The Elbert County tribune., 1904-02-25

\ II : years ago. would have
9osC dreamed OF the existence
Of the N-rays. of all the marse,s Of
electricity, of bacilli and serums:
Yet the human Intellect Is fa- from
having attained the goal of its desire
OF investigation on the contrary. the
wonderful discoveries OF the great
scientists have but stimulated and
urged ii more swiftly than ever along
the great racecourse whose prize and
goal are invention aud success.
What marvel if the learning OF the
twentieth century. which has already
made so many impossible things possl-
BILE. seeks to transform the pretence of
conjuring up ghosts into earnest and
to cast light even Into the gloom Of the
grave?
Ghost stories are told by the thou
sand. and. IL the tales of old women
could be believed, we should al. have
walked long.ago in n blaze of light and
known that precisely at 1e o'clock
skeletons danced In the churchyards
aud pallid ancestral danes wandered
restlessly through every old castle.
But such tales would possess abso-
lutely no interest for the public who
desire 10 see this subject treated seri-
ousiy. Therefore the following one is
related ON the authority of persons
whose character is guarantee OF
trustworthiness.
The incident was related 10 Joseph
Victor Won Scheffel. the famous author
Of "Ekkehard." by an intimate friend.
cavalry officer. whom he called S.
and described in the following terms:
His character excludes the POSSIBLE
ity OF any distrust. A thorough soldier,
very practical In his mode of thought,
frank TO bluntness. vet genuinely relig-
lous: n man who. though he never talks
tf his plety. In the hour of need sends
forth prayer from the inmost depths
of his heart.
He was cavalry officer and. dur
ing the campaign of 1870 and 1871. was
principally engaged in pursuing Franc
tireurs. n service for which his caution.
cooiness and courage bordering upon
fecllessness. rendered him specially
fitted.
"Thc following story was told me
with his own lips"
II was W. hNN'hAA-hN 'A-Hf
when. with few picked men OF my
squadron. set out to reconnoitre the
enemy's position.
We had only a general knowledge OF
the country; we We're aware that in
front of us was wood of moderate
Size. behind 1t open meadows and TILED
land. and adjoining the latter n farm
house which we suspected TO be the
principal place ard storeroom OF am
munition OF the Franc-tireurs.
The wood. however. proved larger
and more difficult TO traverse than We
expected. and although we used every
possible precaution. we We're often
disturbed by sounds as IL the enemy
was at hand and watching us.
We were already considering wheth-
er. under the circumstances. il would
be advisable to pass out OF the pro-
tecting gloom of the forest into the
bright moonlight. when the rising
storm covered the sky with clouds.
transforming the brilliant moonlight
into the most intense darkness.
We had reached the edge Of the
woods and stopped n moment irreso-
lutely gazing out upon the dark. ST.
lent plain. The wind bowed the tree
tops and swept bowling over the level
country. the raindrops pattered down.
and night birds. with hoarse cries.
futtered over our heads.
We could not see an inch beyond
our eyes. and 1t seemed an impossible
ity to find the way to the farmhouse.
I was just making up my mind TO turn
back when n light CLEANED some dis-
tance before us.
"The house. Hurrah-there's the
house.' whispered one of the men.
and | took my field glasses and anx-
iously tried to discover the building.
Yes. the light was shining through
the glass-lt must he the window pane,
and Mt times was obscured as though
shadows were gliding before II.
The room was evidently occupied by
the enemy.
We rejoiced The stormy weather
favored our approach. the wind and
rain would drown the noise of the
horses hoofs. We had he best pros
pect of being able to reconnoitre un-
seen.
SO we rode forward, first cautiously
examining the ground: then. as 1t
proved to be grassy. velvetry meadow
land. growing bolder and moving more
readily.
We advanced for some time noiseless-
ly and swiftly. then the ground sud
denly became harder. and sometimes
there was n grating noise. as IL from
loose pebbles
We rode on at rapid pace. for we
were coming nearer and nearer to the
light and. according to our calcula-
tions. must reach it in ten minutes at
the latest.
1t seemed strange that neither plowed