The Dalles daily chronicle. (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, June 04, 1891, Page 4, Image 4

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    . . ,
THE WRAITH OF Sl'COYl
,When 1 was sixteen years of age 1
Yatd a- Yisit to an nncle and an aunt of
ay father's, who lived on the family es
tate in Scotland. My grandnncle was
well to do in this world's goods, and had
Jad leisure to devote his life to scientific
arsuits and to write abont his ideas and
discoveries. He had an exceedingly well
arranged laboratory, and dabbled in
TerythinR. He was. perhaps, of a more
practical-turn of mind than most scien
tists, for he not only theorized and ex
perimented, but tnrned his" knowledge to
aoconnt, and thereby made bis home
rather alarming to ignoramuses. Doors
apened and shut, and bells rang, suem
ingly as he willed them. He had mnil(
af electricity a sort of Rervant of all
work.
The Scotch domestics gave warning in
a body the first evening that the hall
lamp lighted itself. They considered the
proceeding "nacanny," and my aam
confided to me that it was a most exjx-n
ive illumination
"However." she added, "a man shonld
be master in his own house, and bus a
eight to spend his money as .he pleases,
o I say nothing."
For her part she liked going about
"among the poor" not to give alms
Scottish poor folk seldom want that.
She helped them to work for themselves;
started poor widows in little penny
hops; put boys to trades: found places
for young housemaids and lent small
aoms of money to be paid back in drib
lets when the honest folk could do it.
She worked in the right way, and left
them their self respect. Mere charity
never does that.
The house was well furnished with ar
ticles that would enrapture those! who
are bitten with the present madness fur
"old things." Square rugs lay on the
polished oakf n floors, and great orange
trees grew in tubs in each of the si
windows of the drawing room. Outside,
in summer, was a gay little flower gar
It was, however, not a pretty part of
the country. It was grand and solemn.
Beyond lay mountains apt to be covered
with dim, gray mist. Nearby a loch,
the waters of which seldom sparkled,
and in dull weather seemed perfectly
black, and from the heights on which
ny uncle's dwelling stood, a road de
scended into a valley, deep and lonely,
walled about with great rocks, its vege
tation sparse and coarse, and lying here
and there so many mighty bowlders
that one could fancy giants had hurled
them at each other in the course of some
tremendous fight Far away, above all.
arose a tall, curious shaftlike object,
which one could scarcely believe the
work of nature. Its local name was
Daffy's Darning Needle, and on its sum
mit was an eagle's nest. The eagles
awooped down upon the sheepfolds to
...their owner's cost at lambing time, but
were perfectly safe, as the needle was
inaccessible even to the Scottish , boys,
"who can climb anything climbable.
It was my delight to mount my pony.
Jackanapes, and go galloping off over
the country. No one objected to my go
ing alone. 1 was quite safe. There was
nothing improper in it. Every one I saw
knew me, and I gained health and
atrength by it
k What with oatmeal for breakfast and
these rides, my cheeks grew round and
rosy and spirits high. 1 forgot at last
even that it might be possible for me to
lose myself, until one day 1 actually did
it at 5 o'clock in the' afternoon too,
with the autumn day suddenly drawing
to a close under a cloudy sky. which
threatened one of those furious moun
tain rain storms which only those who
nave experienced can appreciate.
Lost 1 laughed to myself but all 1
nave to do is 'to trust to the pony. Jacka
napes certainly could not lose himself so
near home.
However. Jackanapes had either done
that very thing, or was obstinate and de
termined to make me find my own way.
The storm came on. The way grew per
fectly dark, and 1 fancied that 1 heard
a torrent roaring somewhere near me,
dashing over a precipice. There was
much a thing in the neighborhood, 1
knew. Life was as sweet to me then as
to any human being who ever lived, and
I succumbed to terror, soaked to the skin,
shivering from head to foot, daring to
move neither to the right nor to the left,
i and expecting death every, moment , 1
threw my plaiddie over my face and
burst into tears. In fact. 1 cried like a
baby. , ...
"Oh, me! Oh. tneV 1 moaned. "I
hall never see any of them againl What
- a death to die! . What a death to die!"
At this instant 1 felt my pony tremble
beneath me. He trembled as a human
being does in mortal terror, quivered all
ver, and seemed about to fall to the
w ground. I uncovered my face. All had
been dark when 1 veiled it in the great
horror of Being nothing, but now I saw .
something a light .which resembled
ery cold moonlight, so white that one
might almost call it blue. It shone,
strangely enough, at about the height of
a man's head.- -
What was it? My blood curdled. 1
was conscious of that curious condition
of skin which either cold or terror will
produce, which children call "goose
flesh." I could not have spoken a word
to save my soul, lor the object before
me appeared to be a human figure,
formed of some transparent, luminous
substance, and was a more perfect ghost
than is pleasant to contemplate in a lone
ly spot at nightfall.
Almost instantly, however, Isaw, with
a sudden flush of joy that set my blood
in motion on the instant, that my terror
had deceived me. It was a man who
stood there, clad in what seemed to be a
white flannel suit and holding a lantern
over hia head, i ; : u
"That a Miss Maisie7" said a voice
that was the voice of a gentleman. . -i
"Oh, yes!" said .L.I am lostk 1
thought I should die. Oh, 1 am so glad!
So glad! Quiet, Jackanapes!" For the
pony trembled more than ever." - -'
"The animal is afraid of me," said th
' figure. .-."Can you dismount? I dare not
approach - you otherwise, for if 1 1 do
Jackanapes will run away and, perhaps,
w-..,- V"N. f b- -jT-dash
you over .:the precipice. I will re
tire: dismount and, I .will return. Da
not fear anything. I will take care of
you." . ... . . '
He was gone. Doubtless- he only shut
the lantern, but he appeared to vani.'a.
Jackanapes ceased to shudder. I left
the saddle, though I was hardly able to
move for my wet skirts, and stood by
his side. Instantly the stranger was at
mine, and as he reappeared my pony
kicked up his heels and dashed away up
the road.
"Never fear; he will take care of him
self," said the stranger. "Follow me."
He led the way. The darkness had
concealed from me the fact that I was
very near a house. A wide door was
flung open. Within 1 saw a deep hall
floored with oak, at the end of which a
fire roaml in a great chimney. I was
seated in a huge chair, my garments dry
ing with curious rapidity. My hobt
stood near me a handsome man with
'his long, curling, golden hair and beard,
and a sort of hunting dress of white flan
nel. He smiled on me, but said nothing
until I spoke.
"They will be frightened at home." 1
said.
"I will not be long." said he coldly.
"I am so thankful to you," I hastened
to add. "So very thankful."
He did not answer in any conventional
manner. His reply was this:
"You have good reason to be. A deatli
in the cold waters of the torrent is not to
be desired, nor is a- violent death of any
sort Nature seems to forbid it. Thank
heaven for life, little girl."
"And afterward you," said L
He bowed gravely, then went toward
some great piece of furniture, on which
Bilver seemed to shimmer in the firelight,
and brought thence a goblet of wine.
"Drink." he said.
. 1 drank. I was warmed, comforted: a
sort of dreamy delight stole over me. 1
heard music; 1 saw "figures pass to and
fro. I did not quite comprehend what 1
saw: a delicious slumber came on the
wings of the music and enfolded me
For awhile I was delightfully conscious
that I slept. Then I was obliterated
Cries and shouts aroused me. 1 strag
gl id to open my eyes. . I heard my nauie.
"Maisie! Maisie!" shouted from afar I
heard the clatter of hoofs.
"There! There she is! There she is!
in my uncle's voice.
- 1 saw half a dozen mounted riders ap
proaching over the fresh, sun lit slope of
a great hill, and I saw that I sat among
ruins, close to : the time worn, weather
bleached wreck of an old chimney, the
high mantel of which projected over my.
head. .The roof of the house, was gone
only one wall remained. , About me lay
stones and mortar, blackened wood and
all the tokens of a dwelling destroyed by
fire and abandoned for years to the ele
ments. There was no wide hall, no glowing
fire, no sideboard laden with silver, no
host attired in white to offer me beakers
of wine: but 1 was dry,-warm and -com
fortable, notwithstanding.
My uncle burst into tears, clasped me
to his heart, and in doing so changed his
tune and lectured me for losing myself
Jackanapes had come home riderless
My aunt thought me dead on the road,
and was ill with grief and terror. Anil
how did 1 find the ruins? And what a
mercy that . I had not gone over the
precipice near by! So they bore me
home. And I kept my own counsel
said not one word of my experience un
til our kindly neighbors had been break
fasted and gone their ways. Then 1 re
lated it.
"It must have been delirium," 1 said
Yet it seemed so real."
"My dear Maisie," said my uncle, "in
Scotland we are astonished at nothing ,
1 have myself heard this story before
from four people who were rescued in the
same way. and saw the same wraith and
the same restoration of those ruins that
you describe. My grandfather, a poor
country woman with her babe in her
arms, Mrs. McLynn of the Heights and
my sister Constance have narrated the
same adventure. Everybody knows the
Haunted Ruins, but we have a special
interest in it. Long ago a handsome
young man, by name Alexander McCoy,
was sole heir to the place, then the hand
somest residence hereabout, as one may
well imagine. He had all that could
make life happy, but he chose to fall iu
love with an ancestress of ours, who
flirted with and jilted him. Her por
trait hangs on the library wall, a saucy
dark eyed girl in her teens. He thought
life worthless without the jade, and the
night she married some one else, set fire
to his old house and committed suicide
by jumping over the precipice into the
torrent- It is said he also appeared to
her at midnight but that he said. '1
forgive you.'
"The fancy is that it is the spirit of the
suicide, who thus expiates his sin. and
that when he shall have rescued a cer
tain number of persons he. will be per
mitted to rest The story is always the
same. The luminous object, the figure
with the lantern, the great hall, the de
lightful fire, the wine, the handsome
host with his white costume and golden
beard, the wakening among the ruins.
If a horse or a dog be present the animal
quivers in abject 'terror as your pony
did. Horses assuredly either see spirits
or think that they da They have more
supernatural terrors than men or
women." : ' ,. - r , .
"But. uncle, said t, "1 really am
afraid 1 am not quite Scotch enough to
understand all this. The ghost of a sui
cide is all very natural, but the ghosts
of a house, of an oak floor, of a blazing
fire, of glimmering silver; the ghosts
also of delicious wine, and of a great
armchair in which I slept delightfully
can these things be? Had I not better
call it a dream?"
"You may call it what you like." said
my uncle. "Science has yet found no
name for, these , mysteries, though I be
lieve she will . some day.: . But what . the
people here about will -say wH be just
this, 'Miss Maisie has seen- the wraith of
the McCoy.' That is what they call it.
my . dear." Mary Kyle Dallas in New
York Ledger. - --
The most beautiful unmarried royal
girl in all Europe is the Princess Alix.
of Hesse-Darmstadt.
ENTERPRISING INDIAN SETTLERS.
Wonderful Trmnnforoufctlon by , Redskin
. oftbe Island of Metlakahtia.
Rev. W. Duncan, of Metlakahtia,
Alaska, is a portly, benevolent looking
old gentleman . of . perhaps sixty-five
years, and the world has been made
better by the grand work in which the
declining years of his life are being
spent. When interviewed, by a reporter
he was reticent at first in speaking of
the fruits of his philanthropic labors in
the land by the frozen sea, saying that a
description of the colony he had founded
would seem better coming from the lips
of disinterested parties.
"Metlakahtia," said the venerable mis
sionary, "is situated on an island in the
archipelago in the southeastern part of
Alaska. It is a eoleny founded three
years and a half ago, when I organized
thirteen bands of British Columbia In
dians, and by showing them the virtues
of a city and government of their 'own
and instilling in their minds the beauties
of a civilized existence, induced them to
migrate to the far north, where they
would live in peace and security and
where they would not be disturbed in
their peaceful possessions.
"Today there is a city of 800 souls at
Metlakahtia, and .the settlement is a
flourishing and happy one. I am one of
those who reject the declaration that the
only good Indian is the dead one. I am
able to demonstrate that the best Indian
is a live one.
"Three years ago the forest primeval
stood on the site where now many happy
Indians live, in many pleasant cottages.
There are sixty -one 'capacious houses in
the city. For three years I was the only
white man in the settlement I have re
cently been joined by an assistant, how
ever, in the person of Dr. Blewett. You
might Bay that the Indians have an eye
to real estate values, for they all wanted
corner lots, so that I was compelled to
divide the blocks each into four lots.
Everybody is satisfied, for an inside lot
is not to be found there.
"The inhabitants live by hunting and
fishing, but the latter occupation has
branched out into a large industry now,
and I am here to obtain necessary ma
chinery and an outfit for a salmon can
nery there. " - (
"I would rather have a tourist speak
of our colony than to dwell upon its
merits myself. Should you visit our
island you would be surprised to find a
city. of Indians and natives with only
two exceptions. We have a government
which is an Indian council presided over
by an. Indian chief. The young ones are
taught in commodious schools, and in
my absence a native teacher is instruct
ing them.-
"In olden days the Indian tribes were
envious of each other, and fends were
incessant aud war was a business. In
our colony the hatchet is buried out of
sight, the tribal jealousies are forgotten
in the educated life and the- weapons of
war have been molded into implements
of peace. '.
, -"We have a native corps of constables
and officers to attend to the city's health
and sanitation. We have entertainments,
too, and splendid music is furnished by
our Indian band of twenty instruments.
We have a large sawmill conducted by
Indians, and never was a happier colony
than that of the British Columbia Indians
on the island of Metlakahtia." Seattle
Telegraph.
. . His Critics! .
"What it takes to make a paradise;"
some one has said, "depends upon the
person who is going there." There was
once an artist who painted a picture of
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
It was exhibited publicly. . One day the
painter, entering the hall, saw two men
who appeared to be farmers, standing
before the picture.
"Now," said the artist to himself, "I
can hear an unprejudiced opinion of my
work."
He drew near and listened to what the
farmers were saying.
"Weil, John." said one, "what do yon
think of it?"
"It's pretty good," said the other, "but
there's one thing about it that strikes
me as a little mite queer."
"What's that?"
"Why, he's got Eve with a Rhode Isl
and greening in her hand."
"Well, what of it?"
"Hum! Seeing that the first Rhode
Island greening was raised in this cen
tury, I don't quite see how they could
have had them in paradise!" , ' '.
"No greenings!" exclaimed the other,
contemptuously; "how do you suppose
they could have got along in the Garden
of Eden without Rhode Island green
ings?" Youth's Companion.
Safe Sheep Stealing.. -
Among the guests at the Palace is
Joseph Cohen, of Red Bluff, who is
credited with owning nearly or quite
half of that 'portion of the state lying
north of Yuba county . Sheep and cattle
form the greater portion of Mr. Cohen's
wealth aside from his landed interests,
and it is said that in order to acquit a
man who has been arrested for sheep or
cattle stealing it is only necessary - to
prove that they were stolen from Joseph
Cohen. , ' ' "
' "At one time,"' said United States At
torney Garter, "I was employed by Mr.
Cohen to transact a portion of his legal
business, &nd among other things I had
to assist in the prosecution of men for
stealing sheep. I can truthfully say that
I do not know of a single case where a
man was convicted by a jury when it
was proved by the defense that the prop
erty had originally belonged to Cohen."
-San Francisco Call. . . , ...... , '
: . . ,. , HI". Excuse, ' (1
.. Clara (at the wane of the . honeymoon)
Dearest, don't you love me as much as
ever? Am I not as sweet as I was? -
Charles Yes; I suppose you are. But,
then, sweetness is not what it was. Yon
can get twenty pounds of sugar now for
one dollar. Pittsburg Bulletin. t
. Sometimes . there is "spasm of the mus
cles of accommodation. . , In this case (bit
person may seem to be near, sighted
while really far sighted, or greatly : near
sighted while only slightly so. - The ocu
list alone can treat such eyes.
8J1IPE8 & KWERSLl
WtalEsale and Retail Drnajists.
-DEALERS IN-
Fine Imported, Key West and Domestic
PAINT
Now is the time to paint your house
and if yon wish' to get the best quality
and a fine color use the
Slierwhi, Williams Co.'s Paint.
For those wishing to see the quality
and color of the above paint we call their
attention to the residence of S. L. Brooks,
Judge Bennett, Smith French and others
painted by Paul Kreft.
Snipes & Kinersly are agents for the
above paint for The Dalles. Or.
Don't Forget the
EJST EjlD
MacMali Bros., Preps.
THE BEST OF
fines, UpR 'and Cigars
ALWAYS ON HAND.
CL E. BiYAD GO.,
Real Estate,
Insurance,
and Loan
AGENCY.
Opera House Bloek,3d St.
Chas. Stubling,
PROPRIETOR OF THK
New Yogt Block, Second St.
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
Liquor v Dealer,
MILWAUKEE BEER ON DRAUGHT.
Health is Wealth !
Db. E. C. "West's Nkkve ikb Brain Tbbat
xent, a guaranteed specific for Hysteria, Dizzi
ness, Convulsions, Fits, Nervous -Neuralgia,
Headache, Nervous Prostration caused by the use
of alcohol or tobacco, Wakefulness, -Mental De
pression, Hoftening of the Brain, resulting in in
sanity and leading to misery, decay and death,
Premature Old Age, Barrenness, Loss of Power
in either sex, Involuntary Ixwses and Spermat
orrhoea caused by over exertion of the brain, self
abuse or over indulgence. - Each box contains
one month's treatment, f 1.00 a box, or six boxes
for $5.00, sent by mail prepaid on receipt of price.
WE GUARANTEE SIX BOXES
To cure any case. With .each order received by
us for six boxes, accompanied by $5.00, we will
send the purchaser our written guarantee to re
fund the money if the treatment does not effect
a cure. Guarantees issued only by
- BLAKELET tc HOUGHTON,
Prescription Druggists,
175 Second St. . ' - : Tlio Dalles, Or.
YOU NKED BUT ASK
Middl VajAby,' Idaho, May 15, 1891.
. . Dr. ANpKRTOoi.:-.Your 8. B. Headache and
it comes for the second bottle. People are eoro
ing ten to twelve-miles to get a bottle to try it
and then they eome back and take three or fimr
bottles at a time. Thank you,, or sending dup
licate bill as mine as displaced. ,
.:. Respectfully,
- . - ., ... . , . , M, A.. FLETCHER.
For sale by all Druggists.
HI,
cWf" I ..7' OHAl'
lilll
, mmmm mmmm mm a
ine uaiies m
is here and has come to stay. It hopes
to win its way to public favor by ener
gy, industry and merit; and to this end
we ask that you give it a fair trial, and
if satisfied with its course a generous
support.
The Daily
four pages of six columns each, will be
issued every evening, except Sunday,
and will be delivered in the city, or sent
by mail for the moderate sum of fifty
cents a month.
Its Objects
will be to advertise the resources of the
city,.and adjacent country, to assist in
developing our industries, in extending
and opening up new channels for our
trade, in securing an open river, and in
helping THE DALLES to take her prop
er position as the
Leading City of Eastern Oregon.
The paper, both daily and weekly, will
be independent in politics, and in its
criticism of political matters, as in its
handling of local affairs, it will be
JUST, FAIR AND IMPARTIAL
We will endeavor to give all the lo
cal news, and we ask that your criticism
of our object and course, be formed from
the contents of the paper, and not from
rash assertions of outside parties.
THE WEEKLY,
sent to any address for $1.50 per year.
It will contain from four to six eight
column pages, and we shall endeavor
to make it the equal of the best. Ask
your Postmaster for a copy, or address.
THE CHRONICLE PUB. GO.
Office, N. W. Cor. Washington and Second Sts.
THE DALLES.
The, Gate City of the Inland Empire is situated at
the head of navigation on the Middle Columbia, and
is a thriving, prosperous city.
ITS TERRITORY.
It is the supply city for an extensive and rich agri
cultural an . grazing country, its trade reaching as
far south as Summer Lake, a distance of over twe
hundred miles. -
THE LARGEST WOOL MARKET.
The rich grazing country along the eastern slope
of the the Cascades furnishes pasture for thousands
of sheep," the wool from "which finds m arket here.
The Dalles is the largest original wool shipping
point in America, about 5,000,000 pounds being
shipped last year.
ITS PRODUCTS.
The salmon fisheries are the finest on the Columbia,
yielding this year a revenue of $1,500,000 which can
and -will be more than doubled in the near future.
The products of the beautiful Klickital valley find
market here, and the country south and east has this
year filled the warehouses,
places to overnowing -with tneir products.
ITS WEALTH
It is the rifihest citv of its sizo on the nnast nnd
money is scattered over and is being . used to develop,
more farming country than is tributary to any other
city-in Eastern Oregon. , . . : ; .
Its situation is unsurpassed! Its climate delight
ful! ' Its 'possibilities iiicalctilable! 'Its resources un
limited! And on these corner stones she stands.
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