The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-08-08
She Appeared Only
to a Child
By F. A. MITCI EL

4 belief in the supernatural are not i'm
pressed by those legends that are still
in vogue among peoples nearer to ma
ture. Science. while it has advanced
us, has taken much of the Imagination
out Of Us, leaving US like the stalks
from which flowers have been stripped.
have envied those untutored persons
who still believe the dead may at
times mingle with the living.
While travelling in Spain stopped
for few days in the province of La
Mancha. The peasants of the region
are much given to legends and believe
in ghosts | was walking through a
valley one day when came to little
church surrounded by the typical yard
studded with tombstones. went
through the gate and came upon the
sexton, who was digging grave. 1t
was peaceful place. hamlet of the
dead, leach in his narrow CELL" and
found myself regarding it as such
rather than that the heaped mounds
should cover only earth. spoke to the
sexton, who got out Of the grave to
answer certain questions asked him.
do you believe the dead ever come
out of their graves and walk about
here?"
II have seen them myself. senor."
he replied.
I'm what form?"
"Of a moonlight night l have seen
airy figures moving about among the
tombs."
"Near by or from a distance?"
"From a distance. They are shy of
us mortals."
Don't you think what you say you
have seen were rays of moonlight COM
ing through the branches of the trees?"
"Oh, no. senor," he replied. "They
are really the dead. But it is of no
use to try to get near them, for as soon
as mortals approach they become in
visible"
"Are there no persons they will per-
NIT to approach them?"
Now, l asked the question with
purpose, for | confess am not dis
believer in communications between
the living and the dead and have a be-
lief in the theory that some persons are
susceptible of being impressed by spir
fts-in other words, are mediums.
The man leaned on his spade and ap-
peared to be thinking. The southern
sun gilded his wrinkled brow as he
framed his reply, and it occurred to me
that he would make fine model for
an artist.
1.-THE only persons have ever known
them to appear to in their human
shapes are children. There is one per-
son buried here-a woman-who will
always manifest herself to child.
They say. senior, that she lost all Of
her children before they reached the
age of twelve. If a child comes here
she will arise from her grave and sit
upon the tomb built over it and look at
the little one wistfully."
This was something definite, and l
became interested will she permit
child to approach herr" asked.
1.-The children who have seen her say
that as they approach she fades away
and when they get to the tomb there is
no one there"
"Do the children only see her when
they are here alone"
"Children are never here alone. They |
are not admitted when alone. If they |
come it is under the care of older per-
sons"
And do the older persons see this
spirt?"
mo, senior: they do not"
II cannbt believe your story. but l
admit there is something about it that
appeals to me-"
"If senior will bring a child he will
be convinced"
That would be easy. was travelling
with a party of Americans. among
whom were several children could
easily bring one of them to the church.
yard. l chatted for some time longer
with the sexton: then. putting piece
of money in his hand and telling him
would be with him the next afternoon.
I left him.
There was boy Of seven in our
party. delicately organized little fel-
low. and l asked him the next day
to go to walk with me. He gladly as
scented. and | took him to the church
yard. The sexton was there putting
supports under some of the tottering
stones, and l chatted with him while
the boy played among the tombs
kept my eye on the child and presently
saw him looking in the direction of
the tomb Of the lady who appeared to
children. Then he began to move
slowly toward it. The sextUn noticed
him and gave me knowing look. The
boy kept his eye fixed on the tomb
and approached 1t with tinnid steps.
When he came near 1t he paused.
Then presently he turned and retraced
his steps.
"Why did you 60 to that tombT l
asked him.
Because ! saw a lady sitting on It
who beckoned me to come to her. But
when ! got to the tomb she wasn't
there"
what became Of her?'
81 don't know"