The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-09
10it auA aSul11ur.
THE GHOST RAISER.

y ShS'S i'c'tSicl, WHO commenced
his commercial career very early in the
present century as bagmau ,oW tell sto-
ries. Among them he tells his Single
Ghost Story so often, that | am heartily
tired of it. In selt-defence, therefore, |
publish the tale, in order that when next
the good, kind old gentleman offers to
bore us with it, everybody may say they
know it. l remember every word of it.
One fine autumn evening, about forty
years ago, l was travelling on horseback
from Shrewsbury to Chester. Ifelt toler-
ably tired, and was beginning to look out
Tor some snug way-side inn, where might
pass the night, when sudden and vio-
lent thunderstorm came on. NV horse,
terrified by the. lightning, fairly took the
bride between his teeth, and started off
with me at full gallop through lanes and
crossroads, until at length | managed to
pull him up near the door of O neat-look
ing country inn.
Well" thought l, "therc was a wit in
your madness, old boy, since it brought us
to this comfortable refuge" And aIipbt-
ing, gave him in charge to the stout farm
er's boy who acted as ostler. The inn
kitchen, which was also the guest-room.
was large, clean, neat and comfortable.
very like the Pleasant hosiery described
by Izaac Walton. There were several
travellers already in the room-probably
like myself driven there FIR shelter-and
they were all warming themselves by the
blazing fire while waiting for supper. l
joined the party. Presently, being sum-
Inoned by the hostess, we all sat down,
twelve in number, to a smoking repast of
bacon and eggs, corned beef and carrots,
and stewed hare.
The conversation naturally turned on
the mishaps occasioned by the storm, of
which every one seemed to have had his
full share. One had been thrown off his
horse; another, driving in gig, had been
upset into a muddy dyke all had got
thorough wetting, and agreed unanimous
ly that it was dreadful weather. regu-
lar witch's sabbath
"Witches and ghosts prefer for their
sabbath a fair moonlight night to such
weather as this p
These words were uttered in a solemn
tone, and with strange emphasis, by one
of the company. He was a tall, dark
looking man, and set him down in my
mind as travelling merchant or pedlar.
My next neighbor was a gay, wel-looking
fashionably dressed young man, who,
bursting into laughter, said
"You must know the manners and
customs of ghosts very well, to be able to
tell that they dislikes getting wet or mud
dy.'
The first speaker, giving him a dark,
fierce look, said:
Young man, speak not so lightly of
thinks above your comprehension"
"Do you mean to imply that there are
such things as ghosts ?"
"Perhaps there are, if you had the cou-
rage to look at them"
The young man stood up flushed with
anger. But presently -esuming his seat,
he said, calmly:
"That taunt should cost you dear, if it
were not such foolish one"
"A foolish one ~ exclaimed the mer-
chant, throwing on the table heavy lea
them purse. "There are fifty guneas.-
| am content to lose them, if before the
hour is ended, do not succeed in show
ing you, who are so obstinately preJudlced
the form Of any one of your deceased
friends; and if, after you have recognized
him, you allow him to kiss your lips"
We all looked at each other, but my
young neighbor, still in the same mocking
manner, replied:
"Youawill do that, win your
Yes said the other-"I will stake
these fifty guineas, on condition that you
will pay q similar sum, if you lose"
After short silence, the young man
said galley:
"Fifty guineas my worthy sorcerer, are
more than poor college sizar ever pos
sessed; bat here are five, which, if you are
satisfied, shall be most willing to wager"
The other took up his purse, saying, in
>Jntemptuous tone: