Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-02-08


church members and hated by many
others, and now, pursued by an un-
canny fear, growing weaker Gay by
day, was fast nearing insanity. What
1t was that haunted his premises he
knew not. He crept to his work, a
physical and mental wreck, dared moi
go into his own cellar or the dark base
ment of his mill, even in the daytime
and required his hired man to sleep in
his room at night.
When the last of October and Hal
lowe'en came, he was little better than
a doddering idiot from fear, and, sit
ting in his mill all day, watched his
man at work, too weak to aid him.
| And now came the climax of his
punishment
| Halloween had always been observed
by the young folks of Greenvale with
the usual and time-honored ceremo-
MES. Several parties were usually
| held, where apples, floating in tubs
OF water and secured if possible with
teeth and lips of maid or swain, formed
one amusement. If one was thus fished
for and obtained, it was carefully pared
by its proud owner, and it's perfect
peel. twirled three times around the
head and dropped, must inevitably
form the first initial of his or her fu-
ture mate. kissing games to accel-
crate these results usually followed,
and later the parties broke up for other
and more ghostly amusements.
Small boys carried JACKIE lanterns
fhrOuOh hn vii L,oIl
front of windows; older couples or
small parties made a late tour, hang
ing cabbages or paper bags contain
Ing onions or potatoes on dOor-knobs,
and then, changing the iron knockers,
scampered away. Now and then some
holder lad, wrapped in sheet, stalked
through the quiet streets that night
and all manner of spookish FRANKS
were INDUCED in. Meier as might be
expected, had always been an active
participant in these observances, and
now, when the famous night drew
near, he resolved to Guido himself.
He had kept his Scar Face" disguise
in safe hiding, and had in some way
obtained bit of phosphorus to rub
on the mask around eyes and mouth.
His plan, well matured, was first, and
most important of all, to try his
hideous disguise on his arch-enemy.
David, and later on visit each house
on the street. He knew the room
David slept in, where light was al
ways kept dimly burning, and, as he
had learned that the wretched man
was too feeble to be again lured out,
his only chance was to show himself |
at David's window.
1t was late that spook-infested even
ing when Meier crept, barefoot, out of |
Aunt Comforts kitchen door. The
night was starlit only, and, taking his |
mask, head-dress and much-soiled old |
night-shirt out of hiding, and with |
the priceless bit of phosphorus he had
kept in spice-box full of water safe |
ly In his pocket, he scampered across /
lots to the grist-mill. Here out of |
sight or possible detection Meier ar
rayed himself as Scar Face once more,
and emerged ready for his star act.
little realizing it's outcome.
There were no occupied houses in
sight of David's. The Halloween OBJ
TO the lower part of the village, the
rumble of the falls, where
they leaped into a deep pool, the only
sound heard there; and David, with his
sorely troubled mind, knew not, nor
recalled what date it was. He only
lived wretched, aimless, hopeless life.
an lmbecile almost by day, and dread
ing each night. There was none to
pity him or lift finger unless paid.
He would sit for hours with bowed
head in the mill, uttering no word,
lie sleepless on his bed, dreading lest
he hear ghostly footsteps, or if he
slept, wake in the dead of night, ex-
pecting to find AMI standing near.
This last dread was the most potent
OF all. and the one he never ESCAPED.
He had on this Halloween sat 10
late as usual (since sleep was fear
some), and had been in bed but a few
moments. The light was turned low.
the steady breathing of his hired man
IN another bed was the only sound,
and as David lay there in the dead 81
lence OF still night, suddenly he
heard stealthy footsteps outside among
the fallen leaves.
Wide apart they were and slow, like
panther creeping up, yet each one
Observation-Disclosures. Once -they
ceased, and then again he heard that
faint crushing of dried leaves, almost
up to the window close to his bed.
he sat up, his eyes wide open, while
the sweat of deathly fear gathered
on his pallid face.
And now. slowly rising above the
window-sill, came first group of
Feathers, all awry, then two small cir
cles OF glowing light, two hideous,
CHASTITY eyesi
An instant he saw them, the next
a more horrible mouth, with teeth
alight, arose in view.
Only moment did his fear-taxed |
brain withstand the awful strain-the |
next, reason gave way, and, with an
aSonized scream, he leaned from his