The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-08-13
THE GHOST QUESTION SOLVED.
About the year lS-, business had called

"NOS1 SoL ID.
About the year lS-, business had called
me to remote part of B. county, Tenn,
and was staying at the house of Mr.. Ru-
bert. The family consisted of Mr.. Rubert
and wife, one son and two daughters. The
sons name was Austin; he was about twenty
years Of age, and seemed to be very intelli-
gent. The girls were not less intelligent
than Austin. Adela, the oldest, was about
seventeen, and Julia, the youngest, about
fifteen,
Prettier girls never saw. loved them
both as soon as had seen them.
We were sitting by the blazing Ere, talk
ing and laughing, as though We ba6 been
acquainted for years, when a sudden noise,
as if some large building was falling, inter-
rupted US.
"Ugh ugh !! ugh !n' said some one, as
if frightened out of his senses.
All the family rushed to the door, except
Julia, who sat still and remarked:
''ltis Bill jenkins running from the ghosts
again"
Scarcely had the words escaped her lips,
when in rushed a tall, awkward, almost
beardless fellow, putting and blowing like a
locomotive.
''What's the matter 2" said Mr.. Rubert.
"Matter enough" said Bill, his eyes
looking almost as large as the bottoms of
two common sized teacups. 'Out ysnder," j"
he continued, throwing himself upon chair
-''out yonder l heard baby cryin', and
then somebody a groanin' and sDuffiin'; and
tell ye jest got aWay from that"
At this could not suppress laugh.
'You needn't laugh, old hoss," continued
he turning to me; "you needn't laugh, for
swear it's no fun; it's jest so, | swear it,
turned to Austin, and said:
"Let US accompany him to the place
where he heard the noise, and solve the
ghost for him."
Austin was silent.
"Will you 60? 2" asked.
Austin began to stalnmer out something
"Darn me % interrupted Bill, "darn me,
gentlemen, if you get me back there any
more see if you don'
'Then tell US where it was," said I; ssand
if we can hear it, we'll solve it sure.''
"Austin don't care much about going,
believe" said Adela.
"Iou are not superstitious, are you?"
asked him.
"No," said he, w'm not superstitious,
but Pm afraid of catching Geld, that's all.''
81 PROPOSE said Julia, who had beer
silent until now. ''that We all go, Mr.. Ma,
rion, Austin, Adela and myself. The moon
is now up, and it would be pleasant walk
for us; besides, we might have some rea
fun"
After some hesitation on Austin's part
this proposition was accepted. Bill told u:
where he heard the ghost, but would not &C
with us.
OFF we started. When we came to the
spot, we found that Bill had knocked down
about twenty panuels of the fence. We hac
gone two or three hundred yards talking
very lively, when We entered low, darb
place in the road: the timber was very tai
and thick which caused it to be darker thar
anywhere else. When advanced few
PAGES into this place, cur conv ersation stop.
ped. Scarcely had we ceased talking
when
"Boo-woo-woo-ugh!" went something
near us.
"What's that 20 said Austin, halting.
advanced, and Julia stepped to my side
and said:
"l,'s Bill's ghost, sure.'
"Ou-b boo-bo- 700 ugh!'' came forth again
l could suppress my laughter no longer
1t proved to be nothing more or less than q
hog, which was not sleeping comfortably
and was thus complaining.
''What is 20 insisted Austin, who haG
not vet found out what it was.
Just then we came to the hog shed, ant
the hogs all ran Oft, frightened as badly u;
Bill was.
"Humph!" said Austin, "it's hogs, Fl
swear, that caused Bill SO much running"
esturned and went back to the house
and had fine laugh at Bill, abou: his ghost
but Bill would not give up but that his were
real ghosts.
learned there were but few persons il
this neighborhooi who were not superst.
tl0uS.
was informed that the place where Bill
had seen his ghosts, was really haunted.
Among other stories that were told that
night, concerning the place, one was as fol
lows:
Some time ago man was coming through
this place; it was very dark: he heard some
thing by the roadside; turning in the direc
ton of the noise, he perceived something
white. 1t locked. he said, like a woman
dressed in white. lie spoke to her; she
raised her arms above her head, and said
"John kinslcr, if you will be happy, you
must marry Jane Merton, and have the Ru.
bert family at the wedding. Remember
John kinslcr.'
So saying, she dropped her arms anG
slowly ascended upwards, until she was ou
of sight.
John afterwards married Jane, and tht
Rubert family were at the wedding.
expressed q desire to see or hear some
such ghosts, but Austin thought l woulC
repent of my wish when | saw them.
Bed time came. and We retired as tht
clock struck twelve.
lay awake in bed long time thinking
Of the incidents of the day.
thought of Adela and Julia; which
loved best | could not tell.
Nothing else took place worth relating
here during my stay at Mr.. Rubert's. lef
next morning 'living and loving"
Two years after the aforementioned IN
cident took place, was passing through
that part of the country again, and Of course
called on Mr.. Rubert.
found that the neighborhood was as su
perstitious as ever. The place where Bill
jenkins had heard the ghos. was still haun
ted. Many things had been heard sight
had been seen-from an angel to Beelzebul
himself.
Iwas very anxious to come across one o
the ghosts, and during my stay Mt Mr.. Ru
bert's, passed through the haunted plac
at all times of the night, but saw and hear'
nothing. finally came to the conclusion
that it was all Imagination.
One dark night in July, | was passing
through this place, and heard somethin,
make noise in the dry leaves near me
turning towards the noise, | beheld some
thing that thought looked very much lik
n ghost. 1t seemed to be the figure Of
woman. There was no waist in her dress
and it was very long. All this could max
out, Notwithstanding the darkness.
stood still to see what it would do.
must acknowledge that did not feel exactl
cool just then, but managed to appear so
"Mnrion," said the ghost, "if you woul
be happy You must marry Julia Rubert.-
Remember, Marionn'
Judge Of my surprise and horror whc1
the ghost spread out her arms and ascende
upwards, until she was lost in the timber
What could do? Scared as was. d.
not run, knocking down the fence, as Bill