The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-03-12
From I'orter's Spirit cfM Times.
A GHOST STORY.
BY HAZEL GREEN, ESQ.

""u lhch WIS i'ShteHcu ioT Cerl;tih. L
was living on the Upper Mississippi at the
time, but that makes no difference. Ill tell
you how it was.
One night, about 2 o'clock. heard some
one rapping at my door. "Wl,o's " there? ?"
asked.
| "Mosicr," replied Il voice from without,
81 thought III stop and see if you wouldn't
so and watch the coa-pit for me till morn
ing. l am not very well, and having been
up all last night, thinl, had better try to
get little sleep"
! Now know Moscr very wcl-kncw lie
was burning charcoal about half mile up
the river: and not omly that, but knew he
had ii real pretty girl and that had taken
great notion TO her. So up jumps, l.auls
on my clothes, and was ready to he of in a
! few minutes.
You will not be afraid 10 stay hy YOUR
self, will yon, Tim ~ asked Mosicr, as we
! We're about separating, for he lived still fur
tlicr down the river
Afraid :" exclaimed I. "No, whnt
should ! l'e afraid of have never yet
seen anything worse than myself"
"Oh, did not mean TO say that Won
were cowardly, Tim, but thought YOU
might lie Lonesome, perhaps !; anL ii YOU
thought so, that had letter wake up the
Dutclman, who is staying at your house,
and try to get him to go with vou."
! l assured him that needed no company.
and so started for the coal pit. The night
was very dark, and must confess that
did feel u little s1uca,nisl,, Int could not
tell WHY. There WAS the grave Of an Intli-
IN hy the side Of the path Wllicl, must
travel TO rc"cl, the coal-pft. aS,i It ha.l been
reported that wonderful sights had been seen
there. Perhaps ti.is WAS the cause of NV
unpleasant feelings.
tried to whistle my spirits up. but it was
all no go. The nearer approached the
dreaded spot, the worse felt When had
reached the cliff of rocks around which |
should turn in few PAGES, and Le right al
the Indian grave, felt my hat raise OH my
head, and then it seemed that myri,ds Of
little demons were dancing through my
hair, and playing leap frog up and down
my shoulders, and humming queer noises in
my ears / stopped, AMI began to think
seriously Of beating retreat. Just then
the fair Image Of Jane Elizabeth El,ira Mo-
sicr fitted across my fancy, and said to
myself "This will never do Go back and
let the old na''s coal-pit burst ont ana bun,
! up? Why, It would settle the hash will,
me forever. The next time I'D 60 to see
Jane Elizabeth EIvira, he'd kick me out Of
the house BESIDES" reasoned ], "what
have seenl What kind ofan excuse could
make? No Sir-ree, III go through or
lust hi!cr.' If there's anything ut the
old Indian grave, III not see it, for wont
look that way"
Thus saying, staftc'l OIL at rapid pace.
The rocks were rounded, and ke; ping my
eyes bent on the ground, had nearly pass
ed the grave, when a bright light blazcd
across the path just before me-. Before l
had time TO think, l looked up, and oh
great Jupiter! what a sight! A monster
with head al out The size Of a laIEbu>l,cl
measure, was standing upon the Indian
grave. Its eyes as large. as cacoa-nuts,
were rolling in its great head, and gIaring
frightfnlly at me. From between its huge
teeth bright jets Of fire flashed and Llazed
across my path, like streaks of miniature
lightning. In fact, its entire l,e:.d seemed
to be one great red ball Of fire, with small
pieces Of the sun set in for eyes.
While stood gazing, completely stupc-
fled with horror, it made n low bow 10 me
and then raising itself erect, it shook its
head and ratified its teeth together most
frightfully. Then faucicd that saw it
take few steps towards where I was
standing. This rather reused Inc to sense
of action, and in the nexl instant I was
bobbing along down the river bank little
swittcr than is usual for footmen TO pass
that way. At every leap imagined it was
grabbing at my coat tail, for when s,asted,
| thought I heard it right ut my heels.-
Reaching home, did not wait to open the
door, but throwing my weight against it,
bnrsted it in. The Du.chman, who was
sleeping up stairs, a,eafd the rippet, and
supposing the house was besieged. came
down with q chair drawn; and crying at
the top Of his voice:
(" Robbefsl tiefs ihafterl Robbers
tiefs Inchins Oh, mine Got!'
Seeing nobody. but me, lie settled down.
All in the family wore aroused. told my
story in rs few words rs possible. Some
believed it-others laughed at inc, the
Datchman in particular. He saii / "vos