The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1869-03-18
A GHOST STORY.

Ihe following account, extracted from
The Diaries of a Lady Of Qualify, Of
what was long copsideredf even BY
highly Intellectual persons, a supcrnatu-
raj incident, will serve as proof TO our
readers that ghost stories, however
seemingly authenticated, are capable Of
easy explanation. from natural and or
/ diuary causes. when the circumstances
are fully known.
AT meeting OIL the Literary Club, Of
which Dr.. johnson, Mr., Burke. and
several olhsr eminent characters Of The
day were present, it was observed that an
( cid gentleman, who bhd never missed
one Of the meetings of the society, was
that day absent. His absence WIS con.
sidered as The more eEunordinary be-
cause he happened 10 ne President on
that day. While they were expressing
their surprise at this circumstance, they
saw their friend enter the room, wrap
ped in long white gown, his counter.
auce wan aud very much fallen He
sat down ip his place, and wiita his
friends wondered al his dress, he waved
his hand, nodded to each separately, aUl
disappeared from the. room without once
speaking, The gentlemen. surprised at
this circumstance, aud determined 10 in.
ves'igaIe it, called far Tie waiter, aud
asked whether auybody had been seen
upon The staircase which led to the room
where they were sitting. They we're
answered ihat no person had been on
either 10 enter the house OF to mount
lhe stairs. aud that both the entrance and
the staircase had been full OF comors,
and gnors. Not satisfied with this, they
sent to the house ofthe gentleman whom
they bod just seen to inquire whether he
had been out. His residence happened
TO be near the coffee house whore they
were, aud their messenger Immediately
retorred with III following melancholy
Intelligence. Their friend had died about
ten minutes bsiOre, Of violent fever.
which had confined him entirely 10 his
bed for several days.
Some Of the most eminent men Of the
Club gave themselves great pains to dis
cover the imposition which il was thought
had been praciised ppon them; others
firmly believed hat their ftie6d's ghost
hadactually appeared 10 them; and ,be
latter opinion was confirmed by The total
failure Oi'ail inquiries. All their efforts
proved vain to remove tho veil Of mys-
tery Witch hung over this Transaction. -
Az last they determined to romeae the
Club 10 another part Of the town, enter
I,ing:at tse snpe limei into aP engager
l,sai desSt tcsvsv6al liie citcnraslince
I ih1us4 Sig
suppofied BY the evid6H Hco . Sic h men
as, johnson, Burke, etc might DO much
mischief while the causes remained un-s
explained,
Many years ofIerward, as Mr. Burke
was sitting al dinner with some friends,
ut his own house, he was told that
poor old woman, who was dying 10 un OBJ.
scure garre;, 10 The midst Of the greatest
wretchcdness had just said that she
could mol die in peace unless she could
reveal most imp RANT secret to Mr..
Burke. This summons appeared so like
fraudulent means to extorl, money, that
Mr., Burke refused 10 60. In S-short
tine ho received second aud sill more
pressing message, and at the somo time
such on account was given Of the poor
creature s exlreme;povcrty, and misery
of The poor expiring object, that his COM
passion wss excited, and he determined
TO 90 in spite Of the earnest on,rsaties Of
his friends who still feared for bis snroly.
They accordingly watched in the little
obscure alley, saw him ascend the stair.
case which led to the goret in which
"a o