Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-03-30
[CoMMUsIcATEp.
A GHOST STORY.

1t was in the year Of ~ that I con
ciuded TO change my home. was 60
ing to leave family freside, fireside
surrounded with cheerfulness, to seek
one Of cLeerlessness, which might have
suited q reciuse, but not being on that
order, found it rather uncomfortable
The time at last rolled around for nv
departure; the confronting barriers were
by my friends well impressed upon nv
mind, and one Of more years and eI-
Ierience could tell me all kinds of phos At
stories surrounding my new place of
abode. This, felt, was only done to
tease me, but will admit that il brought
about rather an uncomfortable state of
mind.
1t was early in the evening that /
gathered together all my effects and bid
farewell to all. / arrived at nv new
home just as "Old Sor' had ceased to
shine for that day. All how descla.e
did 1T appear. / thought Of what nv
friend had said about the ghost, IN
deed, l thought it better fit for ghosts
Of such did exisD than for me; any,
how, j was resolved to spend one night
with them. After the room was ar
ranged for my lodging, dismissed the
servants, who retired to their respect
tive places for the night.
Finding myself all alone, l took mt
PIPE and ieean to smoke. this being thI
only resort in the way of comraniorF
! think my memory must have beele
that night like David Copperfeld's, folt
every little incident that had evcrtrans
pired in my life came fresh in nv mimi
Being worn out hy surerhuity Of tof
bacco, for had smoked a months al
lowance, / retired, but having to un
dergo another revolution of different
themes, it was still some time before 4
went to sleep. However. at last rel
tiredto the arms OF Morpheus" to dream
Of ghosts.
1t was midnight. wasasleep. ThereI
was noise; / Was conscious of il. bud
1t did not ut first break my repose. III
occurred to me in my sleep, that some
thing was trying to hoist one of theI
windows. Presently there was another!
morse. This time the noise was muchI
greater. 1t sounded as if something vervI
large had fallen on the floor. nowy
was awakened, and with trem bling hsnI
/ seized my gun. which was in readil
ness at my side. l thought saw a tall
figure standing close by one OF th4
windows. brought my gun to my
a hnt II g., "a, -
Then was my eyes ike onions peerd.
Ny hair stood straight upon nv head,
All twas night Of fear indeed. n
As lay prostrsie on nv bed. ~
Now, l do not believe in ghosts. nos
did | then, but would have preferred
most any other situation 10 the one p
occupied. My gun was still at m Il
shoulder, did not intend to shocf
unless the figure advanced In thI
meantime my attention was attracted
by slight moving along the floor.
then jumped from my bed ard at til
same time that which was moving
gently quickencd its pace and ran frod
the room. / then struck light, ai
behold the figure! 1t was nothing moi
or less than piece of furniture Wild
had been placed beside the window, all
when the noise came. it had escaped III
memory. | then went in search ofwhl
l knew was not piece of furniture.
found IL III one Of the other rooms.
was black cat. one Of rather lard
size. 1t seems that the house had dbeJ
vacant for some time and the cat, viii III
IN search Of prey, through the broke H'
window panes. had made the noise W hid
caused all the trouble. After riyiniil
the tramp good clustering ard rkr
placing the broken panes, | never VI
troubled with the ghosts afterwards.
sac.