National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-07
GHOSTLY GOSSIP.
a STORY ABOUT A HAUNTED HOUSE.
EhriIIfns Tale Written by Literary RepOrter-AE
Interview which Ends with q Narrative
How GhOstIv Sounds We're Inter-
prsted by Tenant.


Wreaths round the heads of pedestrians, anC
Ghrouding their big ulsters in ghOstly canopy o
white; while umbrellas are darling fantlcalII
% and fro, and the diorama of moving figure
cit like weird spectres into the fast gather
ing darkness, our Nib ventures out to giear
few notes and view nature in her sternest aspect
VennoIs angel turns her trumpet toward the east
and the sharp chilly wind salutes the lace OF every
nasser-by, Whisks round the corner, catching the
uewsboy as he yells out his evening papers, anc
forces an involuntary moan from the sturdy team
Ser as he bows his head before its angry blast
Poor. shrinking humanity, driven by want and
ssrn necessity, shivers in the recesses of yonder
basement or huddles helpessly before the station
house. The car driver beats his chest with his
burly AIMS and clinks his punch bell at the en-
trance of another passenger and the crowded car
moves slowly on through the binding snow.
"Thar's q tough night afore u.s." said a gray
bearded owner of one of the "night-liners,' as he
gave token of the presence of our Nib by graceful
inclination of his whip TO his visor. " Coach
zirf"
GA reporter never rides" returned our Nib, with
sNful dignity, while he has the use of his
limbs"
ats tough night, sir, rejoined Coachee, q" and
1t comes material TO git home easy as possible"
"The reporter never goes home" retorted our
Nib, solemnly.
sits a tough night for a small chap like you to be
out, anyways" replied the veteran, stamping his
feet brisky to keep up the circulation, but thars
nothin' like gfttin' used 10 thing. The worst
storm ever seed were foTty-four years ago, ven
j was driyin' g cab for Nailor; the wind blew
pitch-forks and guns, the snow drifted unkimmon
fast an the night was fearful dark. alters think
on that night, sir, because 1 had queer adven-
tnre, maybe" with suggestive look at our repor-
Ter" you'd like to hear on it?'
what was this queer adventure" inquired our
scribe.
"Wby, Won see, 1 had to take man to the steam
boat" pursued Coachee, IAN was hsrnessin' up
when boss told me l would have plenty of time TO
run up Capitol Hill and move man and his
family to the Injun Queen"
"The house stood on Capitol Hill. It was awful
gloomy looking, with two tall poplar trees stand
ing afore it; 1t had the name of being haunted
people said so; but didn't pay much attention to
what people said, until this 'eer night came for
the passengers
"I jumped of the box, and was just agoing
10 ring the bell, when the fellow comes to
the door as mad as March hare: What in the
DEVILS name are you pulling that bell so for? he
seq; do you think we are all deaf inside@ Il
amt rung it once'I SEE, quite surprised. Guess
you've been drinking, seq he. Nary drop SEE L
you must be crazy, then SEE he. You'll get in
the loopey tick sylum afore will, SEE consider
ably riled. The man looked at Inc sharply. He
War'nt no fool, I tell ye-and he seed war'nt,
neither so he began to look very grave and NUT
tered to himself: its the ghostf IFS the gt0tF 4
heerd thar was ghosts inside obsarved.
Its the strangest house was ever in SEE the
man, holding on tight TO his hat to keep it from
blowing off. Since I've been Twin here I'll be
darned if I've slept wink. The queerest noises
III,
overhead and cradles is rocking and bells ring
ing. ] think somebody got murdered in this
house want to git ont of it.
while he vas talking a purity faced woman,
with child in her arms, came to the door.
Charley she sez, you shan't leave me in this
ere lonely place; believe it will brighten me TO
death to spend another night here
"You see' SEE the man, explaining, this ere
young oman is almost scared out ov her seven
senses being here; tote US down TO the "Injun
Queen" driver; it's tough night to take the baby
out but, by thunder, wouldn't remain in this con-
founded old tenement if they'd chuck in the rent
free all the year round An So continued the old
eabman earnestly, 1 tuck them all down to the
"Injun Queen" Afore we started sot on my box
listening to queer noise. 1t was the door bell of
that ERE house and knock my insides out if it
weren't tolling.'
"You might have faneied that" suggested our
Nib, incredulously.
81 heerd it tolling" rejoined the remarkable
haek-driver. "If ever bell was tolling it was
that eer bell. sat on my box, like spell on me,
gill the man popped his head out and SEE, Hollow
watts the matter? Wy don't you go?' DO ye hear
that ar bell?' / SEE. No. he shouted back half
angTily. You'd better git along-the snow is pill
ing awful so gave whistle to pony, and, darn
my old woman's stockings if the horses ears
want prickedu an he was trembling all over; a
mighty queer thing, sir, if you'd believe me, but
was never able to get that animal to pass that
shanty agin. tried it many time, but the mo-
ment the ugly critter caught view of them two
poplar trees he'd stand stock still, an have to
turn him tother way You may think I've made
all this up, but it's true as law and Gospel"
al am one" spoke deep, hollow voice, " who
can vouch for the truth of this old mans story
The reporter looked up in some surprise TO OBJ
serve before him the figure of q stranger. By
the light of the street lamp which shonc full in his
tall gaunt form, he seemed TO be a man in the
prime oflife; he was dressed in a shabby black
Overcoat; his face, half concealed by his Spanish
student hat looked thin and careworn, while
his hollow, black eyes sparkled with unwonted
fire
al say" said the mysterious stranger, with a
gloomy shake Of his head; "you can put that in
your lOE every NOtti VI II. twenty
years ago that house was still standing untenanted
and deserted. The landlord advertised It for sale
but nobody would buy it; he endeavored to rent
Ii, but not a soul could be induced to occupy the
premises the reason was obvious, the house was
bona ide haunted dwelling; dozens of tenants
In past years had gone in and out, all uniformly
agreeing that the strange noises were so ghostly
and inexplieable that hundred golden eagles,
fresh from the mint, could not induce them TO
longer occupying it.
al visited the house myself TO test the accuracy
Of the reports of its ghostly character believing in
my mind they had been greatly cxaggerated
There is something horrible in the gloom and
silence ofan unOccupied house. crept up stairs
starting at every echo Of my footsteps fancyng
q bobgoblin with every movement of the lanterns
rays rising before me; reached the second-story
room and sat myself down on q rude bench left
there by some improvident workman and while
holding my lantern over my head carefully ex-
anined the surroundings of the famous apartment
that had so long sustained such an unenviable
reputation. 1t was large, oblong shaped room
thickly studded with cobwebs and dreary looking
enough to be the abode of the dead: beyond the
mOuldy dampness of the walls, the clapboards ON
the floor shrunken with age, an occasional grease
spot or rathOle 10 remind one of the carelessness
of tenants in years gone by, perceived nothing
particularly worthy of observation butt had come
there from astrange love for the supernatural and
was resolved to test the truth of the stories had
so often heard.
al had not been long in this ghostly apartment
before the door-bell rang. As twas very late and
my visit to the house entirely secretiye, hardly
knew what to think; but 1 promptly hastened
down stairs. opened the door-not u soul there
and pereeiYing that the gate was as had left it,
closed, with heavy iron chain fastening, 1 re-
turned back to the chamber considerably puzzled
l had scarcely resumed my seat again before the
bell gave another strong peal 1 took no notice
Of this, and it soon ceased. minute interval and
1t again rang; this time very low and to my fancy
it sounded like the tolling for the dead 1 crept
down stairs; and as the melancholy sound came
again Earring On my car, and causing the wires to