The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-09-10
LOVING A GHOST.
-vav BIZ BUFFALO BILE


of the til cavalry, stationed at Fort F.
They attracted the attention of everyone
who observed their good comradeship.
Lieut.. Romaine was as handsome as q
picture-a dashing soldier and a lady
Killer, 1t was asserted, though TO his credit
be it said, he was not spoiled and was not
regarded as man firt.
Lieut. Belden possessed a fine form, q
strikingly ugly face to those who did not
take second look at it, and was perfect
soldier-one whom his men would follow
to the Devil II he expressed his determine
ton of leading storming party into his
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 shun
pretty girl quicker than he would half
a dozen scalp-hunting redskins Lieut.. Bel
den had once said:
Il 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
all manner of prophecies about his soon
being caught in Cupid's tolls; but Lieut..
Romaine said:
1T would surprise me if Belden ever
married"
Those were hot days at the fort and con-
stantly there occurred deeds of personal
heroism that were most conspicuous, while
the "Chum Lieutenants," as Romano and
Beden 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
a rescue by Lieut.. Belden and few of his
men, who took desperate chances, yet won
the day.
Belden was himself badly wounded, but
never gave up until the fort was reached
1t was a 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 Romano had been
sent east to be buried in the old family lot
in Maryland, and Belden bad made no
comments when all had been told him.
He left the fort, and half year later l
was ordered to join Gen Miles in the field,
and so l almost forgot about the "Chum
! Lieutenants."
A year later l bore dispatches to Fort
NJ, and there met Capt Oscar Belden.
Awful glad to see you, Cody for you
are a link that bound me to dear old Fort
r; poor Romaine!" and his face and
voice showed that he had not forgotten
his friend; but he quickly added
Come to my quarters when you are at
leisure, and meet my wife"
You married, Capt Belden?" said.
Yes, fell in love with ghost, and
but III tell you the story LATER
And he did, and weird one it was.
He had travelled for months before he
regained his former good health, and at
last decided to visit his friends grave in
Maryland.
He stopped at tavern in the little viii
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 Romaine's
grave, having been directed how to find the
spot.
In deep reverie as he walked. he had
reached the little burying ground before he
was aware, and then came suddenly to
halt as he drew in sight of white-robed
form kneeling by a 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 tevered brain, and he approached
the grave where it had been kneeling. The
headstone, newly placed there, bore the
name of Lieut.. Hugh Romano.
For days Belden remained at the tavern
and he learned that the Romano family
were all away from home. Each night in
the moonlight, he went to Hugh Romaine's
grave, and each time he put to fight the
ghost at his coming.
Il have solved it," he said to himself,
and he added, without further explanation
of the mystery:
And love that ghost"
The next evening he went earlier to the
sacred spot, hid himself among some cedars
and waited
Soon after, in the twilight, two men ap-
peared, and they, too, hid themselves in
the foliage near the grave, while Lieut..
Belden calmly awaited developments.
Later the ghost was seen approaching
timidly, as though anxious to avoid being
seen by any wandering mortal in the Aes6
that might be near
Nearer the white-robed figure came
passed in through the iron gate that led
INTO the brick-walled burying ground. and
Knelt by the side of Hugh Romaine's grave
linen the two men appeared suddenly.
and sprang upon the "ghost" A smoth
cred shrek followed, and next upon the
scene came Oscar Belden.
lie was an athlete, tremendously hard
hltter, and in a moment he had two
stunned men at his feet and ghost" that
had swooned in his arms.
!, man whom nothing ratified, he placed
the white-robed form upon the bed Of fresh
lowers upon Romaine's grave, and with
handkerchief and neckscarf enforced by
revolver, quickly made the men prisoners,
Just as the ghost" awoke to consciousness
ana the interesting situation.
The ghost" explained She was young
girl who lived y fine old home half
mile away, and adjoining the Romaine
estate.
The men were workmen upon her ia.
theirs place, and their object was to force
a large sum of money from her, under
threat of making her secret known. for the
secret was that the Elwoods her family,
and the Romaines had been bitter foes
for generations, while she and HUGH Ro.