Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-11-18
THE HAUNTED HOUSE AT HART.
FORD.
ny Mrs. rnoMAs j, MonHELL.


FORD.
ny MRS. THOMAS j, WoRRELL.
My grandmother was pure type
of an Euglishwoman; handsome,
healthy, and clear. headed as a man.
Brought up with the strictest bust
ness habits in well regulated house
hold, consisting principally of men,
she escaped, in great measure, a
taste for those frivolites which so of
ten neutralize the better qualities of
an equally sensible girl. She mar
ricd happily, become a widow some
seven years after, married again,
and, on the death of her second hus-
band, cmigrated to America. She
was residing in New York when the
yellow fever of'9l first made its ap-
pearance. Sharing the general pan
iC, she conceded to the wishes of
American friends and left immedi-
ately, with her three little girls, for
the more salubrious climate of Hart
ford, Connecticut, where she design
edremaining until the pestilence had
passed away.
This slight sketch is necessary to
the interest of my story. Every
household, however great or humble,
has, | believe, its superstitious le-
geud: If English, its ghost; if Irish,
its fetch if Scotch, its wrath. Now,
our family legend came down from
my strong-Aearted, healthy grand
mother who had no nervous fancies,
no dyspeptic misgivings, and who
held superstition in the profoundest
contempt, as pertaining only to the
ignorant or diseased imagination,
She never attributed the strange
phenomena of the Hartford house to
supernatural causes; but as her good,
sound sense and acute penetration
could never present a more tangible
reason for what occurred there, the
legend came down to her more cred
uIous listeners as my grandmothcr's
story of the Haunted House. In
her own words ! give it, then, with
out comment or circumloCution
On arriving at my place Of destina-
ton found a handsome, old-fashion-
ed mansion, somewhat on the skirt
Ofthe beautiful, cleanly little town of
Hartford. There was no other hOus-
es for ecvelHl squares; and as this
stood some distance from the main
road, surrounded by its pretty Yam
kce garden, it presented rather an
imposing appearance when compar-
ed with the more humble editices OF
the neighborhood, its symmetry be-
ing only marrcd by curious little
wing attached to the main building,
and which did not appear, from its
more modern architecture, to have
originally belonged to the rather
stylish old mansion. The family
consisted of DR.. Marston, his wife,
and grown daughter. They did
not profess to take boarders, but, tbs
house being more commodious than
was necessary for their requirements,
thcv bad advertised for lady board
er with one or more children. Most
gladly did avail myself of the offer,
and forthwith prepared to make my
self comfortable in my new home,
The apartments accorded me were q
parlor and bedroom on the ground
floor for myself and eldest daughter,
and a smaller sleeping-room, for the
Younger children, in the story above.
Every thing was done to make me
happy and contentod by my kind
hostess. The Doctors avocation
took him much from home, and ex.
cept at meals, | seldom saw either
him or his wife. The daughter
would sometimes drop into my par
for awhile. She appeared to be an
amiable girl, but there was an air of
restraint about her which l could not
reconcile with the natural good
breeding which characterized the
family. However, l was so glad to es-
cane the fearful scourge ofpestilence,
that with my books, my needle
work, and my three little ones, who
claimed no small share of my atten-
tion.I | did not feel the want of COM
panionship which u stranger yearns
for in a new home.
The weather was excessively sui
try, and, at my request, Mrs MarSton
had removed the carpet from my
sleoping.room the day after my arrl-
val, There was closeness in the
air of the apartment which, l IAN
cied. was augmented by the presence
of bright scarlet carpet when
looked warmer than it really was,
from the intensity of its hue: Every
fling was now to my mind, and !
began to experience that sense OF en-
ioyment which comes with the con-
ssciousness of quiet home even Ill a
strangers land. h,,
room, engaged, as usual, with my
needle, a feeling of oppression cans'
cd me TO look up from my Worh'
and. to my astonishment' | saw Is
suing through the chinks Of the
floor a vapor, which, as it rose; form
cd itself into a sort Of column IN lne
centre of the apartment l SIT
watchin" II until q sense of faint
wc.s warned me to action, when !
rose rose and NJ stepped out upon q sort OF
vcrandah which surrounded nay side
Of tbe housc-lor as l tol! you, my
be bedroom IIS % and parlor were on the tn
~ro,nd yro floor. Tne outside air re-
SSiycd me, but feeling of curiosity
siilI s'II chained me to the spot where
this this phenomenon had presented resent 1yo1c it,
always open except at night and yet