The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-12-20
She Only
to a Child
BY F. A. Mitchell

pfebseu ny luuoe lcSShuS 'H"t NV "''
IN vogue among peoples nearer 10 M
ture Science. while IL has advanced
US, has taken much Of the imagination
out of rs. leaving US like the stalks
from which lowers have been stripped.
[ have enyied those untutored persons
who still believe the dead may ut
times mingle with the living.
y While travelling In Spain stopped
for few days in the province OF La
Alancha. 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. wenl
through the gate and came upon the
sexton, who was digging a grave. II
was a peaceful place, a hamlet Of tht
dead, each In his parrOw cell. and !
found myself regarding 1t as such
rather than that the heaped mounds
should cover only earth. ! spoke to the
sexton, who got ont 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. senior
he replied
"Iu what formY"
"Or moonlight night | have seen
airy figures moving about among the
tOmbS
"Near by or from distance
From a distance. They are shy OF
us mOrtuls.
Don't you think what you say you
have seen were rays Of moonlight com
ing thrOnga the branches OF the treeS?'
"Oh. no. senior" he replied They
are really the dead But 1t is Of nC
use TO try to get near them. for MS SonE
as m0rtas approach they become in
visible"
Are there no persons they will per
NIT to approach them?"
Now, | asked the question with n
purpose. for confess am not dis
believer In communications between
the living aud the dead and have Il he.
lief in the theory that some persons are
susceptible Of being impressed by spir
its--in other words. are mediums
The man leaned on his spade and ap
peared 10 be thinking The southern
sun gilded his wrinkled brow as he
framed his reply, and II occurred to me
that lie would make fine model fol-
an artist
"The only persons have ever known
them to appear to in their human
shapes are children. There is one per
son buried here--a wOmanwho will
always manifest, herself to child
They say, senior, that she lost all OF
her children before they reached the
age Of twelve. II child comes here
she will arise from her grave and sit
upon the tomb built over it and look al
the little one wistfully."
This was something definite, and !
became Interested win she permit q
child to approach herr" | asked.
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. Ii they
come>it Is under the care OF older per
sons"
And do the older persons see this
spirit?"
NO. senOr they do not"
II cannot believe your story, but ]
admit there is something about it that
appeals to me"
III senor will bring child he will
he convinced"
Thut would he easy was travelling
with party OF Americans, among
whom were several children could
easily bring one OF them to the church
yard. chatted for some time longer
with the sexton; then. putting n piece
Of money 10 hIs hand and telling him ]
would be with him the next afternoon
left him.
There was boy OF seven in our
party, a delicately organized little fel
low, and asked him the next da!
10 20 TO walk with me. lie gladly as
scented, and I took him to the church
ward The sexton WAS there putting
supports under some Of the tOtterine
stones. and | chatted with him while
the boy played among the tomhsr J
sept INV eye on the child and presently
saw him looking in the direction Of
the tomb OF the lady who appeared to
children Then he hogan to move
slowly toward Il. The sexton noticed
him and gave me a knowing look. The
boy kept his eye fixed on the tomb
aud approached 1t with timid steps.
when he came near 1t he paused.
Then presently he turned and retraeed
his steps
why did You 90 to that tombT |
asked him
Because ! saw a lady sitting on 1t
who beckoned me to come to her But
when got to the tomb she wasn't
there"
what became Of herr"
Il don't know"
/ mi 1T III