The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-16
DAILY LEADER
AM "UNPATENTED GHOST.

AN DNfhTENIED OuVbIs
So plentiful of late has been the supply
of spectral apparitions that it h with some
difficulty anew phantom, though furnished
with the strongest testimonials, can obtain
q patient hearing. II will therefore be
the discreeter course to fall in with the
commercial tone that has been given tc
the subject and be content with stating, il
reference to the ghost about to sppear, that
it is wholly unprotected by any patent
regulations, and perfectly st the service Of
anybody who can, by the exercise of legiti.
mate spells, render it correspondent to
command.
In She year eighteen hundred and fifty
seven, . gentleman, whose name we shall
pretend is Gsuntrell, though in fact it is
nothing of the sort, was induced by the
prospect Of excellent perch fishing, torrent
q comfortable cottage, in q some what Sc
eluded neighborhood, q few miles from
Abergsvanny.
What particular fun there can be in
sharing that very abrupt aggressive and
when captured-sll but worthless, fish,
We cannot divine. Excepting the cnarm
of vorscity, 1t seems to display no char
scteristIc thEt should endesr it to the
anglers soul, or be likely to beguile q SEN
siOle mid1le-sged gentleman, like Mr.
0auntrell to settle two hundred miles
from his natural hRunts and home. Habit
however, is secoI d nature, q fact one is too
apt to forget while opening the ayes of
wonder At a hero who smokes his cheroot
under q heavy e~annonsde, or . distin-
guished character (of another kind) who
expressly stipulstes for pig and prune
suce (plenty of the latter as his final re-
past on earth. M. Gauntrell had passed
his earlier years on the banks of q famous
perch river, and the enmity there first en-
gendered between himself and that war
like fish family, had probably assumed
8 emething of the aspect OF the venGetta, or
death -feud, extending even to other streams
and districts.
To speak with precision, "Grisewood
Cottage" was something more than it pre-
tended TO be- possessing two good stories,
the upper nesting in an enormously deep
roof half overgroWn with creepers
and lichen, and al excellent kitchen, sub
on the one side, but, owing to the
the cottage stood, super terrene on the
other, with q window looking tOthe garden.
Excepting 8 door opening into the scullery,
there was but one other, that through
which 8 flight of ten steps led up to the
hall passage. Let this be remembered.
The rent demanded for GrieWood Cot
was exceedingly mOderate-so low,
IS to have induced the incoming
tenant to make the unwonted inquiry,
whether something ~prejudicial to health
and comfort might not have suggested the
Terms proposed.
The agent had smiled.
Why did the agent smile Because he
q man of some penetration, and saw
his %questioner a person who would take |
he initiative in smiling, if he (the sgent)
lid not when told what the latter was
BOUND to disclose, namely, that Grisewood
like dozens, scores, of other desir-
Ible dwellings in the superstitious West
lad been suspected-o of 8 certain amount of
lAuntedness. Mr.. Gauntrell did smile.
"Not sufficient, l conclude to interfere
With our convenience 2" he inquired.
HQuite the reverse" was the prompt re
ply.
HThe reverse2'
Literally 60. It has been found of ab-
service"
"You excite my curiosity. Pray be ex-
The agent paused.
"Sir," he said, 81 am not only bound,
ut perfectly willing, Z tell ySu what is
matter with this house, and 1 could do
in two words. So far, 1 am in your
snds. But if 1 mistake not, Jou have
lsde up your mird, ghost or no ghost to
Axe the cottage, and I am tempted to ask
permission to withhold the informs.
on You have q right to require, in order
1st you may, unprejudicea by any pre-
ious warning, observe the disturbing in
uence, and probably detect its mysterious
rigin, for yourself. In doing 80, you
Iould not only confer on the landlord 8
.rvina for which. l am snra- ha unnld !,
illingly place b house at your disposal
u 8 ter No., rent free, but would also disa-
use the rustic mind in your vicinity of
Iperstitious fancies which are but too apt
influence it." |.
The shrewd sgent had not misjudged
Ir Gsuntrelfs disposition. Nothing, per-
sps, ezcepf, it may be- the unexpected
1peRraDce of q vast shosl of perch, on the
ed, could have pleased him more than
an opportunity. The bargain was at
ICE struck, and the family, CT nsiaing of
7. and Mrs. Gsuntrell, two daughters, a
"a young Csntsb, reading, in his vsca-
for hOnorsl and four ser wants, entered ,
TO residence. :
For about three weeks all went tran !
lilly. The locality wa chsrmingly rural
e perch fed like fsmished aldermen, and
q ghost, to say the Truth, had been en- !
rely forgotten-When, one night Mr.. :
who had remained up later than !
,ual, writing letters in his study, received !
/ unexpected visit from his footman- but !
r. Thomas was q cool, intelligent Lon !
N servant, and had been for several :
BARS in his present situation.
HThere's something veTy queer below,
?" said the man, in & low, curious tone. {
rQueer 2" said Mr. Gauntrell, the agents
port suddenly flashing on his mind. {
What do you make of it, ThomAs7 2" I
HCan't make nothing of it, sir, II I
have troubled you, so late as it {
p said Thomas. HPerhaps you wouldn't {
ind stepping down, sir % 4snA 80 !
"Not at all. Who's below37
Emma (the lsdy's-maid1 and Jane are
ting on the stairs, sir. Cook said her
erves wouldn't stand it any longer, and
he went to bed" L
"Why had you all set up SO late ?"
ut kept q coming and a going, sir" said
'homss, land he was waiting till It was
Ill on, thinking that was the time for you
see it."
at man Is it 8 gho,tq" asked Mr..
fauntrell IS they left the room.
Thomas only shook his head, and fol-
)wed his master down stairs.
mo light ?" said Mr.. GAuntrell, feeling
is way.
%We thought you'd see better without one,
wa Thomas reply.
Emma and Jane we're sitting arm in
nesrlyat the top of the little flight of
tairs, within sight, and very easy reach of
be study floor. All below seemed as dark
8 night could make it.
al think it must be gone for good and
II" said Thomas, stretching down eau
8
MI. Gauntrell was becoming impatient.
"Come, come" he said, Hwhat is all this
bOut2 What have yon seen2 What do