Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-12-04

her brow.
Turning about he saw me, and knew had
heard his expression.
81 think will lie down." said Mrs. Shell
ly, and as she passed me / noticed her face
was as pale as the dead.
When she had gone up stairs, MIR. Shelly
turned to me and said:
II suppose that you perceive there 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 / am going to tell you
what it means. The only thing am afraid
of is that you may consider me mailman
or fool, but I swear to you what am
about to relate is as true as Holy Writ. |
am an honest man, sir, and a truthful one,
consequently I do not lie when [ say we
have an-apparation- short, a ghost here.
pray you do not hastily imagine that
am weak and superstitious man; you
shall be convinced, for you may see the
Judge for yourself. My Wife's health has
been falling ever since this thing came
about, and it breaks my heart to witness
her suffering. can't find ready purchas-
er for the place, and old Reuben is the only
person who will remain with me, but, you
see, he hides as much as possible indoors.
Look" he continued, pointing across the
road to a piece of woodland, "do you OBJ
serve yonder fallen tree?"
I gazed in the direction indicated, and
saw the trunk of fallen tree lying prone
on the ground. 1t was, in fact, huge log,
from which the bark had been peeled.
"Well," he continued, 'at irregular inter-
walls the apparition appears on that fallen
tree, arrayed, in the traditional white dra-
perry, and it walks up and down, swaying
l. nl1 fhn aI7fn e
towards the house. A half hour ago it was
visible, but it vanishes as quickly as it ap-
pears. am not under any powerful hallu-
cination. am rational, sane man, and
what T tell you is the earnest truth"
81 have witnessed some strange affairs,
myself" 1 rejoined, "but let me ask you
if you are positively sure that there is no
trick in the thing"
He gave hollow laugh. changing in
the house." he said, "is my repeating rifle.
Men will tell you that am the best shot in
the country, and that is saying good deal.
I can kill sparrow, and perhaps butter
fly. You observe that log is not more than
fifty yards distant, and yet l swear to you
l have repeatedly drawn a dead aim on
the thing, as it danced plainly in sight.
ing it's arms wildly in the air. pve shot
it is not human"
mo one would try the prank for some
motive or other?" questioned. "For in
stance, suppose they wished to buy the
place cheaply, perhaps this ghost story
might induce you to sell at a sacrifice"
'sDo you think" he returned quickly,
"that any one who knows Abel Shelly
would care to assume such desperate chan
ces before his rifle? Oh, no! There is no.
body who would take that risk. Besides,
should haye killed it long ago, if there was
anything to kill. It always comes in the
afternoon, continued Shelly, "but never at
night. You perceive it reverses the accept
ed time of nocturnal visitation"
81 do not consider myself more courage
Gus than men generally" I replied, "but |
would be glad if you would notify me If
this object appears again during my stay.
Perhaps may be able to investigate more
satisfactorily than you have done."
"Very WE'LL" he replied, 81 will do So"
I had sweet sleep that night, and no
ghost haunted my dreams, and it was only
when awakened that 1 recalled the con-
versation of the previous day. could not
doubt that Mr.. and Mrs. Shelly were both
thoroughly honest in their convictions, still
I could not bring myself to accept the thing
as supernatural. I dressed, and, as was my
Ii,
for by this time there was mutual attach
ment between us, and I would sooner have
trusted the beasts loyalty than 1 would
most mems. With Captain for an ally L
should feel comparatively safe, for he was
the perfection of bravery.
The day was pleasant, there was not a
cloud in the sky, and gentle wind DieW
with delicious GOODNESS. Dinner had been
very late, for Mrs. Shelly was not we'll. 1t
was drawing toward 5 o'clock, when took
my accustomed seat on the porch with my
pipe. Shelly joined me; his wife sitting in
side, by the window. My eyes were invol-
UNFAIRLY turned toward the fallen tree.
Shelly divined my thoughts, for he shook
his head gravely, smoked, and said nothing
Suddenly there came q half-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 see
nothing, and told him so.
"And you don't see it?' he cried.
"Watch how it waves its arms towards, us
and dances on the log"
I arose to my feet, and went to the edge
of the porch. Every foot of the tree trunk
was visible, but nowhere could discern
ghost. I absolutely could see nothing but
the old weather-beaten and decaying log.
"Heavens! exclaimed Shelly, "observe
how wildly it tosses its arm, and see how
its drapery trails"
took a steady look at the speaker, for
could not reconcile the matter, and | said:
81 will try and solve this thing"
Don't go there" implored Mrs. Shelly,
as stepped down on the ground.
/ made no reply, but walked straight to
Captains kennel and unclaimed him.
''Od boy" said, patting his head, you
and will try it together. Come along"
Thenoble fellow appeared to comprehend
me, for he looked up in my face, licked my
hand, and walked gravely by my side. He
didn't frisk or gambol, but behaved with
seriousness becoming the occasion. l went
straight down the road, mounted the fence,
and jumped over, Captain keeping little
in my advance. ! had excited the noble
creature, by talking to him, until the hair
stood stitfiy up on his neck, and his eyes
glared like Goals. TO my utter consterna-
tion, when he was dashing ahead bravely,
and about twenty feet from the tree, he
raZed in q dazed manner for an instant, and
utterng sharp cry, dropped his tail be-
tween his legs, and rushed back to the house
with all his speed. Hooked at his retreat
ing form with sort Of bewilderment, and
then at the tree. There was certainly moth
ing unusual visible to my eyes, at least. Inc
bare old tree trunk-that was all. | smiled
as mounted it, and took several turns up
and down its length, and then walked back
leisurely to the house. Captain was lying
by his masters chair, trembling in every
limb. The dog was surely terrified.
81 saw nothing" remarked.
"But we did," returned Mrs. Shelly.
"Every step you took the thing followed
you, waving its arms over your head. on,
Inr