The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-21

nOthlnB WhateYer was to DO seen. The
girl, however, positively declared she
had seon n tall dark figure in long
cloack and hood standing on tho first
landing; adding, that she saw it all tho
moro clearly Oh account of tho white
wainscoted wall just behind, which scrv-
ed to throw the figure into relief. A
general search, and regular uc-and-
cry all around the house now followed;
but with no result. Nothing was dis
covered in any way irregular, either in
flesh and blood or in ghostly appcaran-
CcS.
About two nights after, however, the
very same thing occurred again. at near
ly the same time; the spcctcr was again
seon by the samo maid, and by the foot
man, who happened to be just entering
the hall; tho man most positively de-
clnred that the figure stood hooded and
cloakcd, exactly rs the maid had de-
scribed, Oh the top of the landing. The
young men rushed into the hall with
lights, rs before, and with the same re-
sult-they saw nothing Two of tho
sons, genuine ghost-huntcrs, who thor
oughly entered into tho "fun" of the
thing TO sit up and watch
through the night, with tho pleasant ac-
compartments Of plenty of warm fire and
bright light; but L need hardly say the
brave watchers saw nothing, discovered
nothing. His cloakcd and hooded
"ghostship" did not appear again that
night at any rate.
About month aftcrward, however,
tho same thing occurred again. A great
cOmmotion was heard in the hall--the
ghost had again appeared, and what was
oven more remarkable, had slowly dis
appeared just as the man-scrvant caught
sight of it. This was almost too much
for my friends, especially tho junior
branches, who were highly indignant at
being SO completely "sold" by the spec
ter. But there was nothing to be done
OF discovered; SO after many threats of
what they would do if they could only
catch him, the whole party went off to
bed.
Nothing further occurred to disturb
the family peace until three days after
ward, when Jack, the youngest son, rose
from his supper to let in Il favorito bull
terrier, Jinks by namc-tho doughty
hero of the garrets and corridor-who
was whining piteously, and scratching
vigorously ut the garden door. Jack had
hardly entered the hall, when he rushed
back into tho diningroom post haste,
and holding mp his finger in mysteri-
GUS manner, intimated in regular stage
whisper: "Here's the ghost on the stairs
again, hood, cloak, and all!' His brother
instantly jumped up, and both ran into
tho hall; md there sure enough, on the
first landing of the staircase stood tall
dark figure robed i'll a long cloak and
high hood. The young men both re-
garded the apparition intcntly for few
moments, and then boldly ascending tho
st'l1ls, DOM DUrsh into n loud ,.;nn;nr
laugh, crying out that they had cattllgiift
tho ghost, and shouted for tho family to
come out and see, but to bring no lights,
and they could judge for themselves.
The terrible mystery was now at mn
end. Just outside the staircase. window
at the rear Of the house, was q small de-
tachcd building used rs q laundry; but
as he>fircplacc smoked very much, my
friends had had new and very much
taller chimney erected. This was nar-
row qt tho top, and gradually got wider
Is it went downward, and Vas Capped by
q large and peculiarly shaped cowl. The
"ghost" proved to be merely the shadow
of this chimney and cowl outside, pro-
JCSCoo ny oilc bllSlo NloOH4lSlb IllIOuRn
the staircase window, on the clear white
painted wainscoted wall Of tho first land
ing. The sloping sides of the chimney
gave the appearance of a cloakcd figure,
and the broad cowl looked exactly like q
hood, while the dead white of tho fiat
wall behind served to throw the dark
shadow into very strong and bold relief.
The reason now was clear why tho ghost
| was not seen oftener. It was simply that
tho shadow was only projected when tho
moon was just opposite the window; and
its appearing gradually to fade before
the footman's terrified gaze is easily cx-
planned by the passage of dark cloud
ut the moment over the moons bright
disk. Further, be it noted that when
the family entered tho hall on tho first
alarm month previously, many of them
carried lights, md thus of course de-
stroyed the appearance altogether. The
window, moreover, was sometimes cov-
cred with blind.