Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-09-01
A TERRIBLE GHOST STORY.

Lam an old farmer, living in the oldest
house in Oldtown. The only new thing
now upon the place is my well. We have
an ancient well, but no one ever tastes
the water there, though it is rs cold and
clear as crystal. | suppose the place Is
worth great deal. 1t was valued at
twenty thousand dollars when l bought IL
twenty years ago. The house IS hand
some mansion, the sort Of place gem
tIcman retiring from business usually
buys TO end his days in, and city people
come to see il ana the grounds, and seem
to be delighted.
Now, when tell you that i came into
Oldtown with exactly six hundred dollars
in my pocket, and that | had no idea what
| should do when that was spent, you viii
feel surprised that six months after that |
owned this place. But I'll tell You all
about it.
1t WAS what folks call haunted place,
and for ten years it had stood vacant.
People tried TO live there, but were always
frightened away. If it had been only the
house, that could have been torn down;
but nobody could ever flrm the land.
Twelve ycurs before this, the proprietor
had been q jealous OLD gentleman, who
had Il young wife, whom nc would never
permit ont OF his sight il he could avoid
-, clX =
watchful, and she managed to firt suif-
cicntly to make herself talked about.
Being very pretty, two silly young fellows
fell in love with her, and one used to fol-
low her about, making eyes, and signing
dreaifuly, like lover in a play, The
postmistrasS said he wrote to hcr-and L
supposc he did. And at last the news
spread through the place that she had run
away with him. He was gone, and she
was gone; and the old man came one
morning to Lawyer Tantiyy, and sold his
property ut great loss, to man who had
wanted it for years-a rich man who
liked to havo it said that he owned the
finest place in Oldtown.
1t was plain that the poor ole gentle
man did not care what became of himself;
and when he got the money he wandered
away, and was never seen again.
The new proprietor moved up to the
great house In state; but Mt dawn the
whole family--scrvants and all-returned
to their old quarters.
What they had seen, or what they had
not socn, it was hard to tell, but they were
al nearly frightened to death. The doctor
was sent for for the ladies, and they spoke
of the most awful appartions. After this
the head of the family and three consta-
bles from the little market town spent
day and night there. They held their
tongues; but those who saw them next
dav knew they had been well frightened,
ana the man put the place into the market
ut once.
Lawyer Tan;ivy privately told people
that only a coward would have been
frightened by rats in All old wall, and he
sold the property to city man. Much
the same thing happened, but the house
was not sold again. The city man went
elsewhere, and tried in vain to get rid of
his bargain. IL was let for the summer
once. but the people did not stay week.
After awhile nobody would farm the
ground. Some said they saw woman
with her throat cut; some that they saw
a man with wound in his breast, some
both. Voices were heard; hands were
felt; and there, when came to the place,
Tie old homestead stood, with moths and
spiders for its only tenants.
IMent up and looked at it, and then |
talked to Jlne. She had not bit Of su-
pcrstiton in her, and she agreed to what
| proposed. | went to old Tantiyy and
offered him hundred year for Il five
years lease Of the place, the five hundred
to be paid in one sum.
"Aftcr that" said l, "I'll give YOU two
thousand for the property. Wife and l
are not afraid Of ghosts"
The old lawyer shook his head.
"You say you've met with losses, and
have just six hundred dollars left? Keep
il. You couldn't live in that house one
week. I've tried it. I'd make bargain
with 4 rich man, but I'm 10. rascal
enough 20 take poor mans all"
81 risk it," said 1. 'I 10 it freely, but
the paper must be made ou; fair and
squarc-two thousand after my five years
lease" And SO had my way.
Jane anG went up to the house next
day. 1t was wonderful, grand. dirty
old place. We set to work to clean ito
drive out .hc insects and the rats; and we
got some fresh straw to sleep on, for tie
beds were all mouldering away.
That night at nine we lay down, with
lamp burning, and went to sleep like two
tops; AID think il must have been twelve
O'Clock, or nigh 10 il, when Jane shook