Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-06-27
MO90GalAMW
The Ghost Raiser.

The Ghost Raiser
My uncle Beagly, who commenced his
commercial career very early in the pres
.ent century as bagman, will tell stories.
Among them he tells this singular ghost
story 50 often that am heartily tired of it.
In selfdefence, 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. re-
member every word OF it.
One fine autumn evening, about forty
years ago, was travelling on horseback
from Shrewsbury to Chester, felt tolera.
bly tired, and was beginning to look out
for some snug wayside inn where l might
pass the night when sudden thunder
storm came on. My horse, terrified by The
lightniug, fairly took the bride between
his teeth aud started off with me at full
galop through the lanes aud cross roads,
until at length l managed to pull linn up,
just near the door of neat country inn.
Well" thought !, "the,e was wit in
your madness, old boy, since it brought us
to this comfortable refuge"
And alighting, gave him in charge to
tue stout farmers boy, who acted as host
ler The inu kitchen, which was also the
guest room, was large, clean, nea and
comfortable-very like the pleasant hos,
telry described by Isaak Walton There
were several travellers already in the room,
probably, like myself; driven there for shell
ter--and they were all warming themselves
hy the blazing fire, while waiting for sup.
per. joined the party. Presently, being
summoned by the hostess, we all sat
dowu twelve in number to a smoking re-,
past Of bacon and eggs, corned beef, and
carrots, and stewed hare.
The conversation naturally turned on the
mishap occasioned by the storm, of which
every one seemed TO have bis full share.--
One had been thrown off his horse; anolh.
, er driving in a gig had been upset into a
muddy dyke; all had got a thorough wet
ting, and agreed unanimously that it was
dreadful wcather--a regular witches sab
bath" -
Witches and ghosts prefer for their sab
bath fine moonlight to snch weather as
this !" ~
These words were uttered in solemn
tone, and with strange emphasis, by one of
tho company. e.was tall, dark looking
man, and had set him down in my own
mind as a travelling merchant or pedlar.--
My next neighbor was gay, well looking,
fasbionably dressed young, man, who, burs-
ting into peal oflaughter said: III
/" You must know the manners and Gus
toms Of ghosts very well, to be able to tell
that they dislike getting wet or muddy"
The first speaker, giving him adark fierce
look, said
q Young man, speak not so lightly of
things above your comprehensive"
"Do you mean to imply that there are
euch things as ghosts"
. "Perbaps there are, ifyou had courage
to look at them"
The young man stood up, flushed with
anger. But presently resuming hisseat, he
said, calmly 4 $%3
"That taunt should cost you dear, if it
were not such foolish one" ">
"a foolish oneP exclaimed the merchant,
throwing on thetablea heavy leatbernpmse.
s "There are fifty guineas. ] am coutent
TO lose them, if, before this hour is ended
J do not succeed in showing you who are
so obstinateIy prejndccd, tue form of any
one ofyour deceased friends; and if, after
you have recognized him you lIallow him
= TO kiss your Iips.'
I'VE all looked at each other; but my
young neigbbor, still in the same mocking
manner, replied - ="
"You will do that, will you ~
- Eyes" said the other, II will stake these
fifty guineas, on the condition that you will
pay similar sum if you lose'
~ After short pause, the young man said
gaily:
"Fifly guineas, my worthy sorcerer, arc
more than a poor college gar ever posses
sed;' bat here are five, which, If you are
satisfied, shall BE- most wiling to wager"
The other look up his purse saying in, a
ccntemptuous topef
oa"Yopng gentleman, you wish to draw
: bach" "''F
Il draw backn exclaimed the, student.
HWell. if.I bed fifty guineas, you 5hopld
see wbether ! wish to draw backp ~