St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-05-04
Uncle Ben's Ghostly Ride.

course he did; he used to say NO
modern mansion of stucco and plaster for
me give me grand old house, all COW
cred by ivy and hidden by trees, whose
walls are hung with tapestry, and whose
passages, extending from room to room,
make the blood curdle with their gloom
and length. Why sir, there is something
enlivening even in its decay; the damp
ness of it's walls, and the cracks in the
discolored ceilings, which only suggests
to the vulgar mind ague and rheumatism,
are evidences to me of its venerable age
and responsibility. The very mice that
scampar up and down in the time-worn
wainscoting give me friendly greeting
that never met in your new-fashioned
houses, built for race of mammon-wor-
shippers who have made their wealth out
OF shoddy and petroleum.
really believe that Uncle Ben valued
the shade that was said to haunt his
house far higher than all his more tangi-
bic property. Nothing made him more
angry than for any enc to doubt its exist
ence; be was always ready to break a
lance with any skeptic on the subject,
and to offer him bed in the haunted
room and, although many of the young
members of the family scofed at the story,
very few had the courage to accept the
challenge.
One winter night, when the wind was
moaning round the chimney-pots and
through the caves, singing a dirge among
the leafess branches of the gaunt old
spectral Trees for the joys of the dead
summer, the family was gathered round
the fire in the drawing-room.
Uncle Ben, who was standing with his
back to the fire, said to his nephew:
81 think Joe, we had better put on
another log of wood I don't feel inclined
for bed yet, and suppose you young
sters intend to sit up half the night as
usual"
"I don't mean to turn in yet for one,
UNCLE" replied Joe. "Tell us one Of
your ghost stories; regular bloodcurd,
ler.s'
"Ah, joe" said the old man, I am
afraid you are thorough skeptic. You
disbelieve in all supernatural appear
ances."
Certainly" answered Joe, who was
secretary to the literary debating society
in the little town of Marlborough, and
who had written an essay to prove the non
existence of everything, and that we are
simply the creations of our own thoughts
Certainly these impalpable specters are
only illusions which the disordered
condition of our weak physical organs
bring before u.s."
"I own you are clever lad, Joe, but
I don't care button for your arguments
I believe in ghosts because I have seen
them"
ooh, am open to conviction; if you
introduce me to bona fide ghost I'll
give n believe only in the things ]
understand"
"Joe, if you only believe in what you
understand, your creed will be shorter
than that of any man I know
"Can you give us any proof? Can
you mention one instance in which the
specter has appeared to any one you
know?' m-s .-r..s.. a...t &. S..
"a hundred, if you wish it," said the
| old man.
"One will do; give us one genuine
case and we will believe
81 will; listen. The story that I am
about to relate is an incident that hap
pened to myself some twenty years ago,
and for the truth Of which I can vouch.'
swell, proceed"
at would give you the history of the
specter attached to this house, but that
only appears to a favored few, and
have not yet seen it, although / have
often enough heard the noises it makes !"
I'VE should prefer ghost that can be
seen, if you have ever met with one."
You must understand that the
village in which I lived, like many others,
possesses its spectral visitor. About one
hundred years ago, an ancestor of mine
started for London in his travelling
carriage, one evening about the latter
end of June. He was an exceedingly
irascible man, and, as the coachman was
not sufficiently quick in preparing the
vehicle, he became much enraged, and
used exceedingly passionate language.
For some time the coachman bore his
abuse patiently, but, at last, he lost his
temper, and struck the old gentleman in
the face.
In those days everybody wore a
sword and my ancestor, who was always
ready to draw, snatched his weapon from
his sheath, and with one blow, severed
the unfortunate mans head from his
body. .
Conference.-The at this fearful
crime, and terrified by the dread OF it's
consequences. he gazed upon the headless
body for few moments, and then, being
seized with ft Of apoplexy, was carried