Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-06-04
THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR.

were llt iliNSN pcPti"i IA
tant. and the lady or gentleman who
could relate the most thrilling adven-
tnre. involving a genuine spiritual visl-
,ant, was sure to be the hon or lioness
nj the evening party he enlivened ~
with the dismal details. The elder III
ditors never seemed particularly hori-
fed or terrified, however gratifed they
were, but the younger members drank
in every word, ''supping full of hor-
rors." After listening to n of those
authentic narratives, we used to be very
reluctant to retire to Cur dormitories,
and never ventured to get into bed I'M
iii we had examined suspicious-looking
wardrobes, OLD closets, and indeed every
nook and corner that might be sup
posed to harbor a ghost or a ghoul.
Fortunately for the rising generation,
these tales have gone out of fashion, and
though some attempts to revive the
taste have been made-as in the
Night Side OF Nature'-such efforts
have proved deplorable failures. The
Young people of to-day make light of
ghosts. The spectres in the incanta-
ton scene of Der Eryschutz are received
with roars Of laughter, and even the
statue in Don Giovanni seems Jolly"
Notwithstanding the Elusive music of
Mozart. We were about to remark that
the aged had outgrowed superstition,
but he remembered the Rochester
~knockings, and concluded to be modest
ly silent.
One evening, many years since-it
was a clustering December evening, the
wind bowling as it dashed the old but
tonwood limbs in its fury against the
parlor windows of the country house
where a few of us were assembled to
pass the winter ~holidays-we gathered
before Il roaring fire of walnut and oak,
which made everything within doors as
comfortable and CHEEKY as everything
without was desolate and dIeary. The
window shutters we're left unfastened.
that the bright freight and ruddy lamp
light might stream afar upon the whit
ry waste, and perhaps guide some be-
nighted traveller to a hospitable shelter.
We will not attempt to describe the
group, as any such portrait.painting
would not be germane to the matter i'm
mediately in hand. Suffice it to say
that one of the youngsters begged Aunt
Deborah, the matron of the mansion,
to tell US a ghost story-a real ghost
story-for in those days we were terri
bly, afraid of .ounterfeits, and hated to
near q narrative where the ghost turned
out to be no ghost at all. but a mere
compound of flesh and blood like our
selves. Aunt Deborah smiled at our
earnestness, and tantaliZed our lmpa-
tience by some Of those little arts with
which the practical story-teller enhan-
ces the value and interest of her nara
tive, She tapped her silver snuff-box,
opened it deliberately, took a very del
lcate pinch of the Lundy Foot, shut the
box, replaced it in her pocket, folded
her hands before her, looked round on
the expectant group, and then began.
shall despair of impartlng to this
cold pen and ink record Of her story
the mimitable conversational grace with
which she embellished it. 1t made an
lndelible impression on my memory,
and If ! never before repeated it, it was
from a lurking fear that-although the
old lady assured me it was mot to be
lound IA any book or newspaper. it
might have found it's way into print.
However, as twenty years have elapsed
and | have never yet met with it in
4 type, will venture to give the outlines
OF the narrative:
Major Rupert Stanley, "a bold dra-
goon' IN the service of his maj esty
Ueorge III, found himself one dark and
clustering night in autumn, riding to-
wards London on the old York road.
de mad supped with a friend who lived
aIa Village some distance off the roaG,
ana he was unfamiliar with the country.
1n0ugh no! raining, the air was damp,
anu the heavy surcharged clouds threat
ehea every moment to discharge its con-
.eh's. But the major, though a young
nan was an old campaigner, and with
warm cloak wrapped around him,
Snu good horse under him, would
nave cared very little for storm and
GafKneSs had he felt sure of good bed
tf himself, and comfortable quarters
~ MS horse when he had ridden for
1e strength of his faithful animal. A
soou horseman cares as much for the
vohlort OF his steed as for his own
ease,
10 add to the discomforts of the even
bs, mere was some chance of meeting
~sa~aymeni but Major Stanley felt no
Lleasiness on that score. as Just before
naSI1g his friends house he had exam
a. us holster-pistols, and freshly prim-
gan Iem. A brush with a highwayman
i 5Uulu enchance the romance of a night
~ ne logged along, but mile after
n 4tS was passed and no twinkling light
Ine Instance gave indication of the
aaed'ior inn. The majors horse gave
unsuitable signs of distress-stumb.
al ohce or twice and recovering him