The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-11-06

meal, and cups we're handed about in the
sitting room. Jessie came in at the ap-
pointed hour with her tray, served every
one, and then stood smiling before Mrs.
Culverton, as she said:
please, ma'am, let me pass you, the old
gentleman has not been helped. Yes, sir,
in minute"
a.The-old-gentleman p cried Mrs.
Culverton.
Eyes, ma'am-behind you in the corner,
there. please"
sThere's no gentleman, young or old,
there" said the lady. 81 can't imagine
what you took for one"
The girl made no answer, but turned
quite white and left the room. Mrs. Z.
followed.
At first, she could extort no cxplana-
tion, but by and by the girl declared she
saw saw an old gentleman sitting in an arm
chair in the corner, who beckoned TO her,
and she fancied in hurry for his tea.
$ AWhat did he look like 2" asked Mrs.
Culvcrton.
-.He was thin and TALL" said the girl
"his hair was white and very long, and |
noticed that one Of his knees looked stiff,
and a thick gold headed cane beside him."
ssUncle Hiram p cried Mrs. Culverton,
"upon my word you've described my
great grand uncle, who has been dead tor
twenty years"
Jessie began to cry.
"I shall never keep place." she said.
aYon will turn me away now"
aSee as many ghosts as yoa please"
she said, "as long as you don't bring them
before my eyes" and went back to her
tea without saying,a word to any of the.
family on the subject, although she was
extremely mystiied.
Surely if the girl had ever seen her un-
Gle Hiram-which was not likely, consid-
ering time-she must have seen something
in the ghost line, and if indeed it were
uncle Hram's spirit, why should he not
come to aid them in their trouble? !? Mrs.
Culverton had always had a little super
stition hidden in her soul, and she soon
began to believe this version of the case.
The next morning she went into the
kitchen and shutting the door, said to
Jessie:
aMy good girl, I do not intend to dis
miss you, SO be quite frank with me. |
do not believe that these forms are opti-
cal illusions. What do You think"
II think as you do, mann, said the girl.
."Our folks have always seen ghosts, and
grandfather had the second sight for ten
years before he died.
self you should see the old gentleman
you told me of. again; said Mrs. Culver
ton, be sure and tell me. I'll keep the
story from the young folks, and Mr.. Cul-
verton would only laugh at it; but you
described my dear old grand-uncle, and
my belief is you saw him.
The girl promised to mention anything
that might happen to her mistress; and
from that day an interchange glances be-
tween them and subsequent conference
in the kitchen was of regular occurrence.
The girl saw her appariton seated on the
sof;. in the parlor. seated at the dinner
table, walking in the garden, and so life
like was it that she found it impossible to
refrain from passing plates and cups and
saucers to it, TO the infinite amazcmcnt OF.
people who saw only empty air in the
same spot.
BY and by she invariably spoke of her
ghost as the old gentleman, and was no
more affected by his presence than by
that of living being. If it were an OPP
tical illusion, it was the most singular on
record.
But all this while-ghost or no ghost
the figure never spoke, and never did
ANYTHING to help the Culvertons in their
dilemma, and the lawsuit was nearly ter
minated without the shadow of doubt
in Jabez Hardys favor
In three days all would be over; and
the Cuvertons who had earned their
property, if ever mortals did, by kindness
and attention to their aged relatives
whom they truly loved and honorcd- =
would probably be homeless.
One morning Mrs. Culverton set over
her breakfast after the others had LETT the
room, thinking of this when Jessie came
in.
aI've something to tell you ma'am, she
said "Thcre's q change in the old gen
tleman."
"What do you mean ?" asked Mrs. Gull
verton.
"I'vc seen him twice at the foot of my
bed in the night" said the girl and
though always before he has been kind
and pl pleasanL looking, now he frowns and
looks angry. Hc becl1ons me togo some
where; and I don't darc-in the night
'''. sYou must" said Mrs. culvorton. Il
know he'll come again; and I'll sit with
YOU all night and 60 where you 60: 1t
may be of great use to us all, Jessie
II shan't be afraid, ma'am, if l have
company said Jessie in the most matter
of fact manner, and cariicd outtho break
fast things. -.
All day they never spoke on the SUD ,
jcct; but, on retiring, Jessie found her
mistress in her bedroom wrapped In q
shawl