The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-09
"Young gentleman, you wish to draw

to lay down their money and in a min
ute or two the fifty guineas were subscri-
bed. The merchant appeared so sure of
winning that he placed all the stakes in
the students hands, and prepared for his
experiment. We selected for the purpose
small summer house in the garden, per-
tectly isolated, and having no means of
exit but window and door, which we
carefully fastened, after placing the young
man within. We put writing materials
on small table in the summer house, and
took away the candles. We remained
outside, with the pe!lar amongst us. In
low, solemn voice, he began to chant
the following Inns:
"Wha: riseth slow, from the ocean caves
And the stormy surf!
The phantom pale sets his bIackened foot
On the fresh green turf"
Then, raising bis voice, solemnly, he
said
You asked to see your friend, Francis
Villiers. who was drowned, three years
ago, off the coast of South America-what
do you see?"
| see," replied the student, ga white
light arising near the window but it
has no form. 1t is like an uncertain
cloud"
We, the spectators, remained profound
ly silent.
Are you afraid 7" asked the merchant
in loud voice.
81 am not" replied the student, firmly.
After moments silence, the pedlar
stamped three times on the ground and
sang:
"And the phantom white, whose clay-cold
face
Was once so fair,
Dies with his shroud his clinging vest
And his sea-tossed hair.
Once more the solemn question:
You, who would see revealed the
mysteries of the tomb-what to you see
now 2"
The student answered in calm voice,
but like that of man describing things
as they pass before him:
g see the cloud taking the form of a
phantom its head is covered with long
veil-it stands still !"
I" Are you afraid ?"
am notw
We looked at each other in horror
stricken silence, while the merchant rails
ing bis arms above his head, chanted, in
a sepulchral voice
"And the phantom said as he arose from
the wave,
He shall know me in sooth
L will go to my friend, gay, smiling and fond
AS in our first youthT'
"What do you see 2"
| see the phantom advance he lifts
his veil-'tis Francis Villiers. He ap-
proaches the table-he writes its his
signature
Are you afraid 7"
A fearful moment Of silence ensued -
then the student replied, but in an altered
voice:
a am not"
With strange and frantic gestures, the
merchant then sang:
And the phantom said to the mocking seer
/ come from the south;
Put thy hand on my hand, thy heart on my
heart,
Thy mouth on my MOUTH
What do you see 2"
"He comes-he approaches-he pur-
sus me-he is stretching out his arms
he will have me Help! help! Save
me !"
care you afraid no,o 2" asked the mer-
chant in mocking voice.
A piercing cry, and then a stiffled groan
were the only reply to this terrible ques-
ton.
Help that rash youth ~ said the mer-
chant, bitterly. II have, l think, won
the wager; but it is sufficient for me to
have given him lesson. Let him keep
his money, and be wiser for the future"
He walked rapidly away. We opened
the door of the summer-house, and found
the student in coavulsions. A paper,
signed with the name "Francis Villiers,"
was on the table. AS soon as the stu
dents senses were restored, he asked
where was the vile sorcerer who had sub
jected him to such horrible ordeal-he
would kill him He sought him through.
out the inn in vain; then, with the speed
of a mailman, he dashed off across the
fields in pursuit of him-and we never
saw either of them again. That children,
is my Ghost Story.
"And how is it, uncle, that after that,
you don't believe in ghosts'" said l, the
first time heard it.
"Because, my boy" replied my uncle,
"neithee the student nor the merchant
ever returned and the forty-fve guineas,
belonging to me and the other travellers,
continued equally invisible. Those two
swindlers carried them of, after having
acted farce, which we, like ninnies, be-
lieved to be real"-HousekouM Words.