The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-08-14
Saflistellaneoll5 Saflis 2ea(liug.
A Ghost Story.

y
town, not far from Cincinnati, has recent
y been broken by an occurrence that is
rather ghostly in its surroundings. 1t
seems that wealthy old farmer lives
there who, like wealthy old farmers gene
rally, possesses a young and beautiful
daughter, which he loved passing we'll,
but much as he loved her, (and she was
his only child, and comfort, too, for that
matter, his wife being dead.) he loved
massive and glittering greenbacks more;
1t has been remarked that young and
beautiful daughters of wealthy old farm
ers are not long without suitors, and Ma
ry had one-that's her name. Her suit
or suited Mary and Mary suited her suitor,
which made them both sultorS. Another
peculiarity connected with the wealthy
old -farmer-and- d-beautiful-and-only daugh-
ter business is that the suitor is poor,
which don't suit the old man, however
we'll it may suit her. One day, having
come to perfect understanding with
Mary about the matter, this poor young
man called upon the father and stated his
love for his daughter and his desire to
pay her board and washing for the rest of
her liie-in short, to marry her. The old
man was thunderstrucl1, (there being no
lightning lying around loose at that mo-
menl to hit him. The audacity of the
poor young man paralyzed him for mo-
ment. 1t was almost equal to a dose of
numb palsy.
Recovering, however, be kicked him out
of the house in q summary manner, Che
thought some Marys wouldn't do it) and
ordered him never to set foot in it again.
Then he ordered Mary TO her room, and
locking her in, kept her for weeks on
: bread and water, beefsteak and stcwcd
potatoes, ham and eggs, brook trout, to-
matoes green corn, tea and coffee. &C.,
with the evident intention Of starving
her to give up hor lover. But, notwith-
standing this cXhausting diet, she didn't
fall off in her love for her Edward, nor in
flesh.
One thing that added to the rage of
this stubborn old dad. was the fact that
he desired her to marry rich old bache-
lor, (now we are coming to it,) who own
cd a farm adjoining. Uniting two loving
hearts was very well. but uniting two fine
farms was great deal better. So he told
Mary, but she couldn't see it by the small
kerosene lamp with which her chamber
was lighted, and so the old agricultural
wretch got madder and madder, and f.
nalIy sworc she should marry the farm
adjoining (the other namc is immatcriaD
whether she would or not. lie actually
set the day, and had the farm-wo mean
the old chap who owned it-comc over to
be married. In his anger and rage he
had forgotten about the necessary adjunct
of q clergyman; so leaving the party, he
mounted his horse and rode ferccly away
after the adjunct. We cannot describe
the feelings of the girl, as we were never
situated precisely like her. We can i'm
agine them: though, and so can the read
er.
An hour, perhaps, had transpircd after
the departure of the cruel parent. when
he came riding up the lane which led to
the house as though the-wcll, rs though
somebody WIS after him whose acquaint
ance he did not dcsirc to make. Reach
ING the porch, he tumbled off rather than
dismounted, and was so pale and alright
ed in appearance that any man who owed
him money and couldn't pay him wouldn't
have recognized him. His knees smote
together, and he looked down the lane as
though he expected some pursuing foe to
appear Hc was assisted to his room and
went to bed at once, so great was his ex
haustion. Hc ordered tho daughter re-
leased and brought to him. and then he
ordered the cXpcctant bridegroom, the
old bachelor farmer, out of the house.
His daughter came, and when he was
sufficiently recovered to speak, he reveal
cd the cause of his alright.
Hc said as he was riding toward the
Parsons, and while passing through n
narrow portion Of the road lined on either
side with trees and shrubbery, suddenly
his horse stopped short, and snorted with
fear. He looked, and saw figure as Of
q woman, although her face was conceal
ed, all in white, standing in the middle OF
the road, pointing a stern and threatening
finger for him 10 60 back. He instantly
needed the supernatural warning, and
turning his horses head rode back much
faster than he came.
"And who do yon think ii was, father"
said Mary, who had been listening with
almost brcathlcss attention.
"Thc spirit Of yonr dead and gone moth
er, child"
And then his old terror coming over
him. he covered his head in the bed
clothes, and shook the bedstead with the
terror of his fear
He became calmer at length, but said
he was satisfied he would never know
peace until he had repaired the wrong he
had done his daughter. He was satisfied
the spirit OF his wife had stood in his way
to signify her displeasuro with the course
he was taking regarding her child. Long
stories arc tedious after one sees the de-
nouement. Briefly, thcn-ho sont for
Edward, who was found surprisingly soon;
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