The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-03-09
No. 81

the Prince of the Powers of Darkness was
holding this particular spVt of our mundsRY
sphere tributary 10 his domiuions- The Ia
mates and q few particular friends deter
mined, II possible, To unravel the mystery,
ami for several nights set q watch, bus. wEile
the noises continued, they were unable TO ar
rlve at any satisfactory solution Of the phss
nomena. The night before the premises
were vscsted couple of ladies Who were
10 the front room, up stairs, eugaged IN con (
versaiioD. were somew hat startled on hear
ing music from the paTlor, rs there was no,
one in the house but themselves Think
ing, however, that some intimate friend
had entered the house without being per-
sonally announced, and was endvavurng 70
surprise them, they went down stairs and soft
ly opening the folding doors leading TO the
psrloT, were amazed TO behold an elegantly
dressed lady of indescribable beauty seated
at the piano. They approached ON tip-toe
in order TO get better view and r,cognlze,
if possible, their strange and uninvited
guest When the foremost lady placed her
hand on the musical visitors shoulder it
started like guilty thing upon a fearful,
summons" and ere the astonished ladies,
could recover from the surprise the appari-
ton had vanished. This, no doubt, sounds
very much like the stereotyped ghost stories
of yellow back literature, but the parties
would, if necessary, make affidavit Of its
truthfulness In every particular, The doc
tor left the next day.
There is, however, ludicrous incident
connected with this strange and unaccuuob-
able affair that is too good to omit. A. GER
tain medical gentleman of great gravity of
manner, and given somewhat to cognac and
corpulency, having heard of the terrified
people 50 suddenly leaving their weil-fur-
nished and apparently comfortable homes
was anxious TO solve the mystery by dis,
covering some natural cause ior the unusual
proceedings, and thereby have good j'ke
on his brolher physician. He accordioglSa
a few nights since, in. coplpanY with amen-s
Der of the city council, went to the house At
about II O'clock Unlocking the. door
(havng obtained permission from the agent,
Mr.. D-----D, the couple entered. when,
lighting the candle, they found everything
as quiet and cherries as, churchyard at
midnight, They commenced TO reconnoiter,
and the echoes of their footsteps in the va
cant rooms sent cold chill down their
spinal columns, owing, no doubt. to the
aqua UitG having .died-uway and reaction set
in. Like children ia the datk they talked
very loud (and even sYore little to scare
the ghosts. Still they heard or saw noth-
ing. On reaching the second floor, and sud-
denly opening door, the light was extin-
guished aud they were left in utter dark
ness. 70 The City Father rolled down the
stairs and managed somehow or other to
gain the street. The follower of Escula-
Plus, being devout Catholic, made the
sign of the cross while he was CROPPING
about ia the Egyptian gloom, and would, no
doubt, have offered upa feryent prayer had
not something caught him by the skirt OF
the coat and held HIM fast. Beads of per-
i spiration stood on his classic brow, and his
heart made frantic efforts to leap out of his
mouth, when, with yell Of despair, he
| broke away and soon fonnd himself in the
hall below; aud, possessed with the idea
that disembodied spirit was following him,
he, in the language of the Ancient Mariner,