Des Arc citizen., 1867-02-02
A Genuine Ghost Story.


 The following singular story comes to us with every assurance of its truth, SD far as the belief of the writer is con cerpcd. In other words, it is told ill good faith, we arc satisfied, and with no hoaxing intent. We presume there are many who will credit it entirely as q supernatural incident, while other people will readily explain it as one of themany recorded phenomenal illusions caused by some physical disorder. We leave each reader 10 apply lis own the orv to the story, giving it exactly as it comes to us:
 l have reasons for not signing my real name to the following statement, and for withholding it from every per son living, although l can pledge the word ofan honest man that every word am now about to relate is, ill as far as l am capable ofjudginG, as true as truth itself
 On tbe night of Christmas eve, then, as I was returning home after attend inc divine service ill certain church in this city, on nearing my residence l became suddenly aware that stranger was walking close behind me and keep inc step with me in manner which l considered to be somewhat familiar and offensive. Influenced by the sa- credness of the place I had just left, and feeling that l should soon be re- lievod of such undesirable company, l said nothing, but hurried my pace until reached the steps leading to my own door. At this point l halted for mos ment with the intention of scrutinlz- ing the stranger more closely as he passed, when l became sensible, at once, that, although it was showing rather fast, from the time I became cog nizant of the strangers proximity up to the moment that I reached my resi- dence, none of the snow fell upon either of us, but seemed to have been repelled about two feet all around from each of us, we both, as it were, walking ln sort of vacuum. Although l saw this palpablV at the time of its occurrence, and was quite aware that not particle of snow touched either of us while we were together, yet, strange to say, II never struck mes as being singular until had mounted the steps and found the flakes falling on me once mores At this juncture l became very much alarmed and the more so from the fact that when I turned round, on the upper step o1 the flight, to endeavor to get a peep al the strangers face, he was gone? H( had disappeared with the velocity O light, and under circumstances tho most incomprehensible, leaving strange impression that l had seen hin before, but as to when or whore l wal totally unable to determine. Complete ly astonished at an adventure so strange l entered my residence, where, to m! surprise and pleasure, 1 found an ol( friend seated at my study beside cheerful coal fire that burned at tn grate, and whom l had not seen fo years, although I was in the habit o : constantly corresponding with him We were mutually delighted at meet ing, and I was happy ill making him home in my bachelors quarters-I hay ing passed into "the scar and yellow leaf' without being fortunate or unfor tunate enough to make a favorable i'm prcssion upon any of the fair sex. Il the novelty of my position, and tn qualification if afforded me, all remem brance of my adventure in the stree was completely lost sight of, and l ad dressed myself to conversation and tn meager Inequalities that I could offe him at so late an hour of the night my honse-keepcr having gone to bee
 After supper and single glass of al each, we retired to our respective sleeI Ing apartments, to renew our convers, lion at breakfast and spend q happ