The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-08-02
IL &hoBGmR @iger.


in, the present century as bcgman,
'will' tell stories. Among them, he
tells his Single Ghost Story SO often,
that ! an. heartily tired Of it. In
fclf-defencc, therefore | publish the
tale in order that when the next good
kind old gentleman offerste bore us
with ity"evefy b5dy may say they
kno wit" rcmembcrseverg word Of
it.. .r ,.r.., ..l.
j"One 6nc autumn evening about
fohr yoars ago, | was travelling on
horseback from Shrewsbury to Chcs-
ter. / felt tolerably tired, and was
beginning to look out for some snug
way-side inn, where l might pass tho
night, when sudden and violent
thunder storm came on. My horse,
terrified by the lightning, fairly took
the bride between his teeth, and
started of with mo at full gallop
through lanes and cross roads until at
length I managed to pull him up just
near the door Of a neat looking coun-
try inn"
"Well," thought T,'sthcre was wit
in your madness, old boy, since it
brought us to this comfortable ref.
nsc." And alish,i"g, gave him in
charge to u stout fa, mcr's boy who
acted as hostlcr. The kitchen,
which was also the guest, room, was
large and comfortable, very like tho
pleasant hosterly described by Izaak
Walton. There were several travel
c's already in the room probably
like myself, driven there for shelter
and they were all warming them
selves by blazing fire while waiting
for supper. | joined the party.
Presently, being summoned by the
hostteEs, We all sat down, twelve in
number, to smoking rcpast Of bacon
and eggs, corncd beef and carrots and
btcwcd hare.
The conversation naturally turned
on the mshaps occasioncd by the
storm, Of which everyone sccmed to
have his full share. One had been
thrown on his horse another, driv-
ing gig, had been upset into dyke
and nll had got u through wetting,
and agreed unanimously that it was
dreadful weather--a regular witches
sabbath.
""Witchcs and ghosts prefer for
their Sabbath fine moonligh night
to such weather as this"
Those words were uttered in sol
cmn tone and with strange emphasis,
hy one of the company. lie was n
tall dprklooking man, and had set
Him down III my own mind as a trav-
cling orchant or pedlar. My next
nrighborI was a gay, well looking
fash ionably dressed young man, who
bursting into deal Of laughter
said .,,
"Iou must know the manners and
Gust oms of ghosts very we'll, to be
able. to tell that they dislike gst ting
wet or muddy"
The first speaker giving him a dark
fierce look said
"ioung man, sroak not so lightly
ofthings above your comprehension"
"po you mean to imply that there
arc such things as ghosts :"
"Pcrhaps there are if you had
courage to look at them"
Thc young man stood up, flushed
with anger. But presently rcsuming
lis seat, he said calmly
"That taunt should cost you dear,
II it were not such foolish one"
CA foolish one - exclaimed the
merchant, throwing on tho table q
heavy leathern purse. "Thcre are
fifty gpihaas. lam content to lose
tbem, if, before tho hour is ended, !
do not succeed in showing you, who
are obstiuatcly prcjudi ccd, the form
etany one of your deceased friends :;
and it after you have recognized him
you allow him to kiss your lips"
We all looked at each other. but
my young neighbor, still in the same
hooking manner, replied
You will do that, will you ~
sEes.' said the other-'I will stake
these fifty guineas, or condition that
you will pay a similar sum if you
Lose
After short silence, the young
man said gally:
'Fitty guineas, my worthy sorcercr,
are more than poor college siz.r
ever possessed /; but hero are five,
which # you arc satisfied, shall be
most willing to wager
'!he other took up his purse, say.
lng III contcmptuous tone
Young gentleman, YOU wish to
draw back.'
Il draw back = exclaimed the stu.
dent. 'Well,' if had the fifty gnin.
eas, you should see whether I wish to
dra " back"
'lore,' said l, sare four guincas.
wbich | will stake on your wager :
No sooner had I made this propo.
stion than the rest of the company.
attracted by the singularity of tho
affair, came forward to lay down
their money In yminutc Ar