Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-03-10
A GHOST CHASING A GHOST.

A GHOST CHASING A GHOST.
Not long since, two rustic gallants went
regularly to see the same girl. The young
lady, farmers daughter, resided just half
way between the respective homes of her
adorers; and, as a matter of course, when
Sunday evening arrived, when they ''came
courting," the distance travelled over was
the same to.both.
Now, as they were jealous Of one another,
each lover tried his skill, by series of
manoeuvres, to drive the other off. Affairs
had gone on in this manner for some time,
vet neither had seemed to have made any
marked progress in the lady's regards. l
do not know how it would have terminated,
for the girl liked them we'll enough, but as
she could not marry them both, she was
puzzled which one to choose. Whether she
wished them to fight duel, or decide the
contest BY fsticuffs for the honor of her hand
and heart, cannot say; but her suspense,
and that of her anxious lovers, was at last
relieved in the following manner:
As they had exhausted human ingenuity
in trying to outgeneral each other, they both
strange as it may seem-resolved, un-
known to each other, to call to their aid the
terrors of the spirit world. Stranger yet,
the same night was chosen when each should
porsouate ghost, to drive the other OFT the
field.
Well, the next Sunday evening came, and
attired in the habiliments Of the grave, could
be seen about nine o'clock our heroes eau
tiously approaching the abode of their "dear-
est dear" The object of ghost A was to
meet B before he had reached the house,
frighten him out of his senses, and then
chase him home. If A could accomplish
this, B would never dare to show his mug
there again.
Ghost BIS object was precisely the same
toward A, and consequently fearful ealli-
sion between them was inevitable.
A had chosen hollow pumpkin, with
two round holes cut through the top for sau-
Ger eyes, and huge horizontal, parallel or
gan opening for mouth. A candle vas
placed burning in it, and at distance,
in the dark, it looked really frishtful. B
had got some punk, which looked like burn
ished silver in the dark, which he intended
placing around his person, in the night, in
order to give hima supernatural appear
ance a pair of OK horns placed upon his
head, and, attired in a huge winding sheet,
B would have passed for respectable devil.
They met! They night was very dark, the
road muddy-so they had in manner to
feel their way along. A turn in the road,
close by the dwelling, revealed each other
in their ghostly costumes.
What sight! A saB.a ghost-B also
beheld another before him. AS pumpkin
head grinned horribly at B, while the weird
lantern on BIS person almost annihilated
poor A, for he imagined, suppose, that it
was the evil one himself before him.
What mortal could stand this! They
could not, but, appalled,, terrified, and near
ly mad with fear, they both turned home
ward and fled, with fearful outcries bursting
from their trembling lips. As B, however,
was putting in his best PAGES, in repassing
the house, large mastiff, alarmed by the
outcries, rushed out and headed him off,
The poor wretch, thinking it was his diabol-
ical prosecutor in the form of a dog, turned
aghast and went off after A with all his
might-no hat on, his winding sheet stream
ing in the wind behind him, while the dim
glare of his punk-wood ornaments gave him,
indeed, the look of a demon. A heard the
noise, and glancing behind him, saw with
horror the phantom in full chase. He drop
ped the pumpkin head, which he had been
carrying in his hand, gave another, yet lou
der yell, and exerting all his utmost, he
bounded forward with the agility of hun
ted deer, almost flying over the ground as
he went. B, in the meantime, not seeing
the pumpkin head, passed on in the rear,
the dog at his heels, barking and urging
him forward, still faster than before.
How long they would have continued in
their headlong flight, if not stopped, 1 can
not tell. They had already legged it over
two miles; and were in fair way of running
themselves to death, if A, in his blind haste,
had not pitched headong into mire hole,
B too the next minute sharing the same
fate. Fortunately the hole was not deep,
or they both would have been smothered in
the mud, for they were fairly tired out, and
as weak as infants. They remained IN this
condition until next morning, when the
neighbors found them, pulled them out and
carried them to their homes. Wet, covered
with mud from head to foot, their raiment
torn in rags, they presented truly misera-
bic appearance. Both were laid up for some
days, from the effects of their fright, and
everlasting their physical powers. 1t had
one good effect, however, it cured them of
of love, for they never went courting there
again.
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