Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-12-19
Surely, if the girl had ever seen her uncle Hi

ram-Whlch was not uKely, cOnSluerinS tiMe eon
must have seen something in the ghost line, and
indeed it were uncle Hiram spirit, why should h
not come to aid them in their trouble? Mrs. Cul
verton had always had little superstition hiddeI
in her SOUL and she soon began to believe this yer
sion of the case.
The next morning she went into the kitchen ant
shutting the door, said to Jessie:
my good girl, do not intend to dismiss you
so be quite frank with me. I do not believe tina
these forms ore optical illusions. What do yo'
think p ~ ...~
II think as you do, nam" said the girl. "Ou
folks have always seen ghosts, and grandfathe
had the second sight for ten years before he died.
"If you should see the old gentleman you tolt
me of again." said Mrs. Culverton, "be sure ane
tell me. Ill keep the story from the young folks
and Mr.. Culverton would only laugh at it; bu
you described my dear old grand-uncle, and my
belief is you saw him."
The girl promised to mention to her mistress
anything that might happen; and from that day
an interchange of glances between them and sub
sequent conference in the kitchen was of regula,
occurrence. The girl saw her apparition seatec
on the sofa in the parlor, seated at the dinner Ia
BILE, walking in the garden, and so Gfe-ike was j
that she found it impossible to refrain from passing
plates and cups and saucers to it, to the infinite
amazement of people who saw only empty air il
the same spot.
By and by she invariably spoke of her ghost al
the old gentleman, and was no more affected by hi
presence than by that Of living being. Fit twert
an optical illusion, it was the most singular on re
cord.
But all this while-ghost or no ghost-the fig
ure never spoke, and never did anything to helI
the Culvertons in their dilemma, and the lawsuit
was nearly terminated without the shadow Of s
doubt in Jabez Hardy's favor.
In three days all would be over; and the Culver
tons who had earned their property, if ever NOR
tails did, by kindness and attention to their ageo
relatives they truly loved and honored-
would probably be homeless.
One morning Mrs. Culverton set over her break
fast after the others had left the room, thinking o.
this when Jessie came in.
GIVE something to tell you man," she said
'There's a change in the old gentleman.
'sWhat do you mean?" asked Mrs. Culverton
'sI've seen him twice at the foot Of my bed II
the night" said the girl; land though always be-
fore he has been kind and pleasant looking, nov
he frowns and looks angry. He beckons me to g
somewhere, and don't dare-in the night time. u
"You must" said Mrs Culverton. II know
he'll come again; and III sit with you all night
and 90 where you CO. Itmay be Of great use to u:
all, Jessie"
II shan't be afraid ma am, if I have company, y
said Jessie in the most matter of fact manner, anc
carried out the breakfast things.
All day they never spoke on the subject; but OF
retiring, Jessie found her mistress in her bedroom
wrapped in shawl.
"rm ready, you see," she said And Jessie
merely loosened some buttons and hooks and lay
down dressed.
Ten o'clock passed ed-eleven-twelve. Mrs. Cul
verton began to doubt, when suddenly she saw
Jessie's eyes diate in most peculiar manner, ana
in an instant more the girl said,
"Why, here he is, ma am.
'There's no one there" said Mrs Culverton.
"Oh, yes, ma ami I see him." said the girl
"He's in great excitement, ma'am, he's taking
out his watch to look at it, and the chain is made
of such bright yellow hair, thought at first it wa
gold"
"His wife hair" said Mrs. Culverton. 'I
was buried with him. You see dear old uncle hi
ram. Does he look ut me?"
Eyes, ma am" said Jessie.
"Uncle," said Mrs. G., 'do you know me afte
all these years2"
''He mods" said the girl.
"Have you come to help us-dear uncleT' salt
the lady.
Uncle Hiram was described as nodding yer.
kindly and beckoning
s'He wants us to follow him." said the girl, ant
and took up the light The moment she opene'
the door, Jessie saw the figure pass through it.
Mrs. Culverton still could see nothing.
Obedient to the girls movements, Mrs. G. des
cended the stairs and stood in the library.
The ghost paused before book case.
j "He wants me to open it" said Jessie.
'Do 50" said the lady.
"He signs to take down the books" said tn
girl.
! And Mrs Culverton's own hands went to tn
work. Book after book was taken down-novel
and romances, poems and plays.
| A pile of volumes lay upon the library carpe
and still the ghost pointed to the rest till they wer
all down.
"He looks troubled, ma'am. He seems tryin
to think" said the girl. "Oh, ma'am, he's gon
to the other easel"
And 50, to cut long story short, the four grea
bookcases were emptied without apparent result
Suddenly Jessie screamed,
"He's in the air. He's risen, ma'am, to tn
top Of the case He wants me to climb up"
"Get the steps, Jessie" said her mistress-an
Jessie obeyed.
| On the very top of one of the cases, covered b
|cobwebs she found an old German book, an
: brought it down.
d ''This was there she said.
| Mrs. Culverton took it in her hand from b
tween the leaves dropped folded paper, fastene
with red tape and sealed.
3 The lady picked it up and read on the outsid
these words:
"The last aoiU and testament of Hiram Hardy.
: For little while she could only weep and tren
BILE; soon she found words
"Uncle," she said, in the name of my HUSBAND
and my dear children, I thank you from my sou
Does he hear me, Jessie2'
eyes; he mods and smiles" said the girl.
< ssWill you let me see you, uncle ?' said MIR
Culverton.
3 'sHe has gone," said the girl. "Hc has kisse
his hand and gone"
u And so he had, for good; for from that momel
y II ~.,, ,,,,,or ooon ooain hv mortal ewes