The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-04-19
A GHOST STORY.


A GHOST. STORY.
The only true ghost story know is
the story of Choker's ghost That is a
positive fact well attested All the
neighbors know what happened. All the
neighbors saw all that was TO be seen.
All the neighbors saw how it began;
and as it is the story of Chokers ghost
it could not have begun until Choker
died.
cod Choker'' he had been called for
good many years-before he actually
was old, | should suppose-but he was
a very queer fellow, a man without rela-
tives or friends and who seemed to want
none. He was a mysterious man, too.
He had wooden leg, and no one knew
how he came by it. He had black
patch over one eye, and no one could
tell why he wore it. He had a rusty
brown wig, and there was no man init
mate enough to know whether he had
adopted it,because he was bald or be-
cause he was gray. He had deposit in
the bank, and no one knew how he earn.
ed the money. He came a stranger to
Grabtown and bought house and lit
tie farm there, giving his name as
any one knew about him, except
that he had the best crops to be seen for
miles around. He never went to church,
and never chatted to neighbor. No
one knew any thing against him. As
they knew nothing, they suspected a
great deal; and when at last he was
found dead one morning, allthe bottled
up curiosity popped out as champagne
does when it is uncorked. Every body
went to see him where he lay. Every
body attended the inquest, and every
body went TO the funeral. Itwas de-
cided that he died of apopleXy. There
were no relations to see him, but there
would probably be plenty left to pay for
his funeral; so there was no difficulty
about that. The clergyman said doubt
full sort of good word for him, and as he
was dead no one contradicted it. And
Peggy Kinder, who said she wasn't
afraid of any thing, was put into the
house to take care of it. She knew old
Choker very well, having done his wash
ing for him for five years. That night,
the weather being chilly spring weather,
she made up n good fire in the kitchen
and slept on an old lounge there. Once in
the night she woke up and thought she
heard the clump, clump, elump of
wooden leg overhead, but though she
felt a chill run up her backbone at the
thought, she made up her mind it was
all nonsense, and went to sleep again.
At she was up and had put more coal
on the fire, and was filling the kettle,
when positively-no fancy about it this
time-She did hear that clump, clump
again across the room up stairs, half a
dozen times, then down the stairs. The
sound of Choker's wooden leg, and
nothing else; and as she turned about,
shaking and trembling, she saw Choker
himself at the door in his big Powered
dressing-gown, with the black patch
over his eye and the brown wig ON.
Lord have mercy on us!'' cried
Peggy.
Then, as Choker nodded cheerfully,
and said: rfE fE
Breakfast ready yet?" she grew be-
wildered
1--WE been having horrid dream,
sir" she said, getting away from the
figure though, as she spoke; "and it's
as natural as life. / dreamed you was
dead. sir | did, indeed; and buried
and all. beg pardon, sir, but it was
so natural that you skeer me-
"Do I?'' said old Choker "Why,
bless We, we must all de-
'sYes. sir" said Peggy.
And all be buried too, " said Choker
al know that said Peggy.
"Only all of us wont stay buried, -
said CHECKER, putting his finger to his
nose.
And at that Peggy, never waiting even
lot llti pbilluAs bplith oul VI AilN lAphNN.
and came tumbling into her daughters
half an hour after, shaking with fright,
and vowing she had seen ChOker'S ghost.
The daughter was nearly as much fright
ened rs the mother, and the news spread,
but nobody believed it. At least every
one said it was ridiculous, and that Peg
CIV must have been drinking. She did
drink more than was good for her, now
and then; and at last the undertaken
himself, accompanied by the Coroner
the two men of the village who were
supposed to be the least nervous on the
subject of ghosts, and, besides, who had
a thorough knowledge of the matter of
Choker's death and burial, went to the
house together, accompanied by train
of admirers, who kept a respectful dis
lance as they knocked at the
door. There was no answer
TO the first knock, but hav,
ING Knocked again, clump, clump came
wooden leg across the passage, ano
there. in the door, stood old Choker
Every one knew him. He wore his ole
dressing-gown, he had the black patel
over his eye, his wig set a little on one
side as usual.
walk in, walk in, gentlemen, he
said 81 believe, Mr.. Undertaken,
owe YOU small bill. You are prompt
in calling for it; but never mind, never
mind. Let me see the amount, and
III settle it; if not to-day, some other
day"
The two men drew back.
IL have no bill, sir, : said the under
taker; "but hearing report that
that
- That Peggy had seen my ghost, |
snInnse,T' said Choker " Very well.
Il =