Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-01-24
a GhGst SfOry,

The Rev. Dr.. AUgutus lcssopp, who i
knowo in England as &c eminent a3tiuasrjan
publishes the c7lrentA.ie: &c IN al account o
an tXtraordlusly apparpion CT which be etirm
that ho vas the wituess iD Lord OxforG's libra
ry OF Warrington Hall, Norfolk, last Oc ober
He bad diaed OF Mannioston Hall ca oertai,
day ir that month, aud when the party broke
uD at half past ten be went ioto TIE library tc
tsks notes OF some OF tho rare books WhIoh
it c,ntaiDed. His oxpolieic, while tnsrc is re
lated aa follows:
b. II o'c'0ck vas the only person down
stairs, and was very soou bu,iIy at work and
absorbed 10 my occupation. continued a5 my
t"sk until nearly ono o'cl, ck. | had cot on
better thaE l expected, emu | had orly one
moro buok to occupy me. rose. Wound uu
ny wa "a, tnd opened botlIc Of sal .ar water,
oud remembered thinking to myself that
rhould get to bed By Two sfter all. | sst to
york at Tho lFs; little bcek.
| had been agaged upon it about half an
hour, and vas just tcginoiGg to thiok tha. my
Eork WAS draw:cg to close, Wh.e, as Yes &C
tu''iy wiring | shw large white hand within
lost OF ny elbow. TurUirg ny besd, there
SGT fguco of somewhat lacAe mao, with his
back TO the IRE, Beading siahsly ever the
table s1d apparently e7anlpiag the pile Of hoJks
that Ia! been at work upon. The nan's t6oe
vas tu7ocd away from me, but .aW bis coscIy
cut red'sh brown hair. his ear aud shaved ch; ck
the eS, brow, the corner OF the right eye, tho
side Of tho forehead, and the largo high check
bone. lie Was dressed 10 what | can only DE-
5ciibc as find OF sccesiastci! habit o! thick
c::dod silk or come such material, GLOSS Up to
tic throat, ard nsrroW riM Of edgrg, of
etnnt 81 inch broad, Of satin or velvet, serving
ss o siuud.up collar, end fitting close 10 the
otia.
TIE right hand, which had first attIac: ed my
Ht,en! !ou, was c!asping, Without any great
r!lssurc, The !eit band; both ha1ds were 10
nHr}eCt rapose. aud the largo blae veins Of the
r'cht hand were conspicuous | remember
,1ink,n2 that the hand Was like tho hand or
V4lmquez's magnificent Dead Knight, ;" 10 the
Na':cual Gallery. looked at my visitor for
camo seconds, and was periec.ly suve That ho
VAS DOT reality. A thousand thoughts cauo
c.I"dug upon me, but not the least feeling of
asrm, or even uucsslness; curiosity scd
h,To0F Interest were uprermost. For an iosaot
teit eager to make sketch Of my !iiuud, and
l. 'ucsed at tray 90 my right for pete'';
then l thorghr, upstairs | have skc ,h
L L
was iascluGted affsd sot of his stayiog, but lest
he should 90.
Stopping 10 my writing, lifted uy left hand
t;om the paper, stretched it out to the pile
t books and moved tho top oue. | canuot
1plsiD Why l did THE. My arm passed ia
front Of the dgnre aud il vanished | wss
simply disappointed and nothing more. |
want on With my writing as it oothiog had
happened, perhaps icr another five miuutes.
and | haG actually got to the lust few words
of what | bad determined to extract, WhoI
the figure appeared again exactly 10 The same
plac, and attitude as before. | saw the hsuds
co5e to my owu; | turned my head again to ex.
anime him Dore closely, and vas framing 8
sentouc, TO address to him, when discovered
that did not daro to speak, l WAS afraid OF
the SOUND ct my OWn voice. There he sat, and
there sat |, turned my head again to my
work and finished writing the tTo CT three
words still bad 10 wtltc. Tue paper and NY
notes arc at this moment botore ne, and cx-
hlbl! not the slightest trencr or nervousness.
| could point out the words was writing when
the phantom came aud when he disappeared.
Having iosbod my task, | shut the book
and threw 1t on the table; it made sigh; noise
as it fell-the 6guro vanished. Throwing my
self back 10 my chair, sat for some seconds
Iookiug at the fire with curious pixlure of
feeling, and remember wondering whether my
feiend would come again. aud if he did whoth.
er he would hide the fire from mo. Then first
there stole upon me q dread aud suspicion
that was beginning to lose my nerve. re-
menbtr yawung; then | rose, lit my bedroom
candle, toyk my books toto the iuner>l lblsly,
mouuted the chair as before, aud replaced Eve
OF the volumes; the sixth brought back and
laid upon the table where | had been writing
wher the pbaatom did me the honor to appear
10 me. By this time | had lost all sense of 40
eaaiuess. blew out the four candles aud
marched of to bed. where | slept tho sleep OF
the just or the gulty-i know not which-5ut
slept very soundly. This is a simple and u1-
varoished narrative of facts. Explanation,
theory or iDferecce leave to others.