The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-10-20


gers of fairy.land, told me beautiful
and pleasing versions Of the legends
and mysterious secrets Of this haunted
house. And there was no fear In me
rs I thus lovingly fingered among the
genii which harbored among The re-
cesses in that scene Of desolation.
One memorable evening. when the
moon was rising, and with a full.
round face shedding its laughing light
over the beautiful earth, l wandered
10 my favorite haunt and fingered
awhile among my pet flowers, fondly
caressing and converting with them as
was my habit. While in musing
mood an old and fickety but familiar
oaken bench invited to sprawl lazily
along its length, and while indulgipg
in one Of those delicious reveries that
are born only in the evening air, sleep
overcame me.
Afer awhile there came to my
senses feeling that something extra
ordinary was occurring. Half con
.cious and slowly waking, heard the
sweet strains Of a song falling family
away ia mellow tones into the recesses
IF the arbors and trees. The music
seemed to be all around me. 1t came
rustling and signing, sometime moan
ing. then as if weird laugh mingled
its harsh disc Jrd with the heavenly
sounds. Suddenly the pattering Of as
many feet played tattoo and swift re-
treat, as a gentle melody, like the ut
terances of voice more than human,
was borne to my ears. Bewildered, i
eagerly looked in the direction of the
singer, and was startled at seeing the
ghost of which the legend
had told so many strange and wonder
full stories. There was the 1.-THE,
graceful, and willowy form. clad in
white robes, and on the left breast was
a bloody wound like a red cross. Her
hair was soft and blonde; her brow
was bound with a fllet, clasped with
n glittering star that cleaned like a
diamond; her hands we're covered
with gems that sparkled like beads Of
dew, the while she gathered delicate
blossoms from the luxuriant wild
which seemed to spring TO
meet her magical touch. Again that
song came, borne on the midnight
air, uttering familiar words: "Blue
is the Aoweret called The forget-me-not.' '
being the second verse Of the German
song, "How can leave thee p
Ihave always believed that
Forever round US, though unseen,
The dear, ilnmorta angels tread
The whole, the boundess universe,
Isnfel There is no deai'
Yet / was a little bewildered for a mo-
ment, and wondered how singularly
strange it was that the ghost of a
Spanish lady, who had been dead du-
ring nearly a century, could have
learned this modern song in that far
away land of the leal and blessed, and
sing it so sweetly here in pure Ger
man. Then my senses became thor
oughly aroused to an appreciation OF
the situation. Without disturbing tue
appariiion quietly went to room
in the house where an old Irshwomar
and her blind son had lived lonl
time. Having awaked and showed be-
the ghostly visitor, she was startle'
for a moment and then said, "Sure al
/ niver did bother about ghosts at al
at all; now l don't behave that an.
SIGH a craythur wandthers round th
ould shanIy. An sure, that's slape
walker, an she's Dutch girl that live
about a shquare away Seyant Pa
Doonan's grocery, and she comes her
often in the day fur flowers, an that
her nov, an shes at it in her shape,
me eyes don't desave me. May tn
howly Virgin save her from har-un
the poor chile!"
The old woman was correct in hi
estimate of the situation. We the
took the woman in custody, gent
J awaked her, and kindly assuring h
of our friendly intentions. went wi
her home, where her parents We
very much surprised and indignant
. finding her in such a plight. She hi
not been suspected of this habit, al
hence their astonishment at discov'
ing their loved and baa tiful daue
. ter was the ghost of the famous haul
ell house. Alter informing them III
; if they would tie her feet togeth
! every night, and especially during &
4 seasons of moonlight, they would pl
d vent her from getting out of bed, a
consequently break her OF The unco
J, Portable habit of walking in her SLED
e we retired. About three years lat
e the lady informed me she had follow
/ my directions and was complete
i cured. She is married and the hap
n mother of a lovely little miniature
n hersels. Her thanks, however, oil
4 partially repaid me for the loss
1t pleasure that had occurred by the
!. raveling of the MYSTERY.