The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-23
ANDERSON S. c.. THURSDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 49, 1884

before the lameness of my horse allowed
me to resume my journey. During this
period became much attached to MIR.
Shelly and his wife. Captain and my
self had grown to be such good friends
that we had taken several strolls together
over the land.
Notwithstanding my host and hostess
appeared to be affectionately attached to
each other, there was certainly some
thing wrong at the farm and it could not
escape an observant eye. Once or twice
had come upon Mr.. Shelly and his wife
unexpectedly and I thought I detected
traces of tears in her eyes, while her
manner evidently betrayed fear. Still her
husband was so kind all the while that |
could not avoid pondering on the matter.
I never intruded my presence upon them
if could avoid it, but it sometimes
would occur in spite of me.
One afternoon I came into the room
abruptly and found Mr.. Shelly tanning
his wife and caught remark he uttered
With strong emphasis. eve must sell
this place." be said, "for it appears i'm
possible fox you to have days happi.
ness here, and would sooner sacrifice it
than see you die slowly before my eyes.
Oh, tits too hard |" and he kissed her
brow.
Turning about, he saw me and knew
I had heard his expression.
81 think I will lie down." said Mrs.
Shelly, and as she passed me | noticed
her ace was "a male as the dead.
When she had gone upstairs Mr..
Shelly turned to me and said: II sup
pose you perceive thero is something
amiss here. You see no hands about the
place and a general state of idleness
reigns supreme. Of course there is
reason for it, and I am going to tell you
what it means. The only thing I am
afraid of is that you may consider me
madman or fool, but | swear to you
what I am about to relate is as true as
holy writ I am an honest man, sir, and
truthful one, consequently 1 do not lie
when I say we have an-apparltlon-ln
short, ghost here. pray you do not
hastily imagine that I am weak and
superstitious man; you shall be con-
vinced, for you may see the whole mat
ter with YOUR own eyes and then judge
for YOURSELF My wife's health has been
failing ever since this thing came about
and it breaks my heart to witness her
suferings. I can't find ready purchaser
for the place, and old Reuben is the only
person who will remain with me, but,
you see, he hides as much as possible in
doors. Look" he continued, pointing
across the road to a piece of woodland,
edo you observe yonder fallen tree 2"
I eazed in the direction indicated and
saw the trunk of large tree lying prone
on the ground. 1t was, in fact, huge
log, from which the bark had long been
peeled. SWELL" he continued, sat irreg.
ular intervals the apparition appears on
that fallen tree, arrayed in the traditional
white drapery, and it walks up and down,
swaying to and fro and all the time
waving its arms towards the house. A
half hour ago it was visible, but it van
ishes as quickly as it appears. am not
under any powerful hallucination. |
am a rational, sane man, and what l tell
YOU is the earnest truth"
"I have witnessed some strange affairs
myself," T reioined. "but let me ask you
if you are positively sure there is no
trick in the thingW
he gave a hollow laugh. Hanging
in the house." he said, lis my repeating
rifle. Men will tell you that I am the
best shot in the country and that's say
ing a good deal. I can kill sparrow,
and perhaps butterfly. You observe
that log is not more than fifty yards
distant, and yet swear to you | have
repeatedly drawn dead aim on the
thing as it danced plainly in sight. l
have fired, but still it always stood shak'
ing its arms wildly in the air. I've shot
dozens of times at it but I can't kill it,
for il is not human"
eNo one would try the prank for some
motive or other?" I questioned: For
instance, suppose they wished to buy the
place cheaply, perhaps this ghost story
might induce you to sell at sacrifice"
Do you think" he returned quickly,
that any one who knows Abel Shelly
would care to assume such desperate
chances before his rifle? Oh, no. There
is nobody who would take that risk.
Besides, [ should have killed it long ago
| if there was anything to kill. 1t always
comes in the afternoon" continued
Shelly, shut never at night. You per.
ceive it reverses the accepted time OF
nocturnal visitation"
81 do not consider myself more coura>
geous than men generally" | replied,
Sbut would be glad if you would notify
me if this object appears again during
my stay. Perhaps | may be able to in.
vestigaLe more satisfactorily than you
have dope." :, -.
"very wcl'," he replied, "I will do
So"
1 had a sweet sleep that night and no
ghost haunted my dreams, and it was
only when I awakened that l recalled
the conversation of the previous day. l
could not doubt that Mr.. Shelly and his
wife were both thoroughly honestin their
convictions, still I could not bring
myself to accept the thing as supernatu-
raj. I.dressed and, as was my custom;
went out to the kennel to visit my friend
Captain, for by this time there was q
mutual attachment be. .aeen us aud L
would sooner have trusted the beasts
loyalty than l would most mems. With
Captain for an ally I should feel COM
paratively safe, for be was the very
perfection of bravery.
The day was pleasant, there was not a
cloud in the sky, and gentle wind blew
with delicious coolness. Dinner had
been very late, for Mrs. Shelly was not
we'll. 1t was drawing towards 5 o'clock
when took my accustomed seat on the
porch with my pipe. Shelly Joined me !;
his wife was sitting inside by the window.
My eyes were involuutarily turning
towards the fallen tree. Shelly OWNED
my thoughts, for he shook his head
gravely, smoked on and said nothing;
Suddenly there came hall-suppressed
CRY from Mrs. Shelly, and at the same
instant her husband exclaimed: "There,
don't you see it Look !"
gazed steadily at the spot, but could