THE PHANTOM HUNTER;
OR,
LOVE AFTER DEATH.
BY EDWIN EMERSON,
AUTHOR OF “THE WOOD WITCH,” ETC.
NEW YORK:
BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
98 WILLIAM STREET.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by
FRANK STARR & CO.,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Among the earliest settlements of Kentucky was that whichfigures in our story. At the time of the following events itcontained some fifty dwellings, surrounded by strong palisadesto defend them from the savages, besides a well-constructedblock-house, which was not only strongly garrisoned, butclaimed the additional protection of a brass field-piece. Thislast-named instrument presented quite a formidable appearanceto prowling Indians, as it sat on the summit of the block-housereflecting every sunbeam from its polished surface.
One bright afternoon, early in the month of August, therewas an unusual commotion at the Indian frontier post.
The entire population, men and women, old and young,had assembled on a broad, level spot just beyond the limitsof the fort, many of them to look upon a scene such as theyhad never before witnessed. This spot was known as “thegreen,” and it was where the youth of the settlement werewont to repair for their sports, but those gathered there nowwore sad faces, and conversed with each other in low, serioustones. And well they might, for they were there to see aman hung for murder!
Russell Trafford was one of the most honored and highlyesteemed young men of the place, and yet, on this bright Augustafternoon, he was to be put to death for the willful murderof another person, who had enjoyed a like reputation.Being an orphan, the young man had lived with his uncle,Doctor Trafford, in the largest and most substantial cabin inthe settlement, the worthy doctor being a kind but eccentric[10]individual, who could not have loved his nephew more hadthe latter been a son instead. These two had never beenknown to be at odds until very recently, and in fact the peace,harmony and happiness with which they had always lived together,had been a subject of remark on more than one occasion.
But one night, at a late hour, an alarm of fire was raised.The excited settlers, rushing out of their houses, made thestartling discovery that the dwelling of Doctor Trafford wasin flames. It was readily perceived that the fire had alreadymade such headway as to be past extinguishing, but,notwithstanding that fact, crowds of people rushed to the spotto watch the doomed cabin as it burned, and to learn thecause of the catastrophe. Arriving on the scene, the onlyperson they found there was Russell Trafford. The youngman was standing in front of the burning structure, with anopen tinder-box in his hand, gazing up at the flames, pale andsilent. When spoken to he started violently, and then, quicklythrusting the tinder-box in his pocket, he clasped his handsand cried out in tones of mental anguish, that his poor unclewas dead—murdered—burned alive in his