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

a little common sense. We are in
debted to various contributions, all of
which are guaranteed to be strictly
true, aud may be enjoyed by even the
most timid reader:
The locality where the following oc-
currence took place is near a small vii
lage some eight or nine miles from the
city Of Armagh. On gray December
night. now about sixteen years ago, a
middle-aged bachelor was returning
from Christmas party TO which he had
been invited by some Of his village
friends. Our hero, whose name was
Charlie Coburn, occupied the position
VI lnd-steward to q country gentleman
resident near the village. Charlie
lodged at my fathers, and found him
self on his way home at about the
hour of 12-not an unreasonable hour
for a bachelor, certainly; but then
Charlie was model to his race, and
his word was law to the parish. On his
way home to our house, he required to
pass through the village; and as there
was strapping lassie at the party upon
whom rumOr affirmed Charlie had his
eye," we can suppose his thoughts to
have been occupied with meditating on
the fair Mary, whose company he had
Just Quilted, as he paced the curbstOne
with three fingers in each waistcOat
pocket-his fav0rite attitude when in q
musing mood.
II was only q week or two before that
the introduction of gas lamps in the vii
lage took place; and when our hero had
reached the end of the street, he was
enabled, by the light of the last lamp to
perceive some person only a short dis
lance in front of him, and proceeding
in the same direction as himself. AS
the road to my fathers was rather
dreary and deserted, Charlie felt glad
of the unexpected company he was
about to come up with Consequently,
he withdrew his fingers from his waist
coat pockets, and went on at a swinging
pace, so as TO overtake the traveller as
soon as possible. The latter gentleman,
however, evinced not the slightest desire
for Charles society. On the contrary,
he kept moving ahead faster and faster,
in proportion as his pursuers pace in
creased. The two were doing this time
keeping their way along the foOtpath
whrch ran outside high wall, inclJsing
the demesne of pobleman who re-
wall, and Just about furlOpg or so
past the last of the gas lamps, was a
curve round which the lamp could not
throw It's rays, and it happened that at
this very spot a gate leading into a
graveyard was placed. Here the I'M
sociable traveller suddenly and unac-
countably disappeared from view.
1t was impossible he could have
jumped the wall on account of its
height; neither could he have crossed
the road nor gone EDWARDS, as in either
case Coburn must have seen him. Then
where had he gone? Not having passed
the gate, he must have gone through 1t.
But on examining the gate 1t was found
to be locked; and as the bars were too
close to admit the passage of any hui
man body, the only reasonable conclu-
sion that COburn could arrive at was
that he had been pursuing a ghost!
Having settled this point satisfactorily
Though suddenly in his own mind, he
thought it might be as we'll if he gave
the ghost chance of pursuing him.
Coburn was neither superstitiOus nor
cowardly; but this being the first time
he HAD ever seen real ghost, he felt
rather unnerved. Not knowing what
terrible consequences his temerity
might bring upon him, and believing
discretion In this instance to be the bet
ter part of valor, he Invested himself of
his coat as quickly as possible, and,
throwing it over his shoulder, fled
hOmeward, determined that if the ghost
did give chase it should not catch him
without having at least q run for its
victim.
We had not gone to bed on Coburn's
arrival. He came-or rather rushed
n, pale as a corpse, the perspiration
pouring down his cheeks. His strange
and untoward appearance seemed to
put us all in such state that none APP
peared 10 know what was the proper
question to ask under the circumstan-
ces. However, Charlie, who, on enter
ing, had thrown himself into q chair
and his coat upon the floor, was the
first to break the silence by gasping
for "a drink of spring water" He
gulped it down, and my father, vino
had run to the door to see if there were
no highwaymen lurking in the vicinity,
came in and grasped Coburn by the
wrist-to feel his pulse, [ suppose-ask-
ed what had happened.
OuA pdnlS CUDuTl, WIN horror de-
picted in every feature, live seen a
ghOst"
shivered. But my father, who was
not believer in ghosts, laughed out
right. This seemed to nettle our lodger
considerably, as he always prided HIM
self on his veracity, and could not bear
to have 1t impugned. especially on so
serious a subject. After he had Gained
down little my father endeavored to
reason him out of his belief. But it
was useless He had seen a ghost,
though he never believed in them be-
fore. and there was an end of it."
"Well, said my father, Il have never
seen ghost; but should much like to
have it to say that | hod seen one;
and If you think there is any chance OF
your ghost favoring us with a second
appearance. l propose that we both set
OF 70 the graveyard at once"
Coburn seemed very reluctant to
make the experiment; but as my father
began 10 throw some light aspersions
on his courage, ne at last consented and
they both set off. They examined the
gate and found it locked; peered
through the bars, but saw no signs of a
ghost. Thinking the gentleman might
have gone q second time for a stroll to-