Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-05-12
"GIIOSTS" FOUND OUT.

Most of the frights that come to hu
man nerves originate in mystery Oh
jects are trelnbled at simply because
they are unknown or half known, and
causes are fancied in fear, with IN al
most instructive leaning toward the Su-
pernatural. Few cages of "haunted :"
houses have been known where patient
inquiry and search could not "lay the
ghost" and the following story, told of
one of the old baronial castles in the
north of England Che favorite abode of
ghOSts), shows how extremely simple
the solution of Il most frightful mystery
may be.
Not many years ago the property re-
ferred to descended to branch of the
female line-one of the heroes of Water
loo-who, nothing daunted by its evil
name, was determined to make this cas-
tie his place of residence. Certain
noises having become subject OF real
terror to his peasantry, he resolved to
sleep in the castle on the night he took
possession in order to do away with
these superstitious fears.
Not Il hahitabie room co:ild be found,
except the on. occupied by the old gar
dener aud his wife, in the western tur-
ret, and he ordered his camp bed to be
set up in that apartment.
1t was in the autumn. At nightfall
he repaired to his gloomy abode, leav-
ing his servant, to his no small comfort,
at the village in. After having found
everything comfortably provided, he
turned the large old rusted key upon the
gardener and his wife, who took leave
OF him to lodge ut farm hard by
1t was one Of those nights which are
checkcred with occasional CLEANS of
moonshne and darkness, when the
clouds are riding on high wind. He
slept pretty well for the first two hours.
Then he was awakened by low, mourn
ful sound that ran through the apart
ments. This warned him to be up and
accoutred.
He descended the turret stairs with a
brilliant light, which, in coming TO the
grand floor, cast gigantic shadow of
himself upon the high embat,led walls.
Here he stood and listened. Presently
hollow moan ran through the long
corridor and died away. This was fol-
lowed by one of higher key, a sort of
scream, which directed his footsteps
with more certainty to the spot.
Pursuing the sounds, he found him.
self in the great hall of his ancestors.
and, vaulting up on the large oak table,
set down his lamp, and folding his
cloak about him, determined to wait for
all that was terrible. The night, which
had been stormy, suddenly became STILL
The dark fitting clouds had sunk be-
meath the horizon, and the moon threw
her silvery light through the chinks of
the moldering pile. AS onr hero had
spent the morning in the chase, sleep
came unbidden, and he fell asleep on
the table.
His dream was short, for near him
issued Il hOrrid groan. Amazed, he
started up and sprang at the unseen
voice, thrusting with fearful blow his
sword in the arras. The blade was fast
and held him to the spot. Behind the
waving folds there lay the cause con-
cealed. He left his sword, and retraced
his steps to the turret.
When morning came, welcome
crowd greeting him, asked if he had
met the ghost.
"Oh, yes" replied the knight, "dead
As 4 door-nail behind the screen he lies,
where my sword has S:nned him fast.
Bring the wrenching bar, and we'll have
the disturber out,n
With such Il leader, and broad day to
boot. the valiant throng tore down the
screen where the sword was fixed, when
70! IN recess lay the fragments of Il
chapel organ, and the square wooden
trunks, made for followed sounds, were
usIa rs props to stay the work when the
uaii was coated round with oak The
wondering crowds laughed aloud at the
mysterious voice. twas the northern
blast that found its way through the