Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-01-16
A Tidd1ing
Ghost
By WILLIAM u0HTfooT wsscHER
Copyright, 1901, By Authors synaieste'


Sarcasm that was whitening Kissed
n its heat between the teeth OF Paul
Mitchell.
He was known to be dangerous
man. albeit Of good family and edu-
cation. 1t would have been expected
that he would slay any man that came
between him and his pride, but he
turned and went away.
Il give you to each other You'll
punish yourself enough" And he was
gone.
Irene Raglan was a poor girl, work
ng in a candy shop, when Mitchell
met and loved her. They were mar
lied and their home was lovely nook.
Mitchell was kindness, consideration,
Infection personifed to the pretty
girl. and his sisters were jolly and
sweet with her,
But Irene was vain, frivolous, cheap.
Love never sees such things until II
too late. A former admirer-Tom
Pointer. Of her own class, won her
away from loyalty Paul Mitch
len happened on a scene between them
Ia love scene-and he went away,
dashed out upon the sea Of ruined
life, tossed about upon the wreck OF
BIS happiness.
Then he made raft of his broken
aeart.
Tn every camp. from Cheyenne to
Fraser river. 30 years ago, Bill Brand
pth was known. He was not a bad
nan" On the contrary, an exceed
ngly jolly one But was eminently
capable Of taking care Of himself I'M
der even the most pressing circum-
stances
Bin was unusually fond Of draw
poker. He also played the fiddle. The
idddle was pastime Poker was bust
mess, and BilPs well-known dislike Of
lany trickery IN the pursuit made it
serious matter for anyone engaged
With him at It to indulge in any con
nubiatin" as he was pleased TO term
the extraneously helpful process.
One day Bill Brandeth disappeared
from Conconnully, and the places that
had known him knew him no more
forever.
On the shores of Lake Chelan there
was a picturesque cabin surrounded
by evidences of small-farming pros
perity. Inside, evidences of culture
books, pictures and other literary and
artistic adjuncts A hale old man with
great shock Of white hair and long,
silver beard. comfortably dressed in
the part-garb of ranchman and miner,
net US in a breezy, good-humored and
broad-mannered way, extending to us
the Inequalities Of his home. "If you
can put up with my shack and our
style" he said.
Hooked around and wondered where
our" came in. ! learned later on.
The guide had told us, before we
reached the ranch, of this semi-hermit,
whose nearest neighbor lived 90 miles
away
He's old Bin Brandeth," the guide
had said, "but he swars at Bits dead.
An it won't do to doubt him on that
pint, nuther," he sententiously added.
you can stay all summer, and all
winter, too, as to the matter of that,
, If you can put up with our style and
| reckon you can" the old man con
tinued IA mile or two from here you
can shoot elk, the lakes full of fish,
and you can hunt bear, if you are so
minded, and find 'em, too. l don't
ever do that, because / haven't lost
any bear"
He took us about his little ranch,
and it was one Of the most picturesque
spots imaginable Southeast lay the
,lear, blue and dimpling waters Of the
lake. To the northwest were visible
snow-capped peaks Of the Cascades.
Immediately about us were undulat-
ing prairies. northward stood a ia
eade of the mighty and primeval for
est.
There were about 20 acres in the
ranch, and he could have had a thou
sand, or more. But with pride the old
man showed us what he raised in grain.
fruit and vegetables, wheat, oats, po-
tatoss, cabbages, beets, melons. APP
pies, plums, apricots, and all such
stuff, in astonishing perfection and
proliicness His live stock and poul-
try were fat and healthy, and evident
! ly as happy as he, and he took delight
in showing all this 10 us. Near to the
cabin, at its left front, lay the object
that proved to be the most interesting
thing associated with this strange old
man, who on all other subjects seemed
70 be, not only perfectly sane, but
possessed of more than ordinary intel.
ligence.
The object was TO all appearance a
J grave. II was a mound Of that shape
walled about its base with carefully
selected stones and minerals, quartz
onyx, pyrites, galena and silver ores
A great and bloom-bent rosebud stood
at the foot, while over the headboarG
/ clambered a luxvriant ivy vine. In
side the waHing was a strip Of gras.
all the way around, and inside Of that
covering the top Of the grave, grew
a mass Of many colored and aston
ishing pansies. Upon the headboard