The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-12-15
AUNT JAMES GHOST STORY.

fifty, and enjoying the best of health. She is
the richest member of the A. family
wboselancestry were among the emigrants
with VIM. Penn, on the Welcome" Dur
ing the recent Bi-Centennial celebration
week there was a large gathering of Aunt
James relations at her home, and one evening
one of them said to Atnt Jane, "Auntie,
dear, why did you never marry you must
have been such pretty girl %
For moment look of deep pain passed
over the handsome features of the old lady,
but only for moment then she looked up
with smile and said
''Why did l never marry, Lucy? Perhaps
because nobody would have me-"
Then looking round at her nephews and
sices, she continued
my dears, do notthink any of you know
how very near was to getting married, and
how it was prevented by ghost. Come, 1
feel talkative tonight, so listen to an old wo-
mans story:
L believe most of you know that was
born in what nsed 20 be a private house on
Chestnut street. 1t stands, or did stand
near the northeast corner of Eighth and
Chestnut. It has been known. understand,
Tor some years past as Dooner's hotel 1t is
now being pulled down to make room for a
new and modern structure That part of
town was very different when was a girl,
and our house used to be called the End
House, because, at the time it was built, it
was considered to be almost ont Of the CITY,
Benedict Arnold, the traitor, was married in
the very room which used to be my mothers
best parlor. And now, my dears, must 90
back sixty-fve years to the period when I
was girl of eighteen, and as full of fun and
innocent frolic as girl could be. was en-
gagged to be married to a Southern gentleman,
handsome, dashing fellow, and we loved
each other with all our hearts The day ap
preached for our marriage, and it was ar
ranged that we should be united in the parlor
at home, IN the very room in which Arnold
had been welded years previously The
traitor general had been dead comparatively
short while, but there were already idle
stories current of his ghost haunting the place
in which he lived when a citizen of PhiIadel-
phia. We who resided in one of the houses
He frequented, used to laugh at the stories
and often iolSingly asked each other whether
the ghost had paid visit during the night
( "On the eve ef what was to have been nv
nuptial day, the family were ali gathered
/ round the fire in the parlor just as we are
now. Your Uncle George, whom few Of you
/ knew. and my lover were present and some
how the conversation drifted upon ArnoId's
marriage and the alleged existence of his
/ ghost. Brother George and my lover were
/ not the best of friends. Your uncle was
town bred, and was brought up to the pro-
fession of lawyer. Ny betrothed had
Z Uaithar trada nor profassion IJis
notions scorned commerce or any occupation
other than the army OF navy, as derogatory
to the position of a gentleman. Although a
candidate for a commission be had not re-
ceived an appointment In the army, and SO
his time was passed in riding over his la rye
estates in Virginia, and looking after his
/ overseers. Uncle George it was who began
the remarks about.Arnold. Turning to me
he said
"Jennie, take care he does not visit YOU
tonight and frighten you out of your mar
riage'
my betrothed looked up fiereely at my
brother, but l laughingly replied
"'He had best not for shall give him a
piece of my American mind If he does
'Bed- time arrived and L wished my lover
goodnight There was something very
tender and clinging in the kiss he respect
fully pressed on my forehead. At the same
time he showed me pistol which he had
fetched from his holsters. In those day.
gentlemen travelled we'll armed OF horseback
If the ghost appears to you, dear, fir,
this at him, and I'll warrant you will dscov
er it to be some scamp of a servant OF THE
desiring to frighten yOu.'
1 laughed at his foolish fears, but to pleas
him took the pistol and placed it under m,
pillow. then went to mothers room. Sh
wished to give me some loving advice, as j
it was to be my last. night under the roof a
home.
81 cried little while mother talked to m
a nd after loving caress from the fond arms
! | returned to my chamber and soon fe
! asleep. do not think slumbered very lon
before 1 was awakened by the creaking o
J my room door. 1 turned toward it and dis
tinctly saw form moving slowly across tn
room. Somehow did not feel frightened o
} inclined to scream. 1 think my only sensa
ton was curiosity. A wide stream of moon
light came from the window and the figur
halted just where the ray fell upon it and
saw mans form before me, clad in a froel
coat with epaulettes on the shoulders. I
sword was at his side, and under his arm ap
peared to be three -cornered hat. Benedic
Arnold at once flashed across me, and a will
7 terror filed my heart, but 1 was unable +
] utter sound. l thought of the pistol unde
my pillow
{ "If 1 can fire it assistance will come t
me, thought.
3 'I pointed the weapon at theyghost an'
l pulled the trigger. The powder flashed il
the pan with a slight report; the figure slow
t ly raised his arm and threw something to
t ward me which fell with a tbud on the be-
] near my hand. 1 mechanically cIutehed a
! the something, and with my fingers felt
( round, heavy ball, just like a leaden pisto
9 bullet That is all 1 remember, for l fel
, back in swoon, the forerunner OF a braiI
, fever, which deprived me of my reason 70
3 many months.
3 'FWhen recovered consciousness L found
myself in bed with my mother seated by my
5 side. awoke as from dream, for the re
r membrance of what had occurred came Al
once into my mind and my first words tC
2 mother were
THE ghost The RhostP
s'She hushed me ard tried to persuade me
that 1 had really been dreaming and soothed
me to sleep again. BY slow degrees. during
? the following days. 1 realized had been II
, a long time. and by equally slow processes
|, nv dear mother impaired to me the terrible
tragedy which had taken place during the
time of my sickness. had TO learn that both