Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-01-14

Aad "set" the milk in tbs twilight room.
-(Scribnsr for October.
A Phantom Fast.
Apropos of the stories of haunted hous-
es and ghostly doings to which the pre-
vailing Spiritualistic mania has given
rise, correspondent sends the following
TO the New York World, vouching for its
truth: ~*
There is gentleman who visits our
city once every three years, who excites
a great deal of interest on account Of
some very peculiar. circumstances which
always attend him. His personal appear
ance is striking-rather tall, with head
firmly set on broad shoulders, iron gray
hair, brushed off from full, white: fore
head, we'll cut features, and eyes dark,
with str angc inward expression. He
takes rooms ut one of our first.class hotels
and remains there three days.
The first is spent in giving directions
for a banquet to be served in his private
apartments, and he is particular to the
minutest detail. The second day he su-
perintends everything. and his face wears
an anxious look. At about four O'Clock
he retlrcs to his dressing room, after CIV
ing last Injunction to the servants to be
in attendance at the appointed time.
The hour approaches; the table is re-
splendant with silver, crystal and flowers ;
the servants stand expectantly waiting,
yet no guests have arrived. At length
the doors Of the inner room open and the
strange gentleman enters, his face flush-
ed and head bent, as if listening to some
remark addressed to him. With polite
gesture he indicates seats to numerous
invisible guests, and at last seats himself
At the head of the table. With a motion
10 the astonished servants he signifies his
wish to have the covers removed and the
different courses served.
All is profound silence, and yet the
host appears to be engaged in earnest
conversation, frequently bowling and
smiling towards different parts of the ta-
BILE. AT length the wine is poured, every
glass is nllcd; and as this is done the
host rises, holding his glass high over
his head. Instantly every chair is filled
with lovely women and courtly men,
sparkling eyes look love to eyes that
speak again, and rosy lips seem ready to
part with ripping laughter. Soon the
ladies disappear through the .dosr-float,
as it were, out of sight-and the gentle
men remain. Conversation seems to be
renewed, when suddenly the gaze of all is
riveted upon two young men who appear
to be very angry. They both rise excit-
edly, one draws dagger, uplit,s his arm,
and with quick, descending motion bu-
ries it in the bosom Of a beautiful girl
who has rushed in and thrown herself in
front of the intended viotim. Jewels
gleam on her polished throat ,and amid
the shining gold OF her hair, while her
life blood. like crimson thread, slowly
trick]es over the snowy whitaness of her
dress
Every face is filled with look of hor-
ror. and with \ cry Of agony, the host falls
back in Lis chair insensible, and as be
falls the guests fade away and vanish in.
to air.
Nearly all of the servants have long
since hed with fright, but & few, allowing
their curiosity to overcome their tear,
have remained to the end. They now
summon assistance, and the strange gen.
tleman is carried to his bed. For long
time all means Of r.snscitsting him fail,
but at length, with deep sigh he opens
his eyes and moans, 20, IL it all over p
Then he falls into deep slumber, and "a
remains until the afternoon Of the third
day, when he makes his appearance At the
Office, calm and collected, calls for hil
bill, pays it without the least demur. or
ders carriage, and there We lose sigh,
Of him until three years roll over our
heads, when We feel sure that he will Wis
It us agsin.
Many stranger things happen than ev
er appear in print, and this probabl,
would have been one of them. had not the
public become excited over the Eddy
mysteries and fairly ronsed omt ar;ent;f,r