The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-01-01
LOVING A GHOST.
BY BUFFALO BILL.

/ NH"HA'S shNh WNAC d SVuplc VI young OIltel
Of the --th cavalry, stationed at Fort F
They attracted the attention of everyon
who observed their good comradeship.
Lieut.. Romaine was as handsome as
picture-a dashing soldier and "lad,
Killer" it was asserted, though to his credi
be 1T said, he Yas not spoiled and was no
regarded as u man firt.
Lieut. Belden possessed a fine form,
strIkingly ugly face to those who did no
take second look at it, and was perfec
soldier-one whom his men would folloy
to the Devil if he expressed his determine
ton OF leading storming party into hi
home.
Many called Lieut.. Romaine by his Chris
tian name, Hugh, yet no man dared address
Lieut.. Belden as Oscar. Women seemed
afraid OF him, and in fact he would shul
pretty girl quiclteS than he would hall
dozen scalp-hunting redskins. Lieut.. Bel
Acn had once said:
II loved my mother, and she made me
respect all women. A sister never had,
and ! shall never marry, for do not believe
will ever love-
| His brother officers laughed and made
oil manner Of prophecies about his soon
being caught in Cupds tolls; but Lieut..
Romaine said:
"lt would surprise me if Belden ever
married"
Those were hot days al the fort and con.
stantly there occurred deeds of personal
heroism that were most conspicuous, while
the "Chum Lieutenants,' as Romaine and
Belden were called, came in for more than
| their share Of daring acts.
One day troop returned from hard
fight, with lot Of dead and wounded, one
OF the former being Lieut., Romaine.
1t was said with enthusiasm that the
troop would have been wiped out but for
rescue by Lieut. Belden and few of his
men, who took desperate chances, yet won
the day.
Belden was himself badly wounded, but
pever gave up until the fort was reached.
1t was couple Of months before he re.
covered, but he was but wreck OF his for
mer self, SO he was given long leave to re,
turn to his home.
Some said that grief for his comrades
death had been as severe on him as his
wound, but the body of Romaine had been
sent east to be buried in the old family lot
in Maryland, and Belden had made no
comments when all had been told him.
lie left the fort, and half year later /
was ordered to join Gen. Miles in the field,
and SO ! almost forgot about the "Chum
Lleutcnants."
A year later bore dispatches TO Fort
NJ, and there met Capt Oscar Belden.
Awful glad to see you, Cody for YOU
are link that bound me to dear old Fort
f; poor Romaine!" and his face and
) voice showed that he bad not forgotten
his friend; but he quickly added:
Come to my quarters when you are at |
leisure, and meet my wife
You married, CaptABelden:' ! said.
Yes, | fell in love with ghost, and
but l'll'telI you't story later
And he did, and weird one it was.
tie had Travelled for months before he
reganed his former good health, and at
last decided to visit his friends grave in
Maryland.
lie stopped at tavern in the little vii.
lage, near which was the home and bury.
ing ground Of the .Romaines for genera.
tions.
He had his supper, and strolled out into
the moonlight to visit Hugh Romaines
grave, having been directed how to find the
spot. o.
In deep reverie as he walked, he had
reached the little burying ground before he
was aware and then came suddenly to a
halt as he drew in sight of a white robed
form kneeling by grave.
He was startled, and he appeared to
startle the weird figure, for it glided rapidly
away.
At first the officer felt that it was an illu.
sion of his fevered brain, and he approached
he grave where it had been knecling. The
1eadstone, newly placed there, bore the
name of Lieut.. Hugh Ro,naine.
For days Belden remained at the tavern
md he learned that the Romaine family
we're all away from home Each night in
he moonlight, he went to Hugh Romaine's ..
grave, and each time he put to flight the
host at his coming. r,
II have solved it, he said to himself,
nd he added, without further explanation
+ the mystery:
And | love that ghost Q
The next evening he went earlier to the . :,
'cred spot, hid himself among some cedars .
nd waited. \
Soon after, in the twilight. two men ap.
cared and they, too, hid themselves in >,
ne loilage near the grave while Lieut., Il
'eden calmly awaited developments. Il
Later the ghost was seen approaching.
mildly, as though anxious to avoid being :,
zen by any wandering mortal in the flesh " "
1at might be near. Il
Nearer the white-rohed figure came.
assed in through the iron gate that led =,
TO the brick walled burying ground and IL
melt by the side of Hugh Romanes grave, a.,
Then the two men appeared suddenly, :.
ID sprang upon the "ghest.' A smoth.
ed shrek followed, and next upon the =,
enc came Oscar Relden "'
He was an athlete, a tremendously hard !,
tier, and in a moment he had two VI
umned men at his feet and ghost that ~,
ID swooned in his arms. -
A man whom nothing ratified, he placed 0
e white-robed form upon the bed Of fresh g. &,
'wers upon Romainc's grave, and with -
ndkerchief and neck-scarf enforced by :,
revolver, quickly made the men prisoners, -,
st as the ghost" awokc to consciousness cr
d the interesting situation. do
The ghost" explained She was Young
4 who lived in fine old home half a TT
lie away, and adjoining the Romaine
ate. o n
The men were workmen upon her ia. W =
'rs place, and their object was to force /
large sum OF money from her, under IN
eat OF making her secret known, for the p
ret was that the Elwoods, her family, !,
the Romaines had been bitter foes ~,
generations. while she and Hugh Ro- 10,
inc had been lovers since childhood. r
he dared not show her grief at his 7
th, dared not visit his grave by day, ac
hence had played ghost to frighten ''cS
anyone who might see her carrying r.
vers nightly to the tomb of her lover. Il
two workmen had known who she was, OK
hence their determination to profit '.U a,
it. az
nder promise OF at once taking the trail ''JI +,
OF the country, Lieut.. Belden released T., n
4La.,- 4 Z ll.V