The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-10-09
Almost "a Ghost Story.
4 Real incident.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.


On q Christmas night some fifty or sixty years
ago there was gathered about the wide fireplace
of a large New En.ltnd kitchen happy family
circle, consisting OF Wo-to-do farmer, who WAS
exc amagistrate--known far aud wide as Squire
Percival'--his comelv vile, Two fair daughters,
O niece, and last, but not least, son, just home
from Yale for the holidays.
The night without was seasonably cold, and
brilliant with moonlight aud starlight. The
large stone farmhouse stood on the brow of u
hill, behind protecting line of tall pine-trees-
the only green il tho wide landscape. The
steep hillside and wide valley beneath were
heavily blanketed with snow.
The early part OF the evening had passed mer-
riIy with games, jests and song. But for an
hour or two the conversation had taken = drift
into the supernatural. One ghost story had
succeeded another, till, as the "witchng time of
night approached, and the fire barned low, the
circle -iastinctively drew closer together with
thrills and shudders of strange spiritual dread,
which is yet akin to keenest pleasure-an awe
some joy, exquisite terror The solemn
soughing of the winds among the pines, heard
in the pauses of ghostly recital, added its won
drous, wierd effect to the theme.
Just as young John Percival had concluded
wild German legend, which he declared
"splendd stuff for dreams,' the outside door
was heard to open suddenly. All looked round,
more or less fearfully, to standing on the
threshold the slight form of fair young wo-
man, clad all III white, and looking strangely
pure, and cold, and luminous. like incarnated
moonlight.
"With the glids of spirit" she came forward.
Her feet were quite bare, aud her arms we're
dropping wearily. Masses fair hair fell over
her shoulders, but her eyes were dark and fixed
with melancholy stare. Her lips were slightly
parted and almost colorless. She came into the
circle about the hearth, and there paused, stand
ing utterly Inotionless--a beautiful, appalling
figure.
For . moment, all the startled group 70
manned as silent as that vistor-then one young
girl caught her breath i'll hys1eric scream, which
was instantly answered by IA cry from the lips Of
the "woman in white" into whose blank eyes
rushed wild, keen light She sazed about her
in terror and bewilderment, then glanced down
upon herself, and sunk covering upon the
floor, covering her face with her hands, and
giving way to childish paroxysm of weep
ing.
The farmers wife, woman of rare sense
and presence of mind, at once OWNED the
truth.
"She IS a sleop-walker!" sho said. "She must
be half dead with the cold Girls bring some
wrapppgs"
Immediately all was hustle The farmer and
kind mother daughters, and niece devoted them
selves TO their hewildered charge, who still wspt
and sobbud under their kind ministratiOns, bat
declared that site felt cold and no pain,
though her delicate feet were actually bleeding
from her long walk up the icy hillside and over
the crusted snow
After having been tenderly put TO BED, howev-
er, she became sufficiently composed to reply to
the few questions put to her. She said she was
Lucy Ellet, the niece of the village physician
that she had lste.y been taken from school, on
account OF nervousness, and sent to him for med
icai treatment but that homesickness and loneli.
had made her worse. She had occasionally
walked in her sleep before, but only about the
house and grounds 1t home, and on summer
moonlight nights. y. think the moon bewitches
me" she said, smiling through her tears. That
night she had. before going to bed, looked across
the little vail TO the pleasant house on the hill,
watched The cheerful Christmas lights cleaning
through the yinC-rrees, and louged to DO one of
the happy parry there though she was stranger
to all.
She had tried herself to sleep, she said and
that was all she knew OF ben mysterious mid.
night trampoyer snow and stone and ice No,
memory, not athought could she recall till the
moment when she found herself standing on
TINT hearth, IN her uight-dress, with 30 many
wondering eyes fixed upon her
~ dear what Dc y.u think OF mel What
c0a you think of me now 7" she moaued.
Never mind what we think Of YOU. nv boo,
child sad good motheriy Mrs Percival wv,
lore yon already, SO just drink this nice ginger
tea, and so to sleep"
The "poor child got AZ little natural Sleep ant
in the morning appeared somewhat less yhostl,
than the appariton OF Christmas night Blu
she was rili very pale, with a painfully shy
grlevod look. She was suffering less than wa
expected from the exposure, but more from tn
nervous shock of the night before, and by tn
advice oi her uncle. who had been summoned
consented to remain with her new friends for
few days. Tn ~yl.k- <Yy
Young John Percival was Hospitality kind I
the inyslid guest, rot seeming to perceive tn.
she shfAhk from his5attentions in ssnsitiv,
disquietedA way. Yetwhen his eye was not 0
her, she was observed to study his face with
peculiar inquiring expression. She could nj
xemember hsying seen that face Vt TIE ieari,
n, nent Of her awakening. and she hoped
had nss-hssa q, SVitassSoi.-t hst walking ,tsaas
which she regarded with absolute horror.
Finally, on the hst dit 81 her sttaAge visi
finding herself alone with hun for moment ri
OntnIuDt al4 il1fS Hl1it. ~