The daily morning Alaskan., 1904-01-16
TWO LIARS
IorlgLnaLl


 me word as fast as your horse will car ry you"
 We had drawn rein at the gateway of a large plantation, two pillars of stone each surmountcd by lion, from which 0 long line of hedge extended in either direction almost as far as the ey could see. Within. a winding road lined with tropical plants and rows of high shade trees extended to the house. ] rode into the place and up to a broad ye- randu. A white headed old negro came out of the front door and eyed me crit ically.
 ''I would Ike a lodging in this house eor a tlme." ! said to him. For how long don't know; not less than a few days and not more than a few weeks.
 The old man led me Into spacious room on the ground floor and said:
 Would you like a julep, sahr
 When be returned with 1t, ] question ed him. and be told me that on our ap proach the family had departed and there was not a human being about the place except himself and me, for they had taken with them the few negroes who had remained loyal to them. Ey- cry day the man set before me the meager food the ample space for pro- visions contained and every night at- tended me To chamber on the floor above. where l passed the night In bed whose four high posts seemed to stand like sentineis to watch over my slumbers.
 One night. not being able to sleep ] went into tle corridor and. sitting on a window seat incl, e by curtains. spent am hour looking out on the moon lit grounds. fell asleep. Waking suddenly. ] heard a light foo'step and the rustic Of a dress on tle staircase. What prompted me- whether am he stinct for safety or of modesty, ] know not. but ! drew the curtains and peep cd. The moonlight revealed the figure of a young girl descending from the floor above. Her face was oval her hair raven. her eyes a ustrous black. In which even in the uncertain light J could detect anxiety. while tle lines Of her bust and limbs were exquisite curves The figure as it passed my door paused and listened, then passed on softly to Che floor below. remained where l was for a few minutes and it returned. moving with the same eau ton, to the upper door
 Ethan" l said to the old negro the next morning, "are you sure there is no one In the house but yourself and meg'
 "Sure nun sah. What mak yo' arskT He looked at me suspiciousiy.
 Have you ever heard that the house is hauntcd;
 "Now ! come to think of it sab. l have heerd O hants walkin bout in de night Have yo' seen any on lem, sahF
 CT think ! saw one last night. Have you ever heard of a lovely young girl haunting the house|
 "Pears to me, sah l have heerd bout dat"
 CT saw her last night was tempt ed to see If she was ghost by sending a bullet through her"
 The old man looked troubled Dat ghost didn't never hurt nobody" be said. "Haiu't no 'casion to shoot nor notten"
 "I won't. Ethan. 1T ] see her again I'm not afraid of ghosts. Give me an. other cup of that substitute for coffee.
 "'Tain't berry fine. sah. De block aders don't let us hab any real coffee in desc days. Don't shoot none O de hants. sab. Dey won't hurt yo'."
 That night ] did not go to bed ull past midnight. There was another walking of the ghost. This time she ran down the stairs, a terrible anxiety on every feature. ! made up my mind that some one upstairs was very ilI and she wus going down for some need ed article. When she came back opened the curtains and met her face to face.
 "Alrs lost" she molncd.
 "Airs galred." | replied "You peo pie of the south have dreaded our com Ing SO long that when we come you are in terror for your lives. Some one is lh There is a regiment stationed at d., five miles from here. cOn ride over and bring a surgeon"
 She stood irresOlute for a moment then said:
 "Yes. it is better that be should be taken than that be should die. My brother. an officer Of the Confederate army. is lying upstairs wounded and we fear be is dying"
 There was a satisfaction in the ride 1 took that moonlight night, bringing a surgeon back with me to treat an enc my. By the time J returned the family were not only reconciled to trust me but eagerly awaiting the man l brought When we entered the sick room, there stood a mother and sister by the bed side of the Invalid The surgeon could not have been more tender with Che most beloved of bis comrades than he was with the Confederate, remaining with him tin morning and coming ey cry day for a week. when he pronounc ed him out of danger.
 Ethan" I said one day after the se cret was out "are there any more ghosts in the houseT
 go de Lawd, mars'r. Ize berry much mo'tyfed bout dat what ! tole yo'. NIissis and Missy Florence reckon ed yo' Yankees a kill Mars'r Howard