Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1890 — SPECTER OF THE CLIFFS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SPECTER OF THE CLIFFS

An Adventure in the Far West.

BY AD H. GIBSON.

Y HE bold, far-sweeping Rockies were veiled in the I purple shadows that succeed early nightfall. Kfc Earnest Tune was belated. He had been in urs ui t of mountain Wt, grouse up a wild, interminable canyon, and he jL/j was now returning to, camp over a rough, rocky way, leading £ through lonely gorges,

such as one sees nowhere as in the picturesque State of Colorado. His pony had that day lost a shoe. Hence, it was not possible to urge the animal rapidly over the unevon road, or Tune, much as he wished to get back to his comrade at the camp, disliked to be inhuman enough to do so. Occasionally, his path would be surrounded by high, dark, frowning ridges of rock, whispering pine trees clung and seemed to awe into murmurless subjection the dwarf cedars below them. Then, again, down into picturesque gullies, with limpid mountain streams urging their torturous courses among the eternally silent bowlders that jutted ever and anon across the canyons and gulches through which he guided his pony. At one of these beautiful streams Earnest Tune reined in and permitted the thirsty animal to drink. One by one the stars had crept out in the violet vault above, so far, far above, from horse and rider in the gorge. Dense shadows lurked about and refused to

yield space to the dainty starlight that dared invade those dark, gloomenshronded recesses. The young man looked about him. The night was calm. The scene was sublime. Here the din and tinsel display of boasted civilization were unknown. To a young fellow used all his life to a home in a gay Eastern city, the gulch, with its gloomy mountains reaching away phantasmally into the night, held something inexpressibly fascinating, almost divine. To his right, and overlooking the spot where he had paused, loomed bold, outstanding cliffs, their rugged sides here and there clothed in meager patches of spruce and pine, their summits gray, vague and barren, as if Ceres and Flora had united in atilicting them with an irremovable, blighting curse. As his eyes swept the shadowy cliffs he started and almost leaped from his saddle. Earnest Tune was an educated man and not given to superstition and wild imaginings. He had always hooted the idea of supernatural visitations. But now! He was confronted by an apparition as beautiful as it was " startling. Brave as he was, he felt his blood grow chilly, and he seemed deprived of the power to speak or stir. The spectacle that enchained his gaze was a most lovely object, ghostly though it was. A beautiful girl, clad in a white, flowing dress, with wild masses of midnight tresses falling around a pale, delicate face, stood revealed on the lone mountain side. She stood directly within the halo of a strange, greenish light that glowed steadily, casting its deathly hues around the weird yet namelessly lovely figure of the cliffs. “Great heavens!” he managed at last to articulate, though his voice was hoarse and unnatural. “Am lin a dream ? How awful, yet how beautiful!” With one pale hand she motioned him away, away. But Earnest sat as if transfixed, and continued to gaze with terrified fascination upon the spectral object of the cliffs. What could she mean by waving him off ? Suddenly the animal ceased drinking, lifted its head, saw the specter in all its beauty and awfulness, uttered a snort of terror, and ere the spell-bound rider knew it the pony had cleared the rocky stream, leaped away through the dusk of the gorge, and was rapidly bearing him from the ghostly vision on the mountain. When Earnest succeeded in quieting down his animal, they had got too far to go back. He was venturesome enough to do so, and resolved to investigate the mystery on the following night, alone, if he could not persuade his friend to' accompany him. The pony trembled in every limb and showed evidence of deep fright. Very soon horse and rider stopped before a tent in a charming green valley, not more than two miles from the haunted cliffs. Earnest dismounted, put his horse away, and entered the tent, where his comrade was waiting supper for him. Earnest Tune and Willard Kollerton were young men from New' York, out on a sporting expedition in the West. Rollerton, a good-looking, well-made, dark-eyed fellow, was engaged to pretty Gertrude Tune, Earnest’s only sister. The marriage was set for early winter, and the young friends were enjoying an outing in Colorado ere the wedding came off.

As Earnest entered the tent, Willard I greeted him: ! “Hello! you didn’t find the grouse? But, I say, old pard, you are as pale as a spook.” “Ami?” Earnest said, as indifferently as he could; and he removed his hat and approached his friend, saying: j “Just have the kindness to tell me if I ! have turned gray.” Willard playfully ran his fingers through the luxuriant gold-brown i curls of his sweetheart’s brother (so i like the tresses he loved), and ani swered laughingly: “I find no silver threads among the gold. But what j mystery have you to unfold? I know I from your manner you have met with j some adventure. Come, let us eat, ! and as we do so, you can recount any thrilling Ute encounter or spectral vision that you may have been favored with.” And Earnest obeyed. As they ate their supper of delicious, fresh wild game, he told Willard all that we have told the reader with regard to the specter of the cliffs. "Willard listened with strange interest as his friend described the lonely vision. What could it be? He agreed at once to assist Earnest in investigating the mystery. “How far are the cliffs from here?” “Not more than two miles,” Earnest Tune replied. “Then, as it is early, let us go this very night. Come, let us load our guns and be equipped should any danger menace us,” Willard said in a cautious way, as they finished a hasty meal. They were soon capped and equipped for their adventure.

“Now t lead the way, Earnest. I never saw a ghost in my life, and I am all impatient to see one.” “Perhaps the visionary maiden will not appear again to-night. But I hope she may. Willard,” suddenly changing his tone, “how does it happen that you never thought to doubt my strange story? Perhaps I imagined it all.” “Your looks and manner convinced me at once that something unusual had happened to you. Ido not doubt that you saw what you have related. But to discover what it really is, is my mission. I never see anything mysterious but I try to ascertain its real nature. Now lead on.” Earnest started to do so But when he gained the door of the tent he became rooted to the spot. There, gliding swiftly over the flower-gemmed valley, in the starlight, brighter here, and approaching the tent, was the lovely soecter of the cliffs. She was clad in her white robes, but the strange light that had surrounded her had vanished. The young men watched her approach with a strange, spell-bound wonder in their gaze. What could it mean ? She seemed to float toward them instead of walking. The pleasant camp-fire threw out a crimson reflection across the little space before the tent and illumined the white lady as she came on. Breathlessly Earnest and Willard awaited her approach. She drew near and halted a few' feet from them. Making a motion to secure their silence by placing the lily fingers of her shapely hand over her lips, she spoke: “Not a word—not & question. If you would save your lives, follow me.” Not like a ghost’s sepulchral voice, but like the dulcet ripples of a gentle cascade among mountain fastnesses, came those words of peculiar import. “Follow me,” repeated the voice. “You will soon be in peril. I will lead you to a place of safety.” Should they heed the voice? The strange vision, or whatever it was, started away across the valley, beckoning them to follow*. It was too much for Earnest Tune and Willard Boilerton, in the flush and wonder of their adventurous young manhood, to resist. They never paused to question the plausibility of the sudden warning. They shouldered their guns and set forth at a rapid gait, following closely in the rear of the specter of the cliffs. Dimly through the gloom of the gorge they followed their odd guide. From what danger unseen was she conducting them ? They never stopped to ask themselves, but kept on. She might be leading them into a trap. So intent were they on solving the mystery they never gave that fear a thought. , On and on she led them. Over hard, uneven, rocky paths, over dangerous chasms where a single misstep would have proved certain death, and on into the dark mountains they went. At last the ghostly guide stopped under a large, shelving crag that jutted out over a considerable space of the

gorge :>elow. The pine trees of funereal darkness sighed and moaned, like lost spirits, in the mountain wind. Wild, dreary and lonesome tUe spot was. Earnest and Willard came also to a halt. The spirit maiden again spoke: “Here you are safe.” Earnest, who could control his curiosity no longer, cried through the gloom that divided them from their guide: “Are you spirit or flesh? For God’s sak, speak, I entreat you!” A low, silvery laugh answered him. A specter laugh! Oh, horrible! “Draw nearer, and I shall answ r er you,” the sweet voice said. The young men did as requested. They leaned on their guns and awaited the information almost breathlessly. “The superstitious Indians and miners about this gulch call me the ‘Specter Maiden of the Cliffs,’ the spirit of an emigrant’s daughter murdered here several years ago by a party of Mormon Danites disguised as Indians.” The young men felt a thrill of horror run through them. She went on: “Such a dark deed really did occur years ago in this very gorge. Taking advantage of that fact and the superstition of the natives, my captors have made me play specter on the cliffs around this crag.” An exclamation of surprise burst from the listeners and Earnest asked: “Your captors? Who are they? Tell us and we will gladly rescue you. “Listen. My father- and I were encamped near here nearly two years ago. One dark night a band of men dressed as Utes attacked us. They

robbed us of everything, sparing our lives only on our promise to go quietly with Ihem to their mountain fastnesses. Life was dearer than death, so we accepted the chiefs terms. Our captors proved to be a band of robbers, white outlaws and lialf-breed fiends. Most of the men have Indian wives and live in the mountains near this gorge. 1 was treated kindly, after their rough fashion My father has been confined a close prisoner in a cave. The chief agrees to release him only on his word of honor to espouse outlawry and aid in their da k acts. Of course he re fuses.

“The officers from one of the neighboring towns, where a bank was robbed a year ago, have been searching for the robbers’ quarters. Their guides are Indians. Knowing their belief in ghosts and such like spectral phenomena, I was made to dress in white to scare them away from this part. Strange lights were put at my feet, and I sup pose my appearance was truly frightful. Anyway, the ghost business acted like a charm in scaring away the

poor red guides. Only this evening I was obliged to play my ghostly role, as the officers were suppo-.ed to be in the gorge.” “It was I,” said Earnest, “and I assure yon I was considerably startled. But how did you happen to warn us?” “The robbers discovered your little camp, and, learning you were tenderfeet on a hunting trip, they decided to attack you. I overheard their plans, and the time set for h? attack. I had seen your camp from the mountain. I determined to make great risks to save you. For the first time since our capture, every robber except mv father’s guard, left the quarters. Then was my time. Telling the chief’s squaw that I had to go to the cliffs to play specter, I easily got away.” “God bless you, noble girl,” said Willard, sincerely. “You have not told us your name.” “My name is Olive Glissom,” she said, simply. “Olive Glissom!” repeated Willard Bollerton, in an excited voice. “Are you the daughter of Abner Glissom, of C.', in Ohio?”

“Abner Glissom is my father.” “Abner Glissom is my mother's youngest brother, and you are my own cousin, Olive,” cried the young fellow joyfully, pressing warmly the little ha--cl she permitted him to take. “Cousin Willard, I am glad to know you; and how r sorry lam that the foolish coolness between our parents has prevented our ever meeting. How strange to meet you here.” “It is, indeed. But how happened it that you and Uncle Abner came out to these wilds ?” “Father w-as unfortunate in his business in Ohio. So we started to the Colorado mines, only to fall into these robbers’ hands.” “Mv poor Olive!” said her newly found kinsman, sympathetically. “But let us not waste time. Tune and I are well armed. Lead the way and we will rescue your father at all hazards.” “We must be cautious,” said the brave, beautiful girl. “All depends on caution. I happen to know where the officers are watching to-night.' It is not far. We will approach the cave where poor father has been held so long a prisoner. W T e will go by a back path with which I am well acquainted. We will attempt the rescue, and God grant we may be successful. Then we will go to the officers and ask protection, for we are as nothing compared with the outlaws in numbers and strength.” “Why not get the officers’ help first ?” inquired Willard. “Because that would take time, which must not be wasted. The robbers will not return for an hour at least. By that time we can have father rescued and be on our way to ]oin the officers.” It was decided to follow Olive’s plan. So, following her down the gorge, they entered a rough, steep path ascending the mountain. The girl had thrown a dark cloak about her, concealing her ghostly attire. Under cover of the night and the solemn, brooding cedars, they drew near the cave. Dimly, as they peered from behind a large rock, they could make out a solitary 4 man sitting on a flat stone by the mouth. Creeping softly, slyly toward him, Olive Glis-f-on flung her cloak over the head of the unsuspecting guard. He attempted to cry out, but her able assistants were too quick for him and had him gagged and bound before he had uttered a syllable. Then Abner Glissome, pale and thin from long confinement, was released. He was surprised and delighted beyond measure to learn that one of his rescuers was the son of the sister from whom he had long suffered estrangement. They found the officers easily and sent them on the robbers’ trail. The chief was captured, with some of his, most notorious allies, and the mountain gang was broken up. Our friends reached New York safely, and then a happy reunion took place. There followed a double wedding at Christmas time, when “peace on earth” found a true echo in each heart.

“AS HIS EYES SWEPT THE SHADOWY CLIFF HE STARTED AND ALMOST LEAPED FROM THE SADDLE."

“A SOLITARY MAN SITTING ON A FLAT STONE."