Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-09-29

white and left the room. Mrs. Culverton fol
4 lowed.
As first she could extort no explanation bu
by and by the girl declared she saw an old gen
tlemAn sitting in an arm chair in the corner
who beckoned to her, and she fancied In hur
ry Tor his tea.
"what did he look llkea" asked Mrs. Culver
ton.
"He was thin and tall" said tho Girl, "hi.
hair was white and very long. and 1 noticed
that one OF his knees looked stiff, and he had a
thick gold-headed cane beside him."
"Uncle Hram!" cried Mrs. Culverton 'upon
my word you've described my great uncle who
has been dead for twenty years"
81 shall never keep place, said she. "You
will turn me away now"
''See as many ghosts as you please" said she,
"as long as you don't bring them before my
eyes," and went back to her tea without saying
o word to any Of the family on the subject, al
though she was extremely mystified.
| Surely IL the gill had ever seen her uncle Hi
ram-which was not likely considering time
she must have seen something In the ghost line,
and II, indeed, it were her uncle Hiram's spirit,
why should he not come to aiG them in their
troubleP Mrs. Culverton always had a little su-
perstition hidden In her soul, and she soon be-
gan To believe this version of the case.
The next morning she went into the kitchen
| and shutting the door said to Jessie:
"My good girl, do net intend to dismiss you
| so be quite frank with ma. do not believe that
these forms are optical illusions. l feel sure
that they are actual spirits. What do you
| think"
81 think as you do" she said.
Sour folks have always seen ghosts, and
grandfather had the second sight for ten years
before he died.
"lf you should zee the old gentleman you
told me Of again." said Mrs. Culvertsn, abe
sure and tell me. III keep the story from the
fal lbs aW,I Nj st.-I.
laugh at II; bu. you described my dear old grand
uncle, and my belief Is you saw him."
The girl promised not 10 mention anything
that might happen to her mistress, and from
that day an Interchange Of glances between
them, and a subsequent conference in the kitch-
en- was of regular occurrence.
She saw the apparation seated on the sofa in
the parlor, seated at the dinner table, walking
IN the garden, and SO life-like was ii, that she
found 1t impossible to refrain from passing
plates, cups and saucers to ii, to the infinite
ainazement of people who saw only t1e empty
air In the same spot.
By and by she invariably spoke of her ghost
as the old gentleman, and was no more affected
by his presence than by that Of living person.
II 1t were an optical illusion, 1t was Tie most
singular on record.
But all the while ghost or no ghost the figure
never spoke, and never did anything to help the |
Culvertons In their dilemma. and the lawsuit |
was nearly terminated without the shadow of a |
doubt In Jabez Hardy rs favor.
In three days all would be over; aud the Cul. |
vertoIls who had earned their property, If ever |
mortas did by their kindness and attention to /
their aged relatives-whom they truly loved i
and red-would probably he homeless.
One morning Mrs. Culvert0n sat over break \
fast after the Others had left the room, thinking
of this when Jessie came in.
"rye something 10 tell you, ma'am,n said
she. "There's change in the old gentleman
"What do you mean?" asked Mrs. Culver
ton.
"I've seen him twice at the foot of nv bed
ln the night and though always before he has
been Kind and pleasant looking, now lio frowns
and looks angry He beckons Lu me to 90 some-
where, and don't dare-ln the night time. ="
on must, said Mrs. Culvertsn. ii know
lie IL c'iue again and [ II 81, up all night and
60. II may be Of great use to us all, Jessie"
u shant he afraid ma'am, il have company
said Jessie, in the most matter-of-fact manner.
and carried out the breakfast things.
All day they never spoke on the subject but
en retiring Jessie found her mistress in her bed
room wrapped IN q shawl.
II m ready you see," said Mrs. Culyerton.-l
AHd Jessie merely loosened some button and
hooks and lay down dressed.
Ten O'Clock passed-eleven-twelye, Mrs.
CuWerton eega to doubt, when suddenly she
Jaw Jesse's eyes dilate in most peculiar
manner, and in an instant the girl said
"Why, here he il, ma'am"
"rheres no one there" said Mrs. Culver
ON.
.Oh, yes, ma'am! see him." said the eir,.-
Hes In great excitement ma 'am, he s taking
'ut his watch to look at, and the chain Ia made
'f such bright yellow hair, thought at II Ist it
Was gold"
"His wife's hair" said Mrs. Culverton. alt
vas buried with him. You see lear Uncle
Hiram Does he look at me?"
"Yes, m a'am, said Jessie.
"Uncie, said Mrs. c., "do you know me af-
er these years ?"
"He nods," said the girl"
"iiave you come to help us--dear uncle
laid the lady.
uncle Hiram was described noddins very
Kindly, and bcckoning.
"He wants us to follow him. said the girl,
md took up the light. The moment she open
III the door Jessie saw the figure pass through
|. Mrs. Culverlon still could see nothing.
Obedientrothe girls movement Mrs. C., de-
'cended the stairs and stood in the library.
Inc ghost paused before bookcase
"lle wants me to open it," said Jessie.
ado So" said the lady.
"He signs to take down the books" said the
,irl.
And Mrs. Culverton's own hands went to
work. Book after book was taken down; noy-
'ls and romances, poems and plays.
pile Of volumes lay upon the library carpet |
md still the ghost pointed to the rest till they
we're all down.
ale looks troubled, ma'am. He seems try
ng to think, said the girl. "Oh, ma am hes
,one TO the other case !'
And so, 10 cut long story short, the four
,reat book cases were emptied without appar-
,at result.
"He's in the chair. He's risen, ma'am, TO
ne top OF the case. He wants me TO climb
up"
acct the steps, JESSIE" said her mistress
and Jessie obeytd.
BY cobwebs, she found an old German book
and brought it down.
"This was there" she said. Mrs. Culyer.on
,ook IL out Of her hand;from between the leaves
dropped folded paper, fastened W it'll red tape
and sealed.
The lady picked it up, and read On tie . IT
"Ihe last ioW aud Testament Of Hiram Har-
iy.
For little while she could ouly weep and
tremble; soon she found wods.
"Uncle," she said; "ln the name OF nv hus-
band, and my dear children, thank you from
my soul. Does he hear me, Jessie -
"Yes; he mods and smiles, )" said the girl.
"He has gone," said the girl. Gle has kissed
bis hand and gone.
And so he had-fOr good; for from that mo-
@ent he was never seen again by mortal eyes.
Nobody believed the story of his appearance
but the will had been discovered without doubt.
and the Culyertons were no longer in danger
from their old home. There they lived and
died. Jessie remained Until she ~as married,
and all her life received every kindness from
the family, who were indebted TO her singular
peculiarity for their comfort and happiness
Whether Uncle Hirans spirit really came back
to earth or not, is q question; but Mrs. Culver
ton always asserts that ldid. and quarrela with