The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-25
A Respectable, ahost story.
THE APPARITION or MRS. VEAL.

There may be people now VINO, scaiCeiy
having heard of Mr.. Defoe, and yet pos
sessing as heirloom copy of "Drelln-
conrt on DEATH" have very considerable
belief in the possible appearance of that
genteel apparition, who conversed alter
nately about the cut of her sleeves and
the occupations of q future state. Per-
haps nobody but the man who could write
q book in which boys believe with all the
ardor of their youthful affections could
also have excited the imaginations of
their grandmothers, and have handed about
a. ghost story which should seem so anthem
tic, and should SO long hold place in
popular belies.
Mrs. Veal died in September, 1705, and
Mrs. Bargrave, to whom she appeared the
day after her death, was one of the best
known people about Canterbury Cathe-
dral-not only because of her own good
qualifications, but in consequence of the
cruelty of a brutal husband, whose mis-
doings were the frequent topic of CONVEX
sation.
Mrs. Veal, who was maiden lady OF
thirty years of age, lived at Dover, where
she was housekeeper to her brother, and
she and Mrs. Bargrave had been friends
from childhood, when the latter was able
to share some of the comforts Oh her Det-
ter provided homo with her companion.
It is not to be wondered at that IN after
wears the two ladies should meet to con-
dole with each other on their mutual mis-
fortunes, and in the absence of Bargraye,
who does not seem worthy to take any
part in the narrative, to read such edifying
books as "Drelincourt on Death" and
Doctor Hornecl's Ascetick." The pro-
motion of Mr.. Veal, the brother, to place
in the custom-house at Dover seems to
have separated the friends. Such aces
sions of dignity influence even the best OF
mortals; and when Mrs. Bargrave left
Dover to live in a house Of her own at
Canterbury the Indifference between the
two ladies continued, so that two years
and half elapsed, and Mrs. Veal had not
once called on her friend.
1t was on the morning Of the Sth Of Sep
TENDER, 1875, that Mrs. Bargrave, sitting
in a rather melancholy mood, thinking OF
her misfortunes, and arguing herself into
due resignation to Providence, had Just
taken up her sewing, when she heard a
knock at the door, and going down, saw
her old friend Mrs. Veal dressed in riding
habit. She was naturally surprised, but
still, being a woman of sentiment, said
some words of welcome and offered to kiss
her visitor, who seemed inclined to receive
the salute, until their lips nearly touched,
when she drew her hand across her face.
and so waived the friendly ceremony.
In answer to Mrs. Bargrave's inquiry OF
how she came to travel alone, the stu
dent of Drelincourt replied that she gave
her brother the slip, and came away be-
cause she desired to see her old companion
before she took her journey. This answer,
followed by the fact that when she entered
the stting-room again Mrs. Veal seated
herself in the arm chair only just vacated
by Mrs. Bargrave, and declared that she
had come to renew their old friendship
and TO beg pardon for her former breach
of it, was so natural under the crcum-
stances that their previous Indifference
wds made up by mutual consent, and the
talk began to flow in its once accustomed
channels-that is to say, they conversed
upon their former troubles and, by easy
transition, fell into discourse upon Drelin-
court, with slight diversion in favor OF Sher-
lock and two Dutch books, recently transla-
ted, on tie same subject. Drelincourt, how
ever, was still Mrs. Veal's favorite, and at her
request Mrs. Bargrave went up stairs to
fetch copy Of that work. On her return
her visitor began to speak Of the difference
between ordinary notions Of Heaven and
the reality Of the future state, and her re-
marks were so earnest and reiiSsuring that
Mrs. Bargrave, to whom she declared that
either her affections should leave her or
she them in a short time was naturally a
good deal affected. During some further
discourse on the subject Of DR.. Horneck's
account of the Primitive Christians, and
the difference between their conversation
and the vain, frothy talk of that later age,
Mrs. Veal frequently took the opportunity
of drawing her hand across her eyes and
saying: "Mrs. Bargravc, do you think l
am nightly impaired by my fts!" To
which Mrs. Bargrave often replied mo !;
1 think you look as well as ever knew
YOU"
All this was remarkably polite, and not
at all supernatural, although it was little
peculiar that when Mrs. Bargrave had
once more been up stairs for a copy of
verses on friendship her visitor declined
to read them, and declaring that they
would make her head ache, begged that
her companion would read them herself.
On the suggestion Of q cup Of tea, the
visitor seemed inclined to accede to the
invitation, but afterwards remarking, 81
will warrant that mad fellow (meaning the
incorrigible Bargrave) has broken all your
trinkets," made that an excuse for deCli-
ming, and began another discourse in such
fine language that the listener was unable
to repeat more than small part of it,
though it lasted for above an hour and q
half. Probably the thread Of it was not
definite to follow, and the subjects may
have been little confusing, for amidst
much Of an exalted and solemn character
there were particular directions about q
letter which Mrs. Bargrave was to write to
the brother in the custom house, instruct
ing him to give away her rings to some of
her acquaintance, and especially couple
of broad pieces to her cousin Watson.
No wonder that poor Mrs. Bargrave,
when she heard her old friend talking at
this rate, began to be afraid of O recur-
renee of one of those fits of which perhaps
she still retained very lively recollections.
In order to provide against such an emer-
gency as the sudden fall of her visitor
upon her face, she fenced her into the
elbow chair by placing another chair in
front, and in order to divert her, took hold
of the sleeve of her gown, and commended
its make and pattern. 1t may be supposed
that not even an apparition, supposing 1t
to be the apparition of a single middle
aged lady, is proof against this kind of con-
versation, and therefore nobody need be
surprised to hear that Mrs. Veal in
g IL q Ia q haA hoan