts this
house. l have come here so often and
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 q 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-Jack Par
ker." replied the voice. MAY l see you.
Martha-angel Martha-may | see your"
"If you swear not to move-not to try
10 touch me" said the widow.
II swear" replied Jack in a 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 l see you
again, Martha?"
"I 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 l 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-ten
me so and save my soul"'
When FELL" the faint voice whisper
ed, when the blood gushed from the
wound you gave me l believed that you
had shot me purposely. In this belief l
! Loot NV ~nnscin"sr~-~ W.. -h~-n 7 ~""-.
! ed to die, thought you had killed me-
But now?" asked Jack.
"Oh, unhappy man." replied the spirit.
might after night l have heard your
means; night after night l 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 n cry the man flung himself upon
the floor, and great sobs burst from his
bosom.
AT last" he gasped, "at last! Oh,
dear angel, at last. Oh, God be praised"
The white figure came nearer to the
fallen man. 1t 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 han
ding that revolver recklessly, but you
know you threatened me. l 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 l would go
away and never see you again unless she
called me back. That is why I refused
you, Jack; that is why"
-; &oI
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 evi-
dence that would send you to prison. She
resolved to fly. The old negress helped
her away and lied to cover the act. Jack,
4 AN no BnOsL. 4 hIll hllNe. AN Hesu
and blood. Touch my hand. l give you
leave. Poor Jack, poor fellow, how you
have suffered all these years.
"As they suffer in hades," he said and
humbly put his lips to the hem OF her
robe.
Il worked hard for awhile; then a good
old man married me-" she went on. "He
was kind as father, and l have q little
boy. / am q widow now, and l came
back to see the old place. l live in the
wing that the agent had TO let, and night
after night l heard you through the par
ution. 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 l saw you so near me
and SO broken hearted"
Then indeed Jack grew bolder 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 a 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 man who loved her, and ere the |
autumn leaves fell they were wed.