Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-02


square hole BY which the earret was en-
tered. But there was no visible mean
of reaching this garnet only by means o
q plank some ten or twelve inches wild
which slanted from the floor up TO thi
hole While they stood peering through
the shadows of the corridor. tbi
lower door swung slowly opel
and the great tom cat bounded out, an,
tore madly shrieking up this plank, slowll
followed by dusky form, tall and gauni
1t was neither dressed nor undressed, bu
a mantle of some yellowish white lookinI
fabric floated around it, scarcely hiding
the bare arms and legs. 1t moved slowll
towards the plank, while dark reddish
stains were plainly seen on the bosom
back and shoulder. My father did no
fire his pistol. Chloe did not use he
broomstiek. They let it pass between
the plank and wall. 1t slowly ascendet
the plank and disappeared through thu
square hole into the garrett, followed by {
harsh, grating sound, as though it wal
drawing up the plank after it. But ye
the plank remained as before.
''What was it 2" gasped my mother.
4
'1t is de debble heself," cried Chloe
"and de monsurs tom cat am his marsel
spirit, Glory be to God" (clasping hel
hands fervently.) ''I'll neber come to dil
| place arter dis
''Was it negro or q white man r.
| asked my brother. 'It looked dark like
6. negro or sunburnt white man.
Mother and Clara were both clinginc
terrified to fathers arm, who stood 70,
several moments with his eyes riveted OF
the plank without speaking.
''Some one is evidently concealed VI
there, he said at length. 'Tet us return
Do not be alarmed. 1t is no ghost, but
human being greatly emsciated."
They all returned 10 mothers room
securely locking every door behind them
Beds were prepared in there for the whole
family-even Chloe and the nurse sleeping
on the carpet before the fire. The nexl
day was one of great anxiety to my
mother and the elder ones of our family.
They carefully explored all the rooms uu
stairs, but found no trace of the ghost or
the tom cat.
Father had forbade everyone to SPEAK
of the occurrences of the previous night,
saying he would catch this night walker,
Father returned early from the store that
evening, bringing with him q large stee
trap, which he cautiously placed at the
foot of the plank, choosing the twilight
hour to set it, lest he should be seen by
the mysterious inhsbitsnt of the garnet.
He had the satisfaction of hearing il
hurled with great violence to the middle
of tine corridor about ten O'Clock that
night, making such jingling noise that
the whole household was aroused from
their slumbers, while the creeping foo.S
steps went sliding over the floors just as
on the previous night. We drew the
covers over our heads and stopped our
ears, to deaden the sound, for we knew
that the terrible ghost was abroad again.
A week past, each night bringing its
accompanying horrors.
Father had set his steel trap, and wait
ed up in vain, TO catch the nocturnal
visitant. When he would watch up, it
never csme, but when the lights were all
out in the house, and the family gone to
rest, then the stealthy footsteps were
about the house, such as dies and
thread, and the cold victuals from the
pantry, and then some bed clothes, and a
sheet disappeared, and no one could tell
when or how they went. Chloe, who
was afflicted with TItUDl0tics, had some
dried poke berries tied up in bunch, and
hanging on a nail in the pantry, to cure
her pains, and they too disappeared. We
all W0ndered what the ghost could want
with such artiCles-he was evidently the
thief
The great tom cat roamed about the
upper rooms nightly, making night hid
eOus with his unesrthiy shrieks, aud il
one of the household but lifted theil
heads above the stairs, he raised his bris
ties and dsrted shriekiDg up the plaHH
into the garnet.
Mother became nervous and unhappy,
and at length sent for the owner of the
house, end related all her annOyances &c
him. He refused to believe the house
was haunted, went through al the rooms
alone and examined them closely; came
down and asked what had become of tie
ladder that had served as steps to the
garnet. He was told that there was nc
ladder there when we csne. He looked
| thoughtful, then told mother thai
he would come at night and watch will
father for the ghost
They watched until half past clever
ere sound was heard above, and ther
the great tom cat let out one Of his wild,
est yells, and the footsteps were heard
creeping about over hesd. They took
the candle, cooked their pistols, and stole
softly up the steps. La the corridor a.
| was quie'; the doors of the billiard saloon
| stood wide open, and the tom cat hsileC
their appearance with menacing yel
from uader the long table. At first moth
ing was seen in the room, the lower por
ton being but dimly lighted by the feeble
rays from the single candle they held
But on elevatIng the light they disc )veret
the dusky form of the ghost leaning Oh
the lower end of the table with its g;eat,
hollow eyes glazing upon them. He WIS.,
eveloped in q long, trailing mantle Of
white, which did not cover the dusky
arms and bosom, which were shriyeleC
and yellow. Red stains, redder and fresh
er than when last seen, looked as if jus
| oozing from fresh wounds. A white hand
kerchief or band encircled the head, th'
face was long, and the skin presented thu
appearance of dried sheepskin, neithe
yellow nor white. The long, skeleton
scrawny hands, rested on the table befcr,
him, and the great hollow eyes glareG
upon them with deathly stare.
'Don't fire." whispered father to Iii
companion, seeing him about to draw &
bead on the strange object. 'Iet US Sc
what he will dc; it cannot escape frOT
the rooms" But ere he was done speak
ing, it turned slowly, sling out at tn
lower door into the outer hall. The,
also turned quickly, but only 10 time Il
see the bloody looking eheet fitting u
the plank into the garnet, followed by tn
snsrling, angry tom cat, and the graiin
sound thst always followed their flight.
They returned to my mothers room
MIR. Dorothy was pale and trembling
convinced that something haunted th
house.
"Some one is certainly concealed j
that garrett" spoke father, as he place
the candle again on the table.
''But who can it be9 and why are the
there7" questioned Mr.. D1rethy. 81 ar
1 IiJ not $40 ,.,bov, 10 tbo oha,os