The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-13
A Genuine Ghost Story.

A Genuine Ghost Story.
From the Buffalo Press.
The following singular story comes to us
with every assurance Of It's truth, so far as
the belief Of the writer is concerned. In
other words, it is told in good faith, we are
satisfied, and with no hosSing intent. We
presume there are many who will credit il
entirely as supernatural incident, while
other people will readily explain it as one Of
the many recorded phenomena illusions
caused by some physical disorder. We
leave each reader to apply his own theory
to the story, giving it exactly as it comes
to us:
l have reasons for not signing my real
name to the following statement, aid for
Withholding it from every person living, al.
though I can pledge the word Of an honest
man that every word I am now about to
relate is, in as far as / am capable ofjudg.
ing, as true. as truth ITSELF
On the night Of Christmas eve, then, as
was returning home after attending divine
service in d certain church in this city, on
nearing my residence became suddenly
aware that stranger was walking close be-
hind me and keeping step with me in a
manner which ! considered to be somewhat
familiar and offensive Influenced by the
sacredness Of the place | had just left, and
feeling that I should soon be relieved OIL
such undesirable company. said nothing
bnt hurried my pace until ! reached the
steps leading to my own door. At this
point | halted fora moment with the in
ftention Of scrutinizing the stranger more
I closely as he passed, when / became sensi.
Bile, at once, that, although it was showing
rather fast, from the time ! became cogni-
zant Of the strangers proximity up to the
moment that reached my residence, none
ofthe snow fell upon either ofus, but seem
ed to have been repealed about two feet all
around from each Of US, we both, as it
were, walking in a sort of vacuum. AL
though saw this palpably at the time Of
its occurrence, and was quite aware that
not a particle of snow touched either of us
while we were together, yet, strange to say,
itneyer struck me as Icing singular until /
had mounted the steps and sauna the fakes
falling on me once more. At this jdnctg.e
/ became very much alarmed, and the moro
SO from the fact that when ! turned round,
on the upper step ofthe fight, to endeavor
to get a peep at the strangers face, he was
gone? He had disappeared with the We
locity oflisht, and under circumstances the
most incomprehensible, leaving strange
impression that had seen him before, but
as to when or where / was totally unable
TO determine. Completely astoundcd at an
adventure so strange, entered my resi-
dence, where, to my surprise and pleasure,
] found an old friend seated in my study
beside cheerful coal fire that burned in
the gate, and whom had not seen for
years, although / was in the habit Of con-
stantly corresponding with him. We were
mutually delighted at meeting, and / was
happy in making him at home in my bach
elors quarters Il having passed into +" the
scar and yellow leaf" without being fortu-l
nate or unfortunate enough to make a favor
able impression upon any of the fair sex.
In the novelty of my position, and the
qualification it afforded me, all remem-,
brahce fmy adventure in the street was
completely lost sight of, and / addressed
myself to conversation and the meager hos
FATALITIES that could offer him at so late
an hour ofthe night-my housekeeper hay
ing gone to bed.
After supper and a single glass Of ale
each, we retired to our respective sleeping
apartments, to renew our conversation at
breakfast and spend happy Christmas day
together Some how or other I did not
sleep very well but, as l am rather alb
stemious and quite unused to late suppers,
| tancied that my restlessness was OCCASION
ed by even the gle.glass Of ale and the
few mouthfuls / had taken to eat. As the
day began to dawn, however, | became
drowsy, and sank into a deep and refresh.
ing slumber, from which | was aroused
about eight o'clock by The well known
voice of my aged domestic announcing that
breakfast was ready. | was soon mp and
dressed, and, as vas always my habit, pass
ed into my study for few moments before
going down stairs.
Here, to my utter surprise, I perceived
standing on the table at which my friend
and had supposed, two glasses-one emp
ty, and the other filed with ale, beside a
plate, the contents Of which appeared net
to hare been touched. ! was .astonished
and confused beyond measure at this; for
before retiring to rest, had locked q door
Ieadibg6ut into the hall at the head Of the
stairs, (which effectually cut off, both my
study and my bed room from all intrusion.
Unable to account for this strange condi-
tion}of the table, | instantly fastened to
the apartment ofmy friend, and knocked
at the door, Receiving no reply, I enter
ed the room, when 10 and behold it was
empty, whilst his bed bore all the evidence
Of its not having been slept in the night
| ran down stairs in great con-
sternation, and learned from my housekeep-
er that she had not made up any beds that
and that not a soalhad left Or en-
tered the house that morning. Utterly be-
wildered, / was about to make some inuui-
ries, when my attention was arrested by q |
knock at the hall door, 1t was the post
man, lie banded me a letter.. | opened
II and sank into chair 1t contained the
Of my friends death, which |
had occurred at Washington . few days
previous. After having perused the sad
the recollection Of my strange ad-
venture in the street rushed in with great
force and distinctness upon my memory,
Hhilemy subsequent experience ii my study
forithe time being paralyzed all |
my reasoning faculties, although l am far
from being q stranger to mysterious sights
and sounds in the reality Of which I have
never believed, nor do I fully yet. But
what conclusion can Iarrive at in this in.