The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-18
THE RATIONALE OF HAUNTED
HOUSES.

That very old house should gain the
reputation of being haunted is not sur
prising, especially if it has been neg
lected and allowed to fall out Of repair.
The woodwork shrinks, the plaster
crumbles away; and through minute
Sits and chasms in window frames and
decreases there comes weird and un-
canny noises. The wind signs and
whispers through unseen assures sug-
costing 10 the superstitious the wall
ings of disembodied spirits. A whole
household was thrown into consterna-
ton, and had its repose disturbed one
stormy winter, by series Of lamenta-
BILE bowls and shrieks that rang through
the rooms. The sounds were harrow
ing, and as they rose fitfully and at
intervals, breaking the silence of the
night, the stoutest nerves among the
listeners were shaken. For long time
the visitation continued to harrass the
family, recurring by day as well IS by
night, and especially in rough weather
when there was . storm, piercing yells
and shrieks would come, sudden and
startling, changing anon into low,
melancholy walls. 1t was unaccounta-
bic. At length the mystery was solved.
Complaints had been made of draughts
through the house, and as q remedy
strips of gutta-percha had at some
former time been nailed along the
window-frames, while its owners were
at the sea side. This, for some
reason explainable upon acoustic
principles had caused the disturbance.
Even after the gutta-perchs had been
torn away sudden blast Of wind,
striking near some spot to which afrag-
ment still adhered, would bring a
shrek or moan to remind the family of
the annoyance they had so long en-
dured.
Meantime the house got bad repu-
tatiOn, and servants were sly of engag-
ing with its owners. A maid more
strong-minded than the others, and who
had hitherto laughed at their fears,
came fleeing to her mistress on one oc-
casion, saying that she must leave in
stantly, and that nothing would induce
her to pass another night under the
roof. There was long corridor at the
top of the house, and the girls story
was, that in passing along it, she heard
footsteps behind her. Stopping and
looking back she saw no one; but
rs soon as she went on the in
visible pursuer did so, too, fol-
lowing close behind. Two or three
times she stood still suddenly, hoping
the footsteps would pass on and give
her the go-by; instead of which they
pulled up when she did, and when ut
last wild with terror, she took to her
heels and ran, they came gathering
along after her to the end of the pas
sage.
The mistress suspected that some one
was trying to brighten the girl, and she
urged her to come up stairs and en-
deavor to find out the trick. This the
terrified damsel refused to do, 30 the
lady went of alone. On reaching the
corridor and proceeding along It, she
was startled to find that, as the maid
had described, some one seemed to be
following her-tap, tap, clack, clack,
as OF one walking slip-shod with shoes
down at the heel-came the steps, keep
ing pace with her own. stopping when
she stopped, and moving on when she
did. In vain the lady peered around
and beside her; nothing was to be seen.
1t could be no trick for there was no
body in that part of the house to play o
practical joke.
Ere long the cause was discovered in
the shape of loose board in the floor.
ing of the corridor. The plank spring
ing when pressed by the foot in walk
ing along gave an echoing sound that
had precisely the effect of . step follow
ing; and this, in the supposed haunted
house, was sufficient to raise alarm.
1t happened to us once to be tenn
porary dweller in mansion that had a
ghostly reputation. We were on our
way to Paris travelling with an invalid,
and the latter suddenly becoming too
Ill to proceed on the journey, we were
forced to stop in the first town we came
to. The hotel being found too noisy, a
house in quiet street was engaged by
the week. 1t was q grand old mansion
that had once belonged to q mag
nate Of the land, fallen now
from its high espate, and but
ilnndifierently kept up. Wide
stone stair-cases, with balusters
of carved oak led to rooms lofty and
spacious, whose walls and ceilings were
decorated with gilded enrichments and
paintings in the style Of Louis XIV. At
the side of the house was . covered
way leading to the stables and Offices.
This was entered through q tall porte
cochere; and at either side of the great
gates, fixed to the iron ratings, were .
couple Of those huge metal extinguish-
ers-still sometimes to be seen in quaint
old houses-uss d in former times to put
ont the torches or links carried ut night
BY running foomen beside the carriages
OF the great. The stables and Offices of
the place were now falling into decay,
and the porte cochere generally stood
open until nightfall, when tho gates
were locked.
We had been 10 the honas for somS
little tlms before We heard the stories