Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-04-17
: IGhost.

Judge Andrew ManSette. one of the
best known iurists in Arkanaas, aftoz
an adjournmant of the Historical So.
ciety. the other night, related the fol.
lowing story to party of friends who
fingered in the chamber of odd. old
manuscripts: s.
While young man, I was not looked
upon as one of those Woodworking,
plodding boys who never fail to make
a reputation in youth and lose it in
manhood. The fact is was rather
wild, and, by certain people whose
lives We're spent in the straight jacket
of narrow-minded opinion, NOT regarded
as particularly truthful. One or two
of our most prominent iarmers went so
far as to say that sometimes drank too
much, but what quantity in those days
was regarded as too much, was not at
that time. and neither am / now, able
to determine.
One day went to town, little vii.
lage in he northern part of the State,
and yielding to the allure ents OF met
ropolitan lie, l remained until late in
the evening. Night came ON shortly
after started home, and with the dark
ness, q heavy rain. About half way
between town and my fathers house,
stood an old log church, dismal enough
in the day, to say nothing of a night like
this. but 1t afforded the only means OF
shelter from the downpour of rain, /
stopped, dismounted and stood in the
doorway. holding my bride reins. least
my eye around rather nervously and at
tempted to penetrate the deep gloom
of the interior. for although I was not
afraid, yet / felt that strange, un-
speakable dread which occasions often
cause to settle upon the most cour-
ageous of men. After awhile, just q
vivid flash of LIGHTNING lit up the place,
L looked around again. Standing near
the pulpit. with long hair disheveled,
with CHASTITY ia e and staring eyes, stood
woman, dressed in robes of flowing
white. | was startled. but moment
afterward, when total darkness came
again, persuaded myself that it must
have been only fancy. still kept my
eyes turned back, in dreadful fascina-
ten. Another fash. The figure, with
arms outstretched, with face of deathly
pallor, and with hair streaming in
tangled masses, approached slowly
down the aisle. / knew that if / ran
away and ever told my experience.
pc pie would laugh at me, and though
by his time I was somewhat frightened,
vet was determined to wait awhile
longer and be fully convinced. It was
some time before there was another
fash, but / stood, gazing intently.f The
church was again lit with dazzling
glare, and the woman was in few feet
from where l stood, just in the act of
throwing her arms around me. My
horse snorted and pulled me from the
4 11~a >~,~v
mistake, and, though this may have
been fancy, my hair pushed my hat
off. Anyway, the hat fell. and too
upon my horse ~ and dashed
away. letting the animal out, as
the saying is, How I da he'd over logs
and among trees without being killed is
a wonder. but rea hing the road the
from the church lived old Mr.. Gantling,
with whom was acquainted and reach !,
ing his house, Idismounted, hitched my
horse and almost bufstinto the room.
The old gentleman had not gone to bed,
and seeing me bareheaded and doubtless
noticing nv fright, he started up and
exclaimed:
..Why, Andrew, what in the world is
' 81 va seen = cbosts,,.F Y ADB VI
''What::'' with surprise, for he knew
that was not given to superstition.
'.Have seen a ghosta" 80
Eyes, sir; at the cid church. / then
related my experiences, during which
recital the family gathered around me.
..rhat was certainly very strange"
said the old man when had finished.
''but are you certain that it was not q
fancy?''
81 would bet my life on its being a
fact. 1t was ghost just as sure as you
live"
'.Well. let's put up your horse. Stay
all night, and in the morning, we'll 60
and investigate"
l couldn't Steep Every time !, sue
ceeded in persuading myself into floze,
that face, with it's startling eyes, una
earthly expression and death.y COM
plexion, came up before me. NO one
ever welcomed the sunlight more than
l did that morning, and yet / dreaded
to GO back to the church.
After breakfast partaken of heartily
by every one but me, the old gentleman
and mounted our horses and proceed
ed toward the church. I must have
wore child's hat above an agitated ex-
preston. My hat had not fallen off
where thought it had, or perhaps the
wind might have blown it, but we found
it in the road, almost covered with the
damp earth, which the heavy rain bad
beaten around it. just before reaching
the church, we met man who lived in
the neighborhood. He seemed greatly
Turninp To my com paniOrs
he said:
Have you seen anything of my poor,
demented daughter? She left home
severa. days ago, although we watched
her closely, and has not been heard of
since. I could never give my consent
for her to be taken to an asy um.''
A flash of intelligence instead of a
fash OF lightning. W appeared, and
Mr.. Gantling, turning to me remarked:
ANDREW. she is the ghost you saw in
the church last night. -
We proceeded to the church, and there
behind the pulpit. knelt the poor girl.