Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-10
A GENUINE GHOST.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
AUTHOR OF CALLED BACK"

Hdu slngie-nanded. IN great measure antlci-
rated the object which led to its formation. So
far as one person, who grudges neither time
nor money to the enthralling pursuit can. had
hunted and stalked ghosts. goblins and appari-
tiOns with the tenacity of q sleuth hound; and
having run them to earth had weighed the evil
dence for the existence or non-exstence of each
with the impartiality of an English Judge.
Intensely fascinating as at first found the
pursuit, after while my chases began to pre-
sent the same monotonous features. Intelli-
gpnce would reach me that ghost had made
It's appearance in some town or village i'm Eng
land. No matter where the favored spot might
be- started for it at once full of hope that |
had ct last found the real thing. Cold blooded
investigation and cross-eXamination of wit
nessses invariably resolved the srecter into
thin air. and left me to retrace my fruitess
steps. and. in growing scepticsm, await the
next chance.
The same with deserted houses said to be
haunted from cellars to garrets Night after
night | had watched in various dwellings bear
ing this uneHviable distinction vet had suffered
from no visitors, save the rheumatic pains
which generally followed a night passed
in carpetless rooms. and amid the dreary dis
comfort OF an empty house. So it was that,
having tor some Years given the ghosts fair
trial. | was reluctantly compelled to come to
the conclusion that supernatural visitations
are tut fTIncnfs OF a superstitiOus brain. Judge
then. NV delight when, at last, | stumbled upon
what TO all appearances was genuine, well
authenticated family ghost. in a fine state of
preservation. My emotions can only be COM
pared 10 those of a china-maniac. who lights
upon an unknown piece of Henri Deur ware.
Forgetting my countless disappontments. /
threw myself eagerly and hopefully on the
trail, and for once my chase was not vain one.
The ghost in question was the property Of Sir
Percigal Morton. or, perhaps, should rather
say, it was an appurtenance to the estate in
which he had life interest. Sir Percival Nor
ton was barOnet who lived in the west Of Eng
land at a fine place called Wick Court. His
family. for baronet's. was Of great antiquity,
and there were sundry other qualifications
which promised well for my success.
Armed with letter of Introduction from a
mutual friend one late autumnal day I pre-
scented myself at Wick Court was somewhat
disappointed to find the house was a compare
lively modern erection-ir being a generally
understood thing that ghosts prefer the dis
comforts and incOnveniencies of old tumble
down mansions.
Sir PeTcival Morton was one of the most
proud and pompous men it has been nv lot to
meet. At first he absolutely declined to give
me any information on the subject of the family
Specter and when, after much entreaty and
some tlattery. ne consented to enlighten me-
was compelled to assure him that | was in no
way connected with newspaper
'Ha-hum" said Sir Perciyal "you see that
old families are obliged in these days to be
reticent concerning their ancestral apparitlons
AS a rule these are connected with dark tales
and tragedies which are not for the vulgar
ear"
1t was this very unwillingness to give inform
alton which assured ME that | was at last on the
track OF a real ghOst-that in this case | should
find no shallow. unstable imposter So agreed
with Sir Percvafs remarks; humored him to
the top of his bent. and by-and-by heard the
truth about his ghost.
1t was ghost with some marked paculiari-
ties. Like many other reputed spirits. it APP
pearPd once year. In its case the popularity
was that it timed itself by the day of the week
from Sir Percivars own observation it was to
be seen on the Monday night which was the
nearest to November the GOTH 1t confined its
operations to an outbuiding which in olden
times was used as chapel. This chapel. now
in ruins, was the only existing part OF old Wick
Court. The present house was built by Sir
Perciyars grandfather. In this dilaDidated
place of old-word worship the appartlon
showed itself once a year, and after perform
ing various mysterious ghostly antics. de-
parted, and left the place at peace for twelve
months
Sir Percival toldme all This at first. not sec
Ond hand. In some things in spite of his self
Importance. he was a man after my own heart
nsomuch that he had no vulgar fear of spiritual
visitors Indeed he gravely informed me that
out of respect TO the restless spirit of one of
his own kin he made point of spending the
night in the chapel whenever the apparitiOn was
due. l honored the man for his bravery and
family pride.
need not say how interesting this talk was
TO an ardent but hitherto unsuccessful ghost
stalker. | begged Sir Percival to honor me by
telling the history of the dark tragedy which
gave rise to the specter. He blushed slightly.
and Tor a moment hesitated
Il am sorry am unable to do So" he said;
lat present it is wrapped in mystery: / have
ransacked the family archives without success
am. indeed. beginning to suspect it is ghost
imported into the Morton family by marriage
AS dare say You know, we intermarried with
the Balards an extinct Roman Catholic family
much prosecuted In El.zabeth's time"
assumed knowledge Of the Morton pedigree
and then asked Sir Percival how long the ghost
had been in the family.
Its first recorded appearance was in 1920
the year of my BIRTH
Sir Perciyal had clearly thawed before the
respectful interest manifested i'm his ghost for
presently he asked me If would like to inspect
the ruined chapel. gladly accepted the offer
the roof was groired and the windows lancet
shaped Fragments OF white plaster still chung
to the walls and ceiling. in the latter of which
were holes opening to the sky. My heart beat
joyfully. 1t was the very place for a ghost!
Sir Perciyal drew my attention to several
large rusted iron hooks which were driven into
the walls at intervals; then he led me to one
corner OF the building and showed me what
looked like the remnants OF rotted wooden
framework of hoblong shape and which. when
entire. must have been about eight feet long
| asked for an explanation.
Il am inclined to believe. he said with
solemnity. that we are gazing on the remains
OF an instrument Of torture called rack You
viii notice" he confined picking up fragment
OF wood, this piece is rounded take it, it is
part OF one of the rollers or windlasses around
which the rope was passed"
NV curiosity was greatly excited. I turned
to Sir Percival.
'Oh, Sir Percivali" I exclaimed. 'smay ask
you great favor? Believe me- | approach
this matter not in vulgar Inconsistencies, but
in revereltial interest. VIII YOU permit me to
be present when the spirit makes its next ap-
pearance? / might even be able to give YOU
some assistance In fathoming the mystery which
has hitherto baffied YOU"
Il fear that you would but waste your time
my dear SIR" said Percival rather loftily. "As
rule. ancestral ghosts are invisible to stran-
gers eye"
Permit me TO make the attempt-it can do no
harm"
II will take the matter into consideration. "
said Sir Percival with gracious condescension
Shortly afterwards we parted
All through the latter part of October and the
early part OF November was on thorns of sus-
pense. That Sir Perciyals ghost was a bona
fie article | felt assured The question was
would its owner grant my request? yentured
10 write. and once more urge it, and nv iOy was
great when he at last wrote me and asked me
to come down TO Wick Court on Monday. No.
venber 81. Ny only fear was lest some absurd
family pride on the part of the ghost might in
duce 1t to remain invisible to my eyes.
SIT Percival received me cordially as was due
n a N nyit tod I.l.-