The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-01-23

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beneath She spreading branches of a majestic
oak, where the pale light of the moon could no
fall upon his face. oh, Harry, my son Harry
my youngest born, the spirit OF your father ii
grieved and troubled! 1t cannot rest in the
grave SO long as there is strife and contention
about the poor, insignificant heaps of gold he has
left behind him. Gold, gold it is the root o.
all evil 1t divides the hearts of fathers and
mothers, brothers and sisters 1t drags down
the body to the grave and sinks the soul in per.
dition. Oh, Harry, the soul of your father can
not rest till peace and harmony are restored tC
his family. Let my will be executed as it is
written let all quarrelings and chickering's
cease, otherwise my angry spirit shall harass
and torment all who refuse to obey my COM
mands.
With these words, an impressive shake of the
head, and defiant gesture, the spectre touched
the reins of his horse, and was soon lost to view
in the shadows of night
Harry sat as if petrifed, gazing into the mid.
night darkness long after the vision had disap-
peared. His dress, his silvery locks every looS
and gesture we're so exactly like bis father 8 !
He remembered the concluding clause of the
will. Could it be that it was indeed genuine
and legal, and that the distressed spirit of hi S
parent was indeed wandering to haunt and har-
ass, as it had threatened, all who refused to
obey the mandates of his will
1t was late hour that night when Harry ar
rived within sight of the old homestead, his pa
ternal mansion. A full bright light glared from
the sitting room. What did it mean? Had any
thing unusual occurred? The family of Eltons
were notorious for keeping early hours. ''To
90 to bed with the chickens" had been the old
miser's motto Since his DEATH however, the
hour for retiring had been changed, but even
now ten was the latest hour lamp was allow
ed to burn.
Anxious and curious to ascertain the cause
of so uncom mon a deviation from the establish
ed custom, Harry slightly shook the reins Of
his horse, and cantered briskly up the yard
Hastily dismounting, he attempted to open the
door. but it was rocked. He then knocked and
called loudly for admission, but all was still
and silent as if the whole household was wrap
ned in profound slumber. At last window was
opened cautiously and noiselessly over his
head. and the pale terrified face Of Mrs. Elton
appeared.
ooh Harry, she faltered out, in low, tremu.
lous tones, as her eyes fell upon her son; L am
so reoiced to see you! We have been so fright
ened Tonight do believe the house is haunt
ed. We've heard rappings, whisperings, the
stamping and tramping of feet
Did YOU see any one, interrupted Harry.
Yes replied his mother, in somewhat
calmer toue. Il was sitting by the window when
suddenly l heard a tramping and rapping over
mead and d voice called, Look out of the win
dow, Mary : and, Harry, as sure as l am liv-
ing woman, there stood the figure ST your father
dressed in his common gray coat, with his broad
brimmed hat on, and his white hair hanging
down beneath il and he looked pale and sad,
and mournfu and leaned heavily upon his brass
headed cane for supper, 1t was no phantom of
the imagination, Harry. II my eyes are old, they
do not deceive Inc i'll that way
What did he say q inquired Harry, eagerly,
for the Thought had crossed his mind that his
mothers ghostly visitor aud his own travelling
companion of the evening, were one and the
same.
Mary said he in low, SOLEMN tones my
soul is disturbed ; my property Is sowing the
seeds of discord and dissension i'll my family,
and L have assumed once more bodily shape, to
visit my earthly habitation and entreat my sons
to execute my will in the manner it is written.
l speak from the spiritual world. If peace and
good will prevail, l shall go back to my last
resting place and remain undisturbed till the day
of resurrection otherwise l will torment and
harass them as long as the breath of life re-
mairs.''
There Reclaimed Harry,as his mother con-
cuded: '.his is the first clue have been able to
obtain to the mystery connected with that will
am convinced by this circumstance that a
number of villains are deeply intriguing against
US but I'll sft the matter TO its very founda
lions I'll ferret out the scamps who have had
resource to ghestly rapping and rubbish to &C
compisb their ends, and they shall not go I'M
punished by justice
Where are you going 2 asked his mother,as
Harry took the lamp and was leaving the room
at hasty strides.
up stairs, replied Harry; up to the old
oak chest to see if the clothes are gone
It was as Harry had surmised; the chest had
been visited and ransacked, every article OF
wearing apparel belonging to his father was
gone coat, hat, shoes, cane, all had been taken
and the chest was entirely empty.
That night sleep refused to visit the eyellds
of Harry Elton they remained as wide open as
if they HAD been fastened. His mind was filled
with all sorts of surmises and cOnjectures. The
events Of the evening, so far from intimidating
him into submission TO the loss OF his lawful
rights made him the more determined to vim
dicate them, and to carry the will into court.
He remembered perfectly well that III his last
interview with Dixon, before going to Y ork he
had threatened him strongly, and saw at a
qiance that the WHY lawyer was exceedingly
averse to having legal investigation made OF
the matter,
Would it not be better said Dixon, in his
ns ual bland, siveIy voice, for your brother to
bny YOU out? To settle upon you certain
sum for the REIMBURSEMENT Of your claims {? A
lawsuit would be an expensive affair. 1t would
90 against you,and the costs OF
the suit would be thrown upon you to pay.
This conversation he recalled to mind, and
that Dixon and the ghost were &C ting in con-
cert there could be no doubt, and that their
,biect " as to terrify him into submission.
10 defeat this object, and to unravel the mys-
terry concerning the will, all the energies Of his
mind were bent Dixon little knew, with all
his art and cunning, that in arousing the slum-
bering f1c of Harry, he bad powerful foe to
cone with, fully, ii not more than his match. A
scheme was devised, and to produce the reap
pearance of the ghost was part OF IL.
In pursuance with the course OF action he
had marked out for himself, another visit was
Maid to Dixon He protested more strongly
Than ever his determination to adhere to his
nnrnose of resorting to law to establish his
riohts. declared that the will should be proved
a forgery, and the perpetrators OF the foul act
he bfou9ht to Justice. In vain Dixon expostu-
lated and soug bit to dissuade him from his pur-
nose Harry was not 10 be moved. Wen
see thought he, as he left the Office if this in
terview has the desired effect of bringing about
another ghostly visit.
Evening came and found Harry sitting at the
window Of the sitting room overlooking the
garden Inc gus Aou pun posoIJ DSCh ca III
pushed to render him invisible TO all outside,
and a pair of loaded pistols were upon the table
beside him. He was waiting for the reappear-
ance of his nocturnal visitor, and was determiL-
ed to bring matters to a crisis. He had not long
to wait. At precisely twelve, the garden gate
creaked on its hinges, and opened slowly, and
and figure, slightly bent forward, clothed IN
the usual GARD of grey coat advanced, land sta
toned himself within a few yards of him.
The spirit o. Gervase Elton, began the spec
tire, in the same hollow tones, is grievel at the
Earrings and Disputes -.
Stop ? cried Harry, we have had enough of
this nonsense If you are indeed the spirit Of
nv father, bullet will do you no harm; II you
are living being come here to delude ana IN
pose upon US, it will settle our accounts
With these words he discharged one OF ms
pistols. The ball whistled harmessly oyer the
head Of the gpston he fL had int o the chart Dat
.-at ~ T,bicb he was acting, with terrific
s sbriek took to his heels and sprang upon the
GARDEN wall, which he attempted to clear at a
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