The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-07-25
rFOr The EmpOrIA News.
A HOST STORY.
By ONE OF THE BOYS.

located in one of the States Of this Union,
engaged in smoking, drinking, telling stories
and other of those diguifed and intellectual
pursuits, which engross the time and atten-
ton of the loafers in a country town. The
Grocery was kept by one Jem. Baggs, not
the Jem. Baggs of wandering minstrel mem
DRY, but his prototype, who kept bad to-
baeco. and worse spirits for sale, and whose
doggery served as rendezvous for all the
idlers in the place.
In the same village, there also resided a
youth who rejoiced in the euphonious So
briquet of Mr.. Bryant Byrne. Bryant's
personal appearance was not in the high
est degree imposing, his height being just
FIVE feet one. He had carrotty hair, upon
which he lavished time, labor and grease,
in bouudless Pr0fusion, and generally clay
the iattering JUNCTION to his SOUL" that he
had succeeded in clicking it into shape"
his legs were handy, each somewhat re-
sembling the bow of Cupid, and when in an
upright position they formed complete
ellipsis. Besides those points of beauty,
Bryant's profile was not strictly Grecian in
its outlines. In short, as somebody re-
marks, his style of ugliness was peculiar to
to itself, inasmuch as it combined all other
styles of ugliness. In his own eyes, how
ever, he was marvellous proper man, +"
and, since lac had crept into favor with him
self, resolved to maintain it with some lit
tie COST which he did accordingly, and
Haunted in as many of the varieties as his
pockets would afford.
Bryant was in love, but the course of his
true affection did not run quite as smoothly
as he wished as the great poet has told US
is always the case. In fact, he had never
explicitly "told his love, and concealment
bid fair to prey upon his damask cheek, p"
but, at his last interview with the fair ''Ju-
liet," the cruel parents" of the lady had
limited in rather strong terms the improPrie-
ty of his future visits.
Mr.. Bryant Byrne was withal, exceedingly
supersttious, believing implicitly in ''black
spirits and white, blue spirits and grey"
together with all kinds of ghosts and hob
COLLINS, whether of high or low or degree;
and you could as soon persuade him to take
a trip to the moon, as to pass by, alone,
churchyard, or place reported to be haunt
ed, at ''the very witching time of nigh"
when graveyards are said to yawn.
On certain evening, after the party as
sembed at the grocery had exhausted their
usual topics of conversation, and the affairs
1 Of the neighbOrs had been discussed pro
and con, the talk turned upon ghosts, many
astonishing stories being related of these
supernatural visitants, and among the rest
one in relation to the supposed haunting OF
lone dell, in the immediate vicinity, by a
spirit, known as the Beaver Dam ghost,
and which was said always to make its ap-
Pearance at the ringing of bell. At last
one of the party to whom Mr.. Byrne's
ghostly proclivities were well known, propo-
sed that they should entiee Bryant to go
coon hunting, the next night, down to the
place where the Beaver Dam ghost was sup
posed to make its semi-occasional appear
ances, and give him good scare. This
was readily agreed to by all, and with the
understanding that they we're to assemble
at the grocery on the nextevening, the party
separated.
The earth made its usual diurnal revolu
ton. bringing evening in due time; and with
it came the conspirators against poor Bry-
ants peace, together with himself george
ously arrayed'' for the occasion. having on
'.Iong-tailed blue" and pair of pants a
little tighter than his skin. The others
with material for torches, axes, and also,
one of the number having under his coat a
small bell, with the tongue grasped tightly
in one hand to prevent telltale noise, In
tending with the bell to call the spirit ''from
the vastly deep where it was supposed to
abide. A formidable army of dogs -complet-
ed the array. and the entire party started
towards the ghostly locality, distant about
two miles
To beguile the time while on the way. the
different members of the party commenced
telling stories, and By a singular fatality,
they were all ghost stories, each one sur
passing in ghostly horror those which had
preceded it, until by the time they had
nearly reached the vicinity of the old Beaver
Dam, Bryant was in such an ecstacy of ter
ror thata mouse crossing his path, or any
unusual noise would have caused him to
take to his heels and seek safety By an in.
/ sri,~io,,s at.
S'~''"~S AItgu,.