American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-06-21
MY GHOSTLY VIsITANT.

Elaine Goodale.
MY GHOSTLY VISITANT.
In the spring of 1876, being DESTROYS
Of purchasing country dwelling, ad-
vertised, stating my wants and request
ing owners of desirable l. operty to COM
municate with me. Among the numer-
Gus answers which 1 received was one
requesting me to examine place in the
village of M, on Long Island,
which, II the description given was an
accurate one, would, thought, exact
ly suit me. The price was exceedingly
low, and the house within an easy dis
tance of the city.
I at once wrote to the agent, a Mr..
Williams, stating that wonld examine
the property on the following day.
At late hour the next afternoon 1
alighted from the cars at M. The
appearance of the place pleased me, and
I was quite certain that the property
would prove just what wanted. had
expected the agent to meet me at the
depot, but no one was in sight save a
young fellow who was lying at full
ength upon the platform, watching me
with idle curiosity.
"Lookin' for any one, mistera" he
ventured to inquire.
al expected Mr.. John Williams to
meet me here" 1 replied.
Hain't seen nothing of him." was
the response.
scan you direct me to place called
the ElmsP" asked.
The effect of this inquiry upon the
countryman was somewhat extraordi.
nary. He sat bolt upright and stared at
me with wide open mouth.
s'The Elms?" he presently repeated.
"Yes, the Elms," said, consulting
the letter had received, in order to as
sure myself that had made no mistake
in the name of the place.
"Mister," said my companion, with
great earnestness, Z" is Williams tryin'
to sell you that houseP If he is, don't
have nothin' to do with it,
Sand why not, prayP" 1 asked, not a
little surprised.
"Because, Mister, that house is haunt
cd, - was the reply.
Hauntedi Ha, ha, hal"
"Laugh if you like," said my COM
panion, stoutly; "you'n find I've told
you the TRUTH
At this moment carriage drove rap
idly up to the platform and halted. The
driver, q blocking man of about
40, leaped out.
"Mr. Bascomb, I believer" he said,
advancing toward me.
"That is my name"
"I am John Williams. I'm sorry to
have kept you waiting, sir, but if you'll
jump into my wagon, I'll take you to
the house at once"
A moment later we were on our way.
"Yonder rustic bas been entertaining
me with . story that the house you have
for sale is haunted" remarked, laugh
ingly.
Mr.. Williams uttered an exclamation
Of impotence.
"The superstitious villagers will new
or let that story rest," he said. "It has
had the effect of preventing the sale of
the house more than once.'
swell, assure you it will have no
such effect in my case," 1 replied. 81
am no believer in ghosts, and, if the
dwelling suits me, we shall have no
difficulty in coming to terms, 1 think.
But how did the ridiculous story orig
inate?''
"That's more than I can tell you,n
was the answer. "The house has been
unoccupied for over q year, and ever
since its former tenant left it absurd
stories of strange voices, ghostly forms,
and all that sort of thing have been
ahoat.n
"Who Is he-owner of the placeP''
"Mr. Charles Ashton, who formerly
lived in it. A little more than two years
ago he fell heir to fortune of nearly
half million, which was left him by
his brother, George Ashton. formerly a
well known New York merchant"
80, yes" I interrupted, al was
slightly acquainted with him and heard
something about the disposition of his
property. 1t was left conditionally to
his brother, was it notp''
"By George Ashton's WILL" replied
my companion, "his entire property
was left to his son Henry, who ran away
from home ten years before, and since
that time had not been heard from, if
any news could be obtained within one
year of his fathers decease. In case he
did not appear to claim the property
within the stipulated time, it was to go