Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-19
SuperstitiOus Credulity; or a Ghost
Explained.

In famous haunted house on the road
between Yellow Springs and Xpnia. super
<titious exhibitions were specially noted.
The people throughout that region hesita-
'eh to speak about the place. and its pecu-
iarities Were mentioned in whispers
Hence nv curiosity was aronsed. and after
preparing myself to resist anv danger that
might occur from the presence of desDer-
ate characters, | prncaele1 to the place
and provided an excellent point for view
inc the premises. 1t would have been a
tedions business to wait until milnight,
the time when ghosts are said To aprear.
But l dill not have to wait so long
About eleven o'clock a warm stream of
lir blew mp from thu south over the creek
md quarter of a mile or more of rich.
warm bottom land. As the vapor struck
he hillside it con lpn>e !, an | sm III flying
brlloons of mist flew hither and ihither.
The warm air fingered over and f'rmented
IN old pile of compost. decaving straw,
md Il few old boards that were lying
,brut.
Then there arose vap1rOus. luminous
no ". which. with its blsp on the ground
and coniral or roun1. fiery, clou Like
heal in the air took III" hea of 4 woman.
Crimson and wi hlooi like spnts AMI
reakS were about her neck and scattered
over her dress She waved her hanls,
md her h1ir fioate abnut in clou i of
light. while her ewes gliStened like cold
moon Rising slowly from her hdenus
b"d. the spertre moved abo1t, rs if the
vim toved with her and she carel not
vhther she was taken At last she novel
IS if to visit me in NV retreat; then turn
ing a corner of the Il lble. she netrly dis
appeared. there b ing nothing left visible
| INT Il long dirty. white trail. In a m"m mt
he phi rntom turned again. an.l erept into
The broken doorway stopping rs he retir
ed. Several min ptes rlrp-e,l. and conclud-
M that she hld collapsed or worn ont her
vaporous strength. when she came through
he up ming of the doorway and crev ces
| betwecn the logs Then, after wsIlking or
| ioiting ahoIt while. her light went out
| md she became thinner and finally disap-
| peared.
The shape of the apparition was such
hat it WAS easy for an imtginative person
| to see in the form of a sa face or angry
| we'd, restless woman. Then hpw easy to
create :, legend filled with details of
mysterious murder, IN make this the un-
happy victim, whose shadow must haunt
The place of her taking off until her m mes
IRE appeased in some legal and effec. i've
manner. But my evidence makes this
bIseleSs fabric of u vision the mere result
of the vaporous exhaliiinns of a compost
pile. | had a very fine pair of field glt>ses.
and could see clearly the effects pro,lu, ed
by the sire an of air when it CAM in con-
iact with the compost. The vapnr began
ut that moment to arise, and this result
would occur in all seasons. Then the
luminous jets and vtrieg ,ted colors sprang
up from the laboratory wherein Nature S
chemistry was at work, and finally the va
porous cloud. which real V had not any
definite shape, was c,rried at the caprice
ofthe soft zephyr winds which fiitte'l about,
and did not blow sufficiently strong to car
rv this heavier body ont of the regular
draughts through the openings of the di-
lapilated house.-LippincOtts Mdgdz'ne
for Nay.