Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-03-18
THE HAUNTED HOUSE.

| we halted Tor the night on the German frontier,
AZ the small town of Briesbach. Aphonse Duche-
nois and myself were quariered at the "White
Swan Hotel" The landlord received us courte-
ously, and Immediately conducted US to the supper
table, where we found party of fifteen or twenty
persons earnestly engaged in a conversation, the
| thee of which was haunted house. Without
giving much attention the chat of our neighbors,
we SOON discovered thai the house which bore this
lepulsivc name situated in the vicinity Of the
town, ami had become perfect terror 10 the IN
lhabitants thereof
On applying to our host for history of the build
ing, he gave us tho following particulars:
.I'ha Haunted iio1se was large stone mansion
which siooi at the dis;cnce Of German, milo from
Sriesoaen, in sscioded spot, sussnunted by bcau-
titul gardens and pleasure grounds. The original
proprietor, an old bachelor, had been dead two
years. lie bequeathed the bulk of his property to
an only brother, and our landlord. In the division
OF the estate, dispute in regard to the stone
mansion. Recourse was had 10 the courts, ana
the property was decreed to our host. Shortly af-
ter the termination of the suit, he proceeded 10
take possession OF the house. The interior was
arranged suit the convenience of his family bat
on the very first night of their occupancy, they
were thrown into q state of the utmost constema-
ton, by the appearance of spectre. As the SUI
pornaturai visited each room, not a doubt existed
of the reality. The consequence was, that the
whole family left the house al the dawn OF day OH
the following morning. Since thai time the place
had been completely deserted.
! Our host, after endeavosng in vain to sell the
property, had at length offered large SUN to Any
person who would pass the night in the house.
Equally in vain. Not a man IN Briesbaeh would
attempt it.
| My companion, Alphonse, was veteran in ser-
vice. possessed of great courage, anu fond of adj
venture. AT the conclusion of the landlords story,
he at once offered to make his coucl, in the haunt
ed house. Our host seized his offer with avidity,
and had bed prepared for him. Alphonse inn
mediaiely repaired to the building, and after
fully examining the interior, locked the outer door
and Withdrew the key from the lock. lie then
sought his bed, taking the precaulion to place his
pistols (well loaded) under his pillow, and his
sword at his side. lie had slept, as he supposed,
about two hours, when he was aroused by noise
in the room. he arose in the bed, and cried ou:,
Who goes there! No reply: but suddenly, as il II
had risen through the floor, tall, thin figure, in
white, stood before him. Alphonse seized and
fred both pistols To his surprise, the balls boa,-
dcd back into his face. Nothing daunted, he sprung
to the floor, and sword in hand he rushed upon the
figure, cxciaiming, il lead viii not affect you,
will see IL steel can. ssStop,n shouted the figure,
vi am like yourself, man.o
| Alphonse grasped the arm Of tho spcctre---now,
said he, tell me by what means you returned my
pistol balls. sBy the most simple in the world,''
replied the other. | saw you when you entered
this room, and noticed all your actions. When
was sure that ycur sleep sound, took the riN'
tolls from Under your head, drew the balls, and
placed the pistols When you fired, threw the
balls at you. ! attempted to take your sword, buI
in 50 doing overturned table, and that awoke you
My companion Immediately conducted his visi-
tor of the night to the White Swan, and presented
him TO The aslonshed landlord, who nj once recog-
nized in the spectre, the only brother Of the de-
ceased bachelor. After much questioning on the
part of our host, il appeared that the spectre had
slept in the stone mansion every night since the
dscease Of his brother; that he had managed to
secrete himself in sneh manner, that no one
could discover his whereabout; that no had one Of
the servants of the Swan in his pay; md that tho
object of all this strange conduct, was TO depfec-
ate the price Of the property, and enable him 10
purchase il AT a low rate.
! Upon hearing this, the landlord proposed TO sell
the property 10 the spectre NJ fair price, and stop
all further proceedings. The proposition was ac-
cepted, as we eit the White Swan under n heavy
| fire Ct thanks from both Sides