The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-05-12

Burst 10 tn in countless happy blooms OF
faineSt pink and white.
For spring i here, the daring! hear blue
bird singing,
And catch the echo of her voice in ripping
-.Mdruarct Eytingc.
SOME GHOST STORIES UNVEILED.
1t is undeniable that there are many
sober-minded people, not in general
disposed to be credulous or supersti-
tious, who yet entertain a firm convic-
ton that they have come across the
supernatural in some shape or other.
and that under circumstances in which
they had As little reason to doubt the
evidence of their senses as in the most
common occurrences of life.
A well-known witty English divine
once remarked that the best and most
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS most convincing
way of combating the foolish fancy
commonly known as "belief in ghosts"
is to make public all well-authenticated
instances where such stories have been
unveiled" The following narratives,
communicated by various contributors,
may serve as further illustrations of the
truth, that nothing OF the apparently
supernatural should be received which
has not been submitted to the test of
absolute demonstration:
One splendid afternoon of a glorious
summer l set out on walk from
Eythorne to Deal, distance of some
six miles. l took particular note as 1
went along-the route being entirely
strange to me-of all the landmarks,
such as churches, farmhouses, the
bendings of the road, etc., thinking
that should probably have to make at
least part of my return walk after dark,
though sure of q sutficiency of light if
the moon were only shining. Preached
Deal, and was beguiled by the
beauty of the afternoon and even
ing to stay longer than had
intended. Sea and land lay bathed
in the warm, golden sunshine, the sky
of the brightest blue, unlocked by q
cloud, and the sea almost equally blue.
l fingered by the shore until the
lengthening shadows began to warn me
that should find the night drawing on
almost before I got far from the pre-
cincts of Deal. fastening along. then,
without any doubt of my way, and
mounting the rising land at the back of
the town, found the moon was already
shedding its light over the scene, and I
looked forward to delightful walk
home: when suddenly dense sea-fog
rolled in from the bay, which soon en-.
veloped the land. obscuring every OBJ
ject, and even obliterating the light of
the moon, save for occasional riffs in
the fog AS it rolled rapidly inland. l
soon became very doubtful of my way.
as the notes l had carefully taken of
landmarks were now useless. But
trudged along, knowing was pursuing
at least an onward course, till emerged
upon much higher ground, and was
thankful to find that the fog was losing
its density and the moon recovering It's
light. lnquiring at a cottage where l
saw light in the bedroom, found that
/ had come right, and should soon strike
the high-road from Sandwich to Dover.
After this the fog seemed to lift, the
moon shone out brightly, light haze
only remaining over the lower-lying
country, and soon found myself COM
fortably nearing EythOrne.
The road into Eythorne from the
Dover Road turns at right angles. and
is straight and rather descending, so
that during. the day, or on fine moon
light night. objects can be seen for a
long distance. The moon had now
risen considerably, and the whole
country lay clearly revea ed-:he road
to Eythorne, into which had now
turned, especially so, being chalky. I
had not gone many PAGES when saw,
some distance on before me. a gigantic
figure in white, apparently at least ten
feet high. l could see, too. that it was
moving, not towards me, but from me.
! watched it narrowly for few min
utes, to satisfy myself that it was no
momentary impression; but there as
suredly it was, white. spectral, gigantic
and moving.
My first thought was to beat re-
treat, take the Dover Road again and
return into Eythorne through Valdez
share Park; but as this would have
greatly heightened the time at which I
wished to be home, and as had al
ready proved the park at night to be a
difficult route, and had had some un-
pleasant experiences therein, made up
my mind rapidly that there was nothing
for 1t but to face the specter or what
ever it might be, for better. for
worse" Now, l thought, is all my
Wanted unbelief in the supernatural to
be put to the test. and perhaps to be
shaken down in some dreadfully I'M
pleasant manner. l confess felt many
a qualm as the tall figure stalked ON
before me; but as had now fully made
up my mind to find out what it was. if
l could, quickened my pace, almost
running under the excitement. As I
neared and was evidently overtaking it,
noticed that it seemed rather to
lessen in its propol tions, and this
continued as I got nearer and
nearer. It was still, however, out
OF all human proportions; but at
this point, as / more leisurely
looked about me. l began to observe
that the more familiar objects known to
me, the cottages by the roadside, the
park gates, ETC.. looked unusually large
also, and as l passed them. resumed
their natural size. This at once be-
came clue to me, and / determined
not to lose the chance of unraveling
the mystery of the white figure, still
some distance before me. As got
rapidlynear.it.' it AZ rapidly decreased
in slZ0, tlltat length must say much
to mgSelfofI found It to b .nothing
more than a country girl in light
dress quietly pursuing her way home
wards!
Thus, then. discovered that the gi-
gantic spccter ofmy waR was An effect
due in some way to the combined &C
ton OF the moonbeams and the haze
in magnifying all objects looked at, at
a certain distance or angle, and in this
resembling the mist specters of the
Broken ana other mountains.
Now, it is evident, if had not been
compelled to face and investigate the
matter, should have continued to be-
lieve to this day-despite my unwilling
ness to do so-that / had certainly seen
q specter upon such evidence ofamy
own senses as could not doubt. The
occurrence has served me in good
stead ever since. as q, useful lesson, in.
ducing me to pause in accepting appar-
emily inexplicable phenomena without
the most rigid Investigation.
- 49, 2-4