The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-06-24
THE FAMILY GHOST.


IRE OF logs, enjoying the generous hosp
tality OF the master of the hounds,
hard days hunting over the mountai
slopes had somewhat wearied them all
conversation langulshed a little. for ever
body was more disposed 10 listen thai
talk. The village doctor, however, wa
free from this lethargy. as he had onl-
Joined the party at the dinner table. II
was lively little Welshman, full of shrug
and gestures, with fresh, shrewd face
in which good-humor conteRded viii
loneliness.
"Come, tell us story, Evans" saiC
the master, suddenly rousing from ,
gentle doze, and slapping the doctor Wig
orously on the knee, "we're all going L
sleep.o -.-s
The doctor required little pressing
de professed himself at loss for sub
lect. Like the celebra led knife-grinder
ne had no story to tell. "Unless, gentle
men. you would like me to tell you about
The difficulty I have in getting my bill,
in" At this there was general murmul
of dissent. "Shall tell you. then, of the
ghost that was seen by William Griffith
Jones Y'
The subject seemed promising one
especially as the hero of the subject wal
present a young Welsh squire of shy and
ancient customs Of his race than to modern
culture. ''It is not right. indeed, - ne re.
mOnstrated. But his protest was unheed-
ed, and the doctor began:
don't think" he said, spreading out
his hands to the blaze of the fire, ''that we
Welsh are sup, r,titious. There was a
good deal of it once, but now now. Ii is
only here and there, among our good old
fashioned families, such as that of our
friend Jones here of the Plas, that you
meet with some old stories belonging to
them. It is said. for instance, that the
family of tie Plas have a tradition that on
certain occasions a white horse appears TO
some one of their members. forbOding
death or heavy misfortune. Well what
ever reason may tell us, there is no doubt
that these things have great influence on
the mind, aRd William here was never
free from a certain amount of dread of
some day seeing this appalling vision.
Thus, when he visited our little town,
and spent an evening with friend, he
objected very much TO going home alone.
lie was brave enough by daylight :;
but when night came on, and he had the
prospect of facing the dark way to the
Plas, his courage failed him. and he earn
es1v begged for company. But one
murky night last winter William found
himself OVerCaken by midnight at the
house of Morris of Byrn, at the breaking
up of little bachelor party. Every body
was moving off in different directions-for
Morris was an early man-but no one was
going the way of our friend William. and
he was afraid TO traverse it by himself.
"YOu must know that William lives at
home with his grandmother and his broth
er John. and that, curiously enough.
whilst William is very good tempered
man, John is not a little quarrelsome.
For that reason the two brothers are not
always on good terms, and where you see
one of them, the other is pretty sure not
to be found Indeed. like our young gen
try ofdays gone by. John is in the habit of
roaming about the country, stopping first
at one house and then at another, taking
free quarters with his brothers tenants,
who are not always well pleased to see him.
John was not at the party at MOrris's, and
he land his brother had quarreled violently
that very morning. L have good reason
to know that. for it so happened that John
spent the evening with me.
IL left William standing at Morris's
door, looking this way and that, and feel
Ing his heart grow weaker and weaker ev-
ery second; every body had gone except
young Meyrick, who lodged IN the town.
and he stood on the steps, lighting up his
pipe. wish you would walk home with
me, Meyrick,' said Jones; it's so lonely
Meyrick laugh d a sarcastic laugh. And
who shall walk back home with me?' he
asked. well, you could sleep on bench
in the hall at our house. said William. Il
prefer my own feather-bed,' replied Mey-
rick. But, my good fellow, do said Will
liam, entreatngly. Look here, are you
hungryg Yes, indeed said Meyrick-for
l-,.l q,
and Meytick had dined early. 'Then, If
you will come home with me. we will have
a capital Supper-corned beef and red sal
mon. and plenty of good ale, with some
whisky-punch afterwards-and you shall
sleep on the dining-roOm sofa.' Well,
that tempted Meyrick.
"The wav to the Plas at night is not
pleasant. First of all comes the bridge,
with the water moaning and whispering
down below. and there, YOU know, it is
said that msid who had been. wrOnged
thew herself into the river and was
drowned. After that you come TO dark
HILLSIDE, where the road winds through a
thick wood, just the place for any body to
spring outand murder you and, when you
cone odt OF the wood YOU pass between
two high rocks, where they say thieves and
r, bber, We're put TO death a long while
ago. And even then you are good way
from the Plas, that stands in the middle of
grove of { ees, and looks wild and ghost
ly enough when you get there.
at was a tenn eStuous night; the wind
hOwlod savagely, making all kinds of
strange noises among the trees dark as
pitch, for the moon would not rise for an
hour or more. The two young men crept
quiefiy slnng, starting and quivering at
every noise. A sheep jumped up before
them Uur of di'ch. and fIightened them
almost cut of their senseS. A screech-owl
few over the wood, moaning and Shrek
ing Ike child /; and then they gave them
sci e, up for lost. But nothing happened,
after all, till they had come TO the place
betw, en- the two crtgs, when in an inter
wi OF calm thev heard a distant sound
fr m the direction of the Pas. They
stopped and listened intently. The sound
was approaching: il came nearer and
nearer. At last il proved to be the sound
OF q horse's hOofs. Clog. clop. clop. clop.
Nv at can it beg said Meyrick, seizing
william by The arm. There can be no
horse coming from the Plas this time OF
night William gazed and listened a mo
melt longer, and then began to run as fast
g. he couli in an opposite direction.
Run he cried in hoarse whisper TO hi,
cOmpamon-- run for your life; If il
catches us here. we are iOSt.' 1neY Just
cleared the rocks SIS the horses hOofs
echoed holowly behind them. Williim
Jumped into the hedge on one side, and
Meyriek on the other. The horse went
past like the wind.
AFTER while they crawled out. did
you see it?' whispered William. j saw
something whits.s White was itg Are
YOU sure!' Yes; white horse. Then
it's ali over with one OF US; there will be
a death in our family within twenty-four I
hours wish hadn't come with you.' |
said Meyrick. Come en- said William, /
now i'm quite fever erOfexcitement. Dear. /
I hone il will not be John and We parted l
such bsd friendsi' John feil out With
me to day too said MeyIiek, and
tbresten-d to break his head We'll, let
ms hone il NAV be grandmother
LAS they approached the Pas the storm
increased. The trees were lashing each
other fiercely with their leafiess branches,
and showers of twigs were hurled against
their faces. The Plss was almost IN dark
ness. and soked so solemn and tniereal
thst fhet were almost afraid 60 enter.
Il. H.. c~n