Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-28
A Terrible Joke.

"How WAS it,lMajor, that you never
were married? have known you for a
long time and yet you've never told me
that" were the words which George Eel
ton addressed to his bachelor friend, Maj.
Lee, retired army officer, as the CONVEX
sation turned on matters matrimonial.
"Ah, George, 1t isn't wonderful that
should never mention it. The circum-
stances which prevented me getting mar
ried are OF such melancholy character
that it pains me to have them referred to
at all, /" was his answer.
Now, Major, Pm very curious to
know, and as we are old friends, If |
promise TO keep it secret, will you tell
meg But II it would pain you too much
to tell / don't want to know" said
George.
"Well, then" the Major answered with
a sigh, II will tell you, but" here he
shuddered, sit is so horrible; oh, 50
dreadful! Let me think. Yes.
cit was III the year 1847 when 1t hap
pened, and had just entered the twenty
seventh year of my age, with prospects as
bright and promising as any young man
could wish for. MY way was clear to
fame in military circles. / had just come
from hasty trip around the world, and
my mind was full Of strange and new
ideas. People flattered me on my success,
and the doors of society were opened wide
to me, that | might pass in. On, that
they had only been kept shut / received
| an invitation to attend very fashionable
ball given by rich family in the west
end Of London. went there, and while
| talking 10 a friend in one Of the parlors /
noticed particularly handsome young
lady. ! took fancy to her Immediately,
and managed to obtain an introduction TO
her, which ] afterward found out she was
| Just as anxious to have as was. You
know yourself what feelings possess a
| man when he first falls in love, and such
feelings had then However, / danced
with her, escorted her to supper, and
parted with her at the door Of her carriage,
receiving an invitation to call at her
house. It's scarcely necessary to tell you
that visited her again and again. The
| following summer ] was invited to spend
a few months at her fathers country resi-.
dence. / was only too willing to go, and
while down there in Devonshire one
beautiful calm evening, seated on rustic
bench, offered her my hand and heart,
and was accepted.
| Now, she was very fond of practical
jokes, and never let pass an opportunity
| to play one, regardless of who might be
unfortunate enough to be her victim.
Zone morning Lena Il can't help call
| ing her by the old familiar name) did not
come down TO breakfast as usual. A serv-
ant was sent to her room to see what was
the matter and found her lying in bed,
complaining of sick headache, an i'll
| ness which we afterward found out to be
| only assumed. She said that during the
night she was awakened by scratching
noise, and looking In the direction whence
1t came she saw horrible face looking
ut her. She tainted and remembered
nothing more about 1t. OF course we pro-
nounced this nothing but a nightmare,
| but al her request one OF her sisters was
| allowed to sleep with her. The next
morning they reported seeing the same
horrible apparition, and declared their in
tention OF never sleeping In the room
again, as II was haunted.
Il volunteered 70 occupy the apartment
for one night, as much to investigate the
cause Of the appearance Of the ghost as
because no one else was willing to take
possession Of the room About ten O'Clock
! went to bed, and don't know how long
slept when | was awakened by scratch.
ing noise, and looking in that direction
saw terribly Notwithstanding face di.
rectly over the mantcl-piece, and looking
straight at me. II had large eyes, a hor.
rible pair of fangs in its mouth, and
seemed as If the inside of the head were
all on fire. jumped from the bed, but
the moment touched the floor the face
disappeared ! went to bed again, but
did not sleep much. kept watching over
the mantel-piece and was rewarded BY the
face again appearing. had taken re-
volver with me and placed it under the
pillow. Iquietly took it out, aimed at
the face and pulled the trigger"
Here the Major began TO cry, and grief
for time interrupted his narrative. AT
last he resumed and said
When | fired we heard a piercing
shrek, accompanied by fall as of some
heavy body. Weighted the gas, and rushed
to the mantelpiece. l found the place
where my bullet had entered. 1t had made