The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-12-21
Seleet Stony,
From the Ledger.
A True GHOST STORY,
BY JUDGE CLARK.

Half way up the mountain side
looking down upon the valley of the
Cumberland, twenty years ago, stood
q country inn, famous for the good
ness OF It's cheer aud the heIrtinesS oi
its host, Cleophas Coote by name.
In the summer of 1850, the 'MouII
| tain Home so TIE Inn was called
had more than its usual quota of Wis
itors, one of whom had come to die
Alter lew days he kept his room,
and in a lew more had braalhed his
last, whispering the name of loved
ones far away.
When the strangers trunk WAS
opened, (Which was done by the
landlord III the presence III Two oi his
guests--ouc a doctor, and the other IL
ciergyman--at.I least we TOOK him ior
sucli,- on the strength OF his era, at
and conversation, 1t was found to
contain considerable sum in bank
notes. OF these MIR. Coote made a
ccmplo te list, noting their numbers
and denominations after which / e
carefully sealed them up, aud locked
them away in Il drawer, i'll his. OWL
bedroom facts To which he likewise
called the attention OF the doctor and
the minister.
On tie evening of the funeral, the
conversations, rs was natural, took a
serious turn
From death the transition was easy
to The subject. OF departed spirits and
their status. And here an animated
discussion sprang up between the
Clergyman and the doctor.
'W hatorer may or mayn't be- in
terposed our worthy host, there s one
thing some OF you may have reason to
believe in beiere you leave these parts.
What's that? L ventured TO ask.
~ The Man of the Mountain" Mr.
Coote answered.
And who's he p inquired several.
That's the question: said Mr..
Coote. Il can only TIL you what L
saw of him others may describe him
differently. 1t was early one morning
as stood on spur of the mountain
looking down into the valley, that
saw at distance, and gazing straight
at me, fligbtful object in human
shape, at least forty feet. high.
oh Mr.. Coote y screamed the la
dies. '--t'
1T 8 every word true, and I can
bring twenty witnesses who'll tell q
similar story ,.t'f
We'll what did you do 2 some one
inquired. -.- ....
what anv sensible man would
said Mr. Coote-'took to my heels and
ran away
1t was plain our host was not jok-
ing and all felt convinced that he
thought he had seen what he said he
had. - . .a- er
That there is dash of superstition,
even in the most skeptical, is saying
as true as trite. INdoubt if any one
ever slept quite comfortably in a
chamber reputed 10 be haunted or
crossed a graveyard alone in the dark
without wishing himself safely over. |
Mr.. Coote's account, it was easy TO
see, made a deeper impression than
any of US would have cared to own;
and there is reason to believe that
more than one inmate of the Noun
tain Homo went to sleep that night
with their heads covered.
had lain for some time musing on
Mr. C"ote's curious statement, and had
ust fallen asleep, by succession of
.errific screams. Springing from the
ped and opening the door,. L, ran in
he direction of the sounds, which ed
ne straight to Mr.. and Mrs. Coote's
70 .--. r: s=d-
Before 1 had time to ask what was
he matter, half of the dodgers had ap-
,eared on the scene, and Mr. Coote,
amp in hand and followed by his
pale and trembling
ushed into the hallway.