Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-28
TWO GHOST STORIES.
uarpers' Monthly.
A GHOSTLY FIEND.

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If it appears strange to It's mortals.
and even awful, that the disembodied
spirit can, under certain conditions I'M
known to us, revisit the scenes of its
previous existence, how much more aw-
full and difficult of belief is it that spirits
which have quilted their earthly life in
the unrestralned indulgence of angry
and malevolent passions can yet exer-
else such an influence over the corrupt
ing clay, which they apparently left be-
hind them, as to violate the sacred re-
pose of the tomb and terrify and appal
the livingl Such circumstance GER
tainly occurred at H--k Hall in Lin
colnshire, and was long the theme Of
Hall had been in possession of the H
family for hundreds of years; at the
time of which | am writing the ancient
line had dwindled down to two individ-
uals-the old Squire i'll present posses
sion and his only brother and destined
successor, who was unmarried, and very
little younger than himself. The hall,
which had once been SO full of life and
gayety, had become the abode of sorrow
and gloom, in consequence of the early
death of the Squire young daughter,
his only child, and the heiress of all
his possessions. This death. followed
in less than year by that of his wife,
to whom he was deeply attached, mad
quite broken down the old 'Squire's
health and happiness. The lady and
her daughter were deposited in the
family vault amid the tears and regrets
of the villagers, by whom they We're
much and deservedly beloved. For
years the Squire had had no inter
course whatever with his brother be-
tween whom and the lady of the hall
there had been Il lifelong feud; the
hatred on her part having been quite
of a passive nature, as she was never
heard to mention his name; but on his,
of the most abusive and vlrulent kind,
which made his exclusion from the hall
an absolute necessity. The cause of
even by the most curious, rs none was
ever assigned by either party. When
the old Squire, after his double bereave-
ment, became almost heart-broken, the
good pastor of the village, whose friend
ship with the family had existed for
fifty years, effected a meeting ard
thorough reconciliation between the
long estranged brothers, and the young
er one took up his abode once more i'll
the home of his ancestors. One only
condition was made-that the name Of
his deceased sster-in-law should never
pass his lips. A year passed away.
The old Squire, soothed and comforted
by the companionship of his early
playfellow. began TO recover both his
health and spirits; but ut this time
malignant fever broke out in the vii
lage. Among its victims was the
'Squire's brother, who during his whole
life had known neither sickness nor
disease. He WAS Frustrated at once,
and never rallied. The good minister
before mentioned, who well knew the
family history, unmoyed by that fear of
infection which made him solitary
watcher, took his stand by the bed
Of the dying man and yainly en-
deavored to draw his thoughts to the
eternity which was fast openiHg before
him. His pious words fell upon dull,
christening ears, but rs he touched upon
the duty Of forgiveness, and cauti
ously alluded to his well-known hatred
Of the deceased Mrs. H, the effect
was appalling; all apathy vanished, and
though few minutes before apparent
~ past the power of speech, yet now the
sick man broke out into fierce infpre-
cations, and by last supreme effort
raising himself upright in the bed, ex-
claimed: a know that | am dying,
but mark my last words, if, when / am
dead, you dare to bury me in the same
vault with that accursed woman, the
living as we'll as the dead shall hear of
mes He fell back with frightful
oath on his lips and expired. The hor-
ror-struck minister kept close in his
own breast this dreadful death of one
he had known so long, and thought il
more kind as well as more prudent, 70
keep the poor Squire in ignorance Of
his brothers last hours. As was the
invariable custom in the H family,
the body, after lying in state for time,
was consigned with much pomp and
ceremony to the family vault, and was
placed next to the collins Of the 'Squire's
wife and daughter. That very night
the villagers living near the church
yard were disturbed By doleful shrieks
and cries proceeding from the yault-a
noise Of strife and struggling and blows,
as if OF enemies engaged in close fight.
The next morning at daylight the