The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-02-08
SMsrelaneoas Selections
A GHOST STORY.

5.. - SeHsSH - ~N Is
' Some fifteen years ago, lady of my
acquaintance rented from an agent, for
the summer months, on very easy
terms, large country house in the
mountains of Virginia. Thither she re-
paired with her family and party Of
friends; and after taking possession,
learned the secret of the very "moder-
ate terms of the agent. Two years
previous, an old man had been found
dead in the ATTIC, under circumstances
which justified suspicion of foul play.
The house was, of course, said to be
haunted and when its owner left the
country, and offered it for sale or rent,
no one would take it, until Mrs,
attracted by the pleasant situation and
the low rent, engaged it for the sum-
mer. The lady, a sensible, strong
woman, treated this story with
contempt, yet was careful Of its not COM
ing 10 the ears Of. the other inmates.
The, party bad not been a week in the
house, when q gentleman complained at
breakfast that he had passed a sleepless
night, in consequence of noises in the
attic above his room. On the follow
ing day, there was the same complaint
from another of the household. flip
Mrs suggested that one Of the
servants had probably been searching
for something amid the lumber contain
ed'in the attic;a but that it should not
again occur1she would lock the door
and take away the key, which was done.
A night passed, quietly; cand then
again the noises were heard, this time
By Mrs 20 herself f-strange, muf1ed
sounds, followed by the dull. . fall of
some, heavy but not very hard body.
What could it mean |. l.Mrs.--tbought
And that day she had the attic door
nailed up, as additional security. She
began to feel nervous. DOES nsili1sris n
On this day the. gentlemen Of the
party, four in number, went on a hunt
ing excursion, leaving the ladies alone.
In the evening a storm arose, which
prevented their return at the usual hour.
At nine O'Clock the household retired !;
but scarcely had Mrs.-closed her
eyer in sleep, wien She was aroused by
two Of the family IN state Of great exs
citement.
There were such strange noises in
the attic. Did she not hear themf
Yes, she heard them distinctly now
odd, ,unearthly sounds, such as none
of the party could account for. Others
of the family also heard, and soon the
whole household was gathered in the
room Of Mrs. -,.,a..,r. lfr,.., - Fl
~. They elung together, pale and trem-
bling. The mysterious sound continued
"a muffied voice, q sharp shriIl, suffi-
eating cry or shrek land then again the
fall of Ee&yy body, and two,or three
sharp knocks on the floor, as with a
stick, followed by sound as Of some
body dragged with difficulty across the
fleor. Then they distinctly 7heardothe
quick, sharp knocking repeated again
and again, at the door at the head of
the aLtic stair, which, as we have said,
Mrs.--had caused to be nailed up. s1
The whole party were now in state
Of speechless horror. But how much
more was this increased when they
heard those strange gurgling, suffoca-
ting cries on the attic stair, opposite the
door of the room in which they were,
and then q step coming down, as of
some one walking withia cane, and
with another who endeavor-
ed to detain him. Suddenly there was
> rush, a fall, and then. sharp knock
at the door of Mrs.-s room; and
one wild Shrek arose from the terrified
women, as they huddled in the reno
sest corner, clinging to each other as
with deathly grasp. r.h rs 81
At this moment the tramp of horses
was heard without Thank God! the
gentlemen were returned; and throwing
up the window they all screamed for
help. m
The next moment the gentlemen were
N the room, and the boldest of them,
,eizing lamp, advanced to the door at
which the knocking still continued, and
cautiously opened it. H''77 +di
There was something there, lying up
IN the floor, and moving in strange
writhing contortions., The gentleman
owered the lamp. What could it be-
/ shapeless, headless mass, without form
or outlines! He looked still closer; he
;ouched it with. cane, and immediate
y fell back in chair in CONFUSION of
p io7' 1851
The object of mystery and terror were
.wo immense cats, who had got both
heir heads thrust together in a large
gourd full of grease, which the servants
had used in cleaning the house, and had
eft in the attic. ~ -aa q! in'i 80 a..
Mrs. now remembered that the
loor which she had nailed up had a
square hole in it at the bottom sufficient
y large to admit Of the two animals
struggling through it with their unique
1t seemed probable that
upon the discovery Of the gourd both
bad greedily thrust in their heads and
been then unable to withdraw them. In
some manner, also, the gourd, which
stood on a SHELF had become entangled
with bundle of old carpenters tools
in piece of carpet and this,
it was subsequently ascertained, the an
Ill. III iii I;As ..,I..- - Aa.