Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-02-28

/ ApparitioD Which Startled "A Dung
/ Lady In Her own House-TerribIe
Retribufion--A mason's Anxiety
While His workmen Were Tearing
TO Pieces Ills own Handiwork..
As long back as 1868 there stood
not far from the City of Mexico a fine
old mansion, occupied by a strange,
morose, misanthropic man, who mixed
in no society, though at the same time
he appeared to derive little pleasure
from the exquisite gardens and other
amenities with which his beautifully
situated mansion had been surround
ed 1t was at length offered for sale,
and much to the surprise of those who
knew its value, passed into the hands
of another tenant. Delighted with
his bargain, Senior Naveretti lost no
time in making every arrangement
for adapting the mansion to the taste
of some rich gentleman who was GER
tain to covet SO lovely a spot for a
family residence. In this view he
was quite right. Senior Mendez, with
his wife and daughter, soon establish
ed himself here, leasing the place for
a term of years.
A few weeks had elapsed, and they
began to find themselves at home in
their pleasant dwelling, when one
evening Senior Mendez, while reading
aloud TO his family, encountered a
difficult phrase, which it was neces-
sary to elucidate by means of the die
tionary, and his daughter Catilina
fastened to the library to procure
that work. She was gone rather
longer than was expected, and when
she did return looked pale and
agitaed, and her mother anxiously
inquired the cause of her appear
ance.
well, was the reply, II have had
a sort of adventure, bat my ghost Gor
| have certainly seen one) was by no
means terrible, and | don't know why
| should feel so furried. 1t was a very
handsome young man.
Pressed for details, the young lady
related that she had seen nothing on
her way to the library, but that on
her return, Just as she was descending
the first step of the stairs, she heard a
voice behind her, and looking around
observed young and handsome man
in naval uniform. He looked sadly
at her for some seconds, during which
she never removed her eyes from his
face, pointed with his finger to the
side of the corridor and vanished, as
it were, into the wall
The story was received as the ma
jority of such are destined to be, with
some incredulity. Nevertheless, so
much impressed was Senior Mendez
with what he had heard, that when
his daughter had retired he and his
wife re-discussed the matter, and came
to the conclusion that Senior Mendez
should visit the haunted corridor about
the same hour and see if any similar
appearance would be vouchsafed to
him.
Accordingly, on the following night
he mounted guard, and walked to and
fro for considerable time without re-
suit. Tired at last Of his vigil, he was
wheeling around to commence what
| he had resolved should be his last
turn, when he almost ran into the
arms of the young naval officer, pre-
cisely answering the description given
by his daughter.
The figure pointed to the wall, and
before Senior Mendez had fully regain
ed his self-possession, disappeared
Senior Mende2's countenance, on en-
tering the drawing sufficiently
denoted that his search had been sue
cessful, but he declined to say what
he had actually seen, and requested
his family for the present to control
their curiosity, Early next morning
he proceeded to the city, and called
upon his landlord.
81 have come" said he, ito ask
your permission to remove a portion
of the wall in the corridor OF the man
sion, and finding the proprietor hes
itate, he at once related the double
apparition, adding that, unless his
proposals were complied with, he must
decline to continue a tenant of the
mansion.
The landlord shrugged his shout
ders, extended his palms, and decid-
ed within himself thatthi was anoth-
err example of Mexican eccentmcity,
which it was impossible to compre-
bend and resist, gave the permission
required.
Stone masons being sent for, the
work at once began. As it proceeded
Senior Mendez was much struck by
the singular manner of the master
mason, who, having first discouraged
the idea of stirring the wall at ALL
threw every immaginary obstacle in
the way, and frequently, when his
men had actually set to wark, wotch-
ed their proceedings with a fixed
stare, and a face becoming deadly
pale.
An hour, however, elapsed before
any discoveries were made But at
the end of that time there was turned
forta to the light, the upright skele-
ton of a man, as the wall was remov-
ed, fell topling over among the work
ers. At this sight the master mason
reeled and sank to the floor in a
swoon. Restoratiyes were applied
and the man conveyed to Senior Men
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