Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-01-23
Gales ano Skcttbcs.
HOW HE WON A GHOST.
"It was suicide. -
at WAS MURDER =


1T was natural death"
The three speakers holding to these three
diverse opinions were sitting around a
dreary sort of fire in a grccnry store OF a
Philadelphia suburb. The time was over
twenty years ago, and the night beaut-
full one. moonlit hut chilly, in November.
The men were old citizons. highly respec-
table, veracious, but gossipy. who had
called to exchange the news.
s'You will allow, Deacon Brent, that
her body was found on Chestnut street,
that it was dressed in white. and"
'Of course, Carson, Of course, She left
home in a delirium,' Interrupted the Dea-
con.
"D-d-d-don't 90 so fast - said Carson
suffering with wrath at being interrupted
Il hain't got through. Her hands were
bloody an there was cut in her neck.
All How's that?"
Il Fell down and hurt herself That was
proven. You know that was the coroner's
verdict" answered the deacon, turning
first to Carson and next to Grosshelm, who
had declared tor murder.
me? don't know nothing about dat
Crowner | shdcks to it dat Ellen Bate
man was murdered Vat dinks know
dnks. It's bote de same nit dat girl.
She killed herself sure. and Grosshein
held up both hands in opposition to any
forcible argument to the contrary.
1T was suicide, friends, and that is why
she don't lie still in her grave" said Mr..
Carson, in solemn but insisting voice.
'.She's the ghost of Chestnut street"
..Fudge.'' cried the Deacon, in dis
gust There's no such things as
ghosts"
''Haf you seen i'm, dot woman, eh p
cries Grosshein.
ats the talk of the town. says Car
son.
But your' exclaimed his companions
at once.
'Yes, saw her last night" replied
Carson, htching his chair closer to the
two. and dropping his voice almost to a
whisper as John Mercer a stout Young fell
low, came shivering to the great stove.
ut went by me slowly, right across the
. way from Elliot's where the body was
found
,..It just floated along down the street.
and, when it got in front of me, it put its
hands together, as if praying. The face
was Ellen Bateman's, and there was no
blood, no wound. about it; but it looked
lu>t rs IldtuTal IL WIFI sllt ucttt W IiugI
and talk with us. | was a little scared,
and shut my eyes; when opened them
again, in second, there was nobody
around
''rd like to see that ghost, or any ghost,
remarked young Mercer. 'People have
been talking about this thing for a fort
night. 1t may scare old women and chill
dren, but no man ought to be afraid
''Dot's so. - said Grosshein, approving
Iy. ELLEN, she vas a goot girl. and
shleeps in a pooty grafe, if she vas killed"
Suicide says Corson.
Natural death y remarks the Deacon
They all left their chairs
'"Strck to your texts y suggested Mer-
Ger, with a laugh. "As for me, it's the
ghost I'm after
For the next two weeks the village was
agitated by talk of this spirit of poor Ellen
Bateman. 1t was seen by dozen persons
If you believed their stories. One night
it would glide down Chestnut street like
form of light; and another time it rested
on DIR. Bunsen's front steps and again, it
seemed to be enjoying itself in the little
park by the river side, always appearing
in white garments Ike those in which she
had been buried. In life the girl had been
pretty, well-behaved lass. belovedby all
who knew her, her death beiug caused by
exposure. she having escaped from her
house during fever delirium, and wan
dered around in the rain for the greater
part of the night. 1t was enough to kill a
strong person, let alone a poor girl weak
ened by months illness. When her
body was found, after hours of search she
was breathing her last. Out of this fate
was born the story of her ghost.
John Mercer was in earnest when he
said he would like to meet that ghost He
did not believe in the supernatural He
had known Miss Bateman; and if her
white shadow were floating up and down
the street he wanted to encounter it,
Therefore he made it matter of curiosity
to search for the apparition; to be out at
all times of the night and to visit all points
where it was likely to present itself
His efforts were useless. Other people
might see the spectre, but his search had
been in vain, and he finally came to CON
slider the story as a fabrication by people
who were influenced by their fears of the
supernatural.
In the end, however, his efforts resulted
in capturing ghost This is the way it
happened lie and his friend. Jerry Den
nison, having passed the evening with an
acquaintance, were returning home.
There was a thick mist and the night was
dark, the street lights looking like can
dies. A part of their journey was along
that portion of the street which had come
TO be known as the Ghosts Walk" They
were laughing and conyersing about the
phantom, ridiculng the idea of such a
thing as a spectre. when ahead of and APP
preaching them was seen a figure all in
white. Mercer put his hand on his com
panion's arm.
Now we haveit, Jerry" he whispered.
"There is the spirit, what will YOU do ?''
stick by YOU Jack, answered Jerry.
The figure drew nearer. There was
nothing but white garments visible. The
head was hidden in its drapery The
mist made its size almost gigantic, and its
motions imperceptible As it continued
to advance the young men felt their hair
rise and their knees weaken They would
have run had there not been two of them
One to tell the story of cowardice.
''Afraid?' asked Jerry, softly.
"A little. says John. But we must
not back down. There is the mystery.
Now is your chance"