New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-07
The GENTLEMAN IN THE YELLOW DRESS-
ING-GOWN.
From Noles and Queries


The following IL not, so lar M ! am concerned. a
Grst-haud ghost story, and therefore 1t will not do
I for the PsychIcal Research Socictys new volume.
Bni il came 10 me from lady who had herself seen
the Ghost THIS lady, who Is an old friend of my
family was living with her father. M A.. some
forty years AGO IN au ancient country bouse-not
his own house, but rented by him from Miss b.. an
elderly neiress. The house was haunted. rs Mr..
A. aud his daughter soon found. Strange noises
were heard from time 10 tllne III the dinlng-rOOm
nj nIgt: n mysterious black cat used to appear in
the entrance-hall of an evening and sc9mper
straight up the main stalrcase-not ascending II in
tbe manner of mortal cats bat 10y winding itself IN
and out of the balustrade. in decidedly uncanpy
and preternatural way; and, worst OF all Hn old
gentleman IN black skul-cap, yellow dressing
Gown and red slippers, would come at midnight out
If a certain door. cross tho ball. 90 upstairs lin a
Urmfed manner, aud not ~ the cat didl and van
i,h INTO All empty bedroom on the rst noor. All
, the household, Mr. A. and his daughter included.
nsed TO hear the noises and see the Old gentleman
Whenever they were awake and downstairs az mid
night A to that tortuons cat, II was vonched for
by the servants and duly recorded by my iriend /;
Int | am not sure that she herself saw Il. AT
length Mr. A.. finding the situation unpleasant, and
being courageous man, determined To address TO
the old gentleman "A practical and straightforward
remOnstrance. lie therefore, on u certain night.
posted his men servants, Ia the number Of about
four on the staircase. at the head OF q first flight
of stairs having arranged that they should stop the
Intruder IL thoy could, while their master with
loaded p-tot shonld follow him and cut of his re-
trent All this implies Of course. that the visitor
was supposed To be substantial, or at any rate a
vulnerable. persorE Well 10 midnight, Mr.. A.. from
his post in the hall bsht ld the venerable but
periuous senior emerging from his accustomed door
Here hs is T." cried the master of the house and
the men on the staircase held their ground II think
AZ much 70 thsir credit whle they beheld the old
gen cman silently approaching, and apparently
uucon scious of their presence lie came close u
TO the dauntlegs four and then, to their amazsmeut
he passed straight through them and reappearrd
on the other side. Turning round, they saw him
calmly gliding no the second Hight OF stairs above
that on which they posted. Mr.. A.. calling on
them To follow, pursued, and fired his ball which
IL. Ii nil apl
Immediately catered tho empty bedroom. as usual
through its closed door His Lurfuers less fOrtu-
mite had open the door before they could follow
him; but they did follow him. ana found of course
that tho room empty IA ever. NOtwith-
standing Mr. A., bent on finishing the job nt once,
had the room thoroughly ransacked there and then
y ainscot sounded, chimney explored closets
broken open and IN 'one closet no found "a box
timing old deeds and old money. In the morning
he wrote TO Miss Is. and told her, not about the
ghost but about the deed-bOX He ended his letter
by lnduring on Some preteXt of interest IN the
house, whether any OF her relatives had been noted
for any peculiarty OF dress "Ny grandfather"
she replied used always to wear. when he was at
homo and in his study, !. black skull-cap. yellow
dressing gown and rcd slippers"
Our friend Miss A., in relating the story used to
add land fully believe herr that the money and
the deeds we're interesting and not unimportant to
Miss b.. and that the old gentleman never troubled
her fathers household agaiE. A. J. N.
p. 81 wish | could say what became of the cat
Int 4 canff