Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-02-05
From the Ladies National Va azins.
A Ghost Story.

FROM the Ladies National Va azins.
A Ghost Story.
BY MISS C. HANSON.
II was evening, but evening in Jamaica, that
itIr aud BEuriOus southern isle. tire compo-
sed Of the fragrant rose and the brilliant torch
wood bIazed from the large CRATE, for in the high
lands even Of that tropic Paradise, Ills was lux
ury desirable N the cool evenings. The mahog-
any floors shone bright as a mirror. On the
walls was a groIesque paper, having NJ rgUiar
distances represented low cottage, The iHha5i
tant Of which, bulky Dulchman, stood before
the door. lie was as high as his dwelling, and
the pipe which he held in bis hand vas equally
dspropouiOned, being nearly Ihe size Of bis own
body. Several pictures. Of naval battles, in mar
row gilt frames, adorned the apartment. al one
end Of which was ponderJus sld--bJarI, pro-
fusely covered with decanlors aud glasses. having
at each corner high candle shade, aud an anti
quated knIie-boX filled with spoons, knives and
/ forks.
/ The occupants ofthis apartment were young
lady Of considerable beauty, an elderly ism ole
apparently her mother, and sill more elderly
man engaged in reading a newspaper.
"Did you hear thai strange sound. last night,
mammal" said the younger female, suddenly ad-
dressing her companion, but speaking in low
tone.
NO, my love, Why"
81 was awake about midnight" she said, look
ing doubuully ut the gentleman, "gud | am sure
heard person walking UP aud down the hall,
next 10 our ROOM"
"What is that you are saving, Constance, in
such low tone!" asked her uncle, looking up
from his newspaper. "Somethihg about strange
noises in the night, eh! You've allowed your
Imagination 10 be affected by the stories told Of
this old house; now wont have your wish spoil
ed in that way. Believe me, my dear, | have
lived here many year, aud never yet saw
ghost"
But I'm sure heard some person walking
along the little hall, al midnight. was awake
full an hour, and heard il as distinctly as hear
my own voice now."
Fudge! All nonsense" said her uncle. "ll
was some one of the servants"
"But was not the house duly lastenedl" said
Mrs. Hartley; recoIlectng the superstition that
her brothers house was haunted, and convinced
from her daughters serious air that she had aclu-
ally heard the steps as related. "Nobody sleeps
int the mansion but our personal servants and old
Adam, who is 10 sick too move. Eliza slept in
our apartment. Did John reposo in yours"
1t is the custom in Jamaca, as in our southern
states for servant to sleep on the floor in his or
her masters or mistress's apartment These
were only servants who slept in Mr.. Cameron S
mansion, the rest being provided for in outhous-
es Mr. Cameron mused moment and said
at is certainly strange. John slept soundIy
in my room all night"
"And Eliza was asleep when | heard the
= sounds" said Constance, "ior though was too
much afraid TO stir, | could still see her lying on
: the hoor."
"And the little hall is the place where the
dead are always laid out" said Mrs. Harley SOL
emnly, for she was peculiar impressbe 10 super
= natual occurrences. "Brother, | really feel
I alarmed, for they tell strange stories of this old
house," and she looked learlulIy around.
The mansion indeed was one 10 awaken feel.
ngs oGawe and superstition. The family grave
J yard solemnly embowered in lis dark expresses,
was in view from the supper-room casement.-
Intricate passages and vague closets fully maln-
tanned, in appearance, the legends which were
related of the dwelling. Deaths of mysterious
nature, it was said, had occurred i'll the family Of
its last possessor, who, on that account, had sold
the mansion, after it had been long deserled.-
: The liue hall, of which we have spoken, was
: never approached by the servants after dark
5 and often, these humble observers had declared
{ white figure had been seen standing at its win
: dow. 1t was the knowledge ofthese facts, whicl
:, the ladies had heard, with many exaggerated de-
Il tails that caused the alarm of Constance anC
her equally imaginative mother.
} Mr.. Cameron, though skeptic as to all su
pernaturaI appearances, had often been stagger
ed by stories of strange sounds vouched for a
= having been heard in his house. o.
J. the night before he had even heard, o
e fancied he heard'the tread of person in the lit
s. tie hail. 10 which his chamber, as well as that z
> his guests was contgSds, that being the pleasan
test part of the dwelling. These sounds he had
IL in the night, attributed TO his imagination, ant
II quietly gone TO sleep again, but now, when h
D heard them testified to by his nece, and at the
T. very hour he recollected 10 have heard then
himself, he was puzzled what to think.
= 81 suspect, Constance" he said, determines
'e not to admit anything, THAT you were dreaming
ne | will venture to promise that you will hear n
IN strange sounds tonight Granting you wer
not deceived servant must have made the noise
" Now. tonight | will myself see that nobody re
ie mains in the house but ourselves, our room sci
is wants and old Adam. We will each then loo
a our own doors, and place the key under our pill
1T lew. If after tha you hear these strange sounds
r will give you leave to say the house is haunted
it And, inruth, lam glad of this oportunity to con
vince you that the old place has been sadly sian
l. dered. Leave it to me to exercise this ghost.
n The conversation here dropped, but, beior,
e they retired, the ladies accompanied MIR. Came
t. ron around the house and saw that no person was
Ie left in it but themselves and their servant, be-
Z sides old Adam, who, though now very sick, re-
Of fused to let any person sit up with him. Each
t. then retired, when every thing sank into profounc
silence in and about the house.
ofI Mrs. Hartley and Constance awoke at the same
st moment. A large, old fashioned clock, standing
lin high frame which almost reached the ceiling
tbo poesaoo moi outside tbpir dOnp It