Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-05-15

their feelings when, on looking back
they saw behind them not only one
ghost, but twoI Both ghosts went
through the gate as before; but proved
to be nothing more than the shadows
of the two men, thrown by the newly
erected gas lamps. the bend in the wall
causing the figures to appear as il they
had vanished into the graveyard.
One evening some weeks ago. I was
in my room preparing for bed, when l
suddenly heard what sounded like foot
steps coming along the passage leading
my room; then some one appeared
to be feeling in the dark for the handle
of the door, which was slightly shaken,
and low knock was heard. Of course
/ at once concluded that some one of
the family was outside; and, my door
being locked, I called out to know who
was there, but received no answer.
Thinking this very odd, | went to the
door and opened it; but, to my amaze
ment, no one was outside, and yet [ had
heard no footsteps retreating. [ must
explain that my room is at the end of a
long passage, to which you descend by
five or six steps, my door forming the
end of the passage, (my room belnga
| the end of one wing of the house,;
therefore, on opening my door, l I'M
mediately commanded the whole Ofthe
corridor, and it seemed impossible for
any one to have escaped In time; and L
knew that the two rooms opening on
the same passage were locked up SO that
no one could have got out of sight in
that way.
Very much puzzled, [ closed and
locked my door; and after brief in
terval the same thing was repeated.
Cautious footsteps Were heard APP
preaching; then, as if some one were
feeling for the handle of the door IN
the dark, and shaking the door slightly
by so doing; and then again a low
knock. A second time did [ open my
door, but with the same result. No one
was there. | frankly c'nfess that now
[ began to feel somewhat uncOmfOrta-
BILE, not on account Of ghosts, but visions
Of thieves which foated across my
mind livery irratiOnally, of course, and
| felt persuaded that some one must be
moving about the house; aid yet /
knew That every one else had gone to
bed long ago; and | own l did not fe"l
inclined to risk an encounter with this
mysterious visitor while trying to
arouse some one else, my room being
somesway from the rest of the family.
Determined, however, if possible to
find out what it was, | crOuched down
with my ear to the door, listening for a
repetition of the noise, which was re-
oeated for third time. But qlo1O, ow-
ing to my closeness to the door, [ dis
covered the disturber Of my peace IN q
mouse! 1t appeared this mouse, which
had very evidently lost It's sway, had
got down in the passage, and finding re-
treat rather difficult lowing, suppose.
to the steps,, was rushing up and down
J the passage at full speed, thereby pro
Lucing the sound OF footsteps on the
carpet, and on finding its egress barred
, by my door, trying to escape by run
) nlng up the door; but the Vanished
: paint afforded it no foothold, the
impetus Of It's run only sufficed to car
) ry it up a short way (thus shaking the
, door and slightly moving the handle)
: and it then fell down with a flap, thus
!, producing the knock.
) | could not resist q hearty laugh when
[ found out the real cause OF the dis
turbance; but yet 1t shows that stories
OF strange nocturnal noises should be
received with great caution, for GER
: tainly | should always have declared
that some one had been trying my door
that night, had [ not found out the rea
cause.
The following story, it is to be hoped
may assist still further in dispelling
fears of what are termed supernatural
visitors, by explaining one reason fol-
households ringing of themselves"
had quilted my temporary country
, residence for the winter, closed ali the
rooms, and left trustworthy care,
taker in charge, who occupied the
kitchen. On the second night, while
she sat at the fire, she was alarmed by
hearing the drawing groom bell, which
was high up in the passage to the
kitchen, ring. She looked up into the
passage, and there, surely enough, was
the bell giving its last tingllngs. Hel
husband came nome from his work, and
to satisfy her, went upstairs to the
drawing-room. He unlocked the door
: found everything in its usual state
carpet rolled up and ornaments anC
candlestick covered. He returned, dis
believing his wife's story, but she per
sisted in it; and she declared she wouiC
not for a years wages remain an houl
in the haunted house after nightfalI
The days were at their shortest, and the
husband required to be out at his work
In this difficulty, her niece, a stout
hearted girl, volunteered to be her com
panion. Next evening the daylight dis
appeared SIS usual at an early hour
and soon afterwards the drawing-roon
bell rang. The niece sprang to her feet
ran into the passage, saw the bell still
shaking and rushed up into the draw
ing-room, which was found as before
still and silent. With good deal o
entreaty the care-taker was induced by
her niece to remain in the kitchen
They again sat down at the fire and lief
the passage-door open. A snort time
only elapsed when the bell in the pas
sage again rang, and this time more
loudly and continuously than before
The terror of the old woman now be
: came extreme; but the younger crep
cautiously round the halfopen door
and there she saw the ringer Of the bel
"a half starved rat, who, impelled by
hunger in the empty house, had made
his way into the channel along which
the bell wires had been laid from the
several rooms into common openinr
TO the passage, and was discussing if
his own thoughts the feasibility &C
jumping down from height of five OF
six feet to the level of the kithen floor
to seek for supper. He was so hun.
gered that the presence of the girl did