Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-10
heard him. so intensely interested was 1 in
60, A0;p 10


feeble light OF the candle could see it plainly.
Indeed, alter due consideration have judging
BY my own experience. come TO the conclusion
that ghosts bear with them an inherent means
of illumination. However, this theory is out of
place here. | have embodied 1t in pamphlet.
which l purpose submitting to the Psychical
Society.
Anyway, that night saw the semblance of a
and lined by care. hopeless despair written on
every feature. Her arms were bare almost to
the shoulder joints. Her fingers were long.
attenuated, and shrlveled Her iron gray hair
was disheveled ard unkempt. 1t did not stream
down her back, but was twisted up in hasty
fashion, as though she had been suddenly called
from her toilet. The feeling at once stole over
me that even now the poor restless spirit was
enduring the tortures of the damned.
This belief of mine may have been enhanced
by the remarkable change OF temperature which
attended the appearance OF the phantom. Cold
as the air was when he entered the chapel;
thoroughly ventilated as was the building by
the holes in the roof. in less than five minutes
perspiration was starting from every pore in my
skin. | was fain to unbutton my coat. and
noticed that Sir Percival In a mechanical way
followed my example. 1t may have been but
my fancy. but now and again it seemed TO me
that red light flashed along the wall of the
chapel.
Moreover. sickly, cloying. but at the same
time not unfamiliar odor seemed to permeate
the strangely Heated atmosphere congratulated
mysel that the spirit had found was Tar removed
from the conventional type.
Now as to the mot important part-the actions
OF the ghost. | am right ia calling these most
important, as concensuS of evidence shows
that 1t Is only by its actions that disembOdied
spirit is abe to give information as TO the
reason FOR its appearance or the object of Its
errand. To avoid any risk or mistake. l de-
scribe these actions word for word as jotted
them down Immediately after the interview
with Sir Percval's family ghost came to an end.
FrSt-For at least twenty minutes the spec
trail woman in the attitude of one bent by bodily
or anguish of mind, worked her hands with
feverish rapidity one against the other. Men,
She stood at the side of the chapel with her face
turned to the wall.
Second-She stood erect and for while
seemed as if engaged in struggle. Her hands
grasped some unseen object. possibly in the
tiesh a human arm: she seemed to throw all her
strength into her grip. and by the peculiar rotary
motion of her hands seemed to be twisting the
limb until the agony of her victim must have
been past endurance.
Thrd-She proceeded slowly to the corner of
the building in which stood the decayed rack.
Here she paused and after some actions. the
meaning Of which were beyond my compre-
hensiOn. began slowly to move her hands as one
who turns Il windass.
AS watched this last action. could almost
persuade myself that could see the shadowy
and abnormally extended limbs of the poor
wretch upon whom such diaboIica fortunes had
been perpetrated.
Altogether this ghostly pantomlme must have
lasted for an hour and a half Then the specter
turned and with the same slow step came
towards us. Sir Percval Morton fell upon his
knees. His voice echoed through the lofty
building.
unfortunate spirit Of my unknown ancestors"
she cried theatricaly. but for all that, with
emotion. Every night pray for the repose of
thy guilty soul. Give me clue to the dark
mystery, Teach me how to lay thy vexed spirit
at rest"
The ghost gave him long look of supreme
hatred and. without further sign or token
vanished from our sight.
took the baronet back to the house, where
1or couple OF hours we sat up discussing the
case in all its bearings.
There ia no doubt" said Sir Perciva 'sthat
IN bygOne ages some fearful deed of darkness
took place in that chapel. Everything seems to
point to prolonged accession of fortunes.
But as to who was tortured. or by whom he or
she was tortured. or why the tortured was ap-
piled. | have not a grain of information. l
would give much to learn the truth
You have gone through all the old family
papers, SUPPOSE"
ject.''
felt that finding out why the ghost haunted
the chapel was only second in Importance to
seeing it. So made bold request.
Il am an idle man. Sir Perciva" | said.
would you mind my making researches In your
family records"
He reflected for minute; then he said. with
great pollteneSs. INV ancestress having deigned
to show herself to You. will give you access at
all times to the imminent room" | thanked
MIN. and resolved to stay at Wick Court until
had learnt why that poor tortured spirit haunt
ed the earth.
The interest took in the matter may be i'm
agined when say that for weeks and weeks |
dug and delved among the rusty old papers Of
parchments in the imminent room. | found
much that would have interested an ANTIQUARIAN
but nothing which bore upon the particular
psychical research In which | was engaged |
was much nettIed. had now been Sir Perez
vals guest for a long time. ana | felt myself
pledged to solve the mystery. Al last found a
clue.
One morning turned up a little brown-cov-
cred book. opened it carelessly. 1t was a
Kind OF diary kept by Sir Percivals father
Curiously enough. opened it at the date of
November 20. 1919. Here read this passage
That unfortunate woman, Sarah Jopand took
her own life this morning. If have been nard
upon her Heaven forgive me.''
here was discovery. woman upon whom
the late Sir Percival had been hard" DESTROYED
herself on November 90 1919, The first recorded
appearance of the specter in November 1920
My lands trembed so that let the book fall I
was now fairly on the track, but resolved to say
nothing to my host concerning my great dscov-
cry until had completely mastered the case.
First of all, was bound to find out in what
relation this Sarah Jopland stood towards the
late baronet. | could not help jumping to the
conclusion that there must have been an illicit
amour between the two. Such intrigues are
prollfc ghOst-prOduCers. But even II my sus-
piclon was correct, 1t would not account for the
torture unless it were permitted to Sarah Jop-
lands aggreved spirit to torment the spirit Of
her betrayer by the obsolete method of rack and
thumo-screws. No, until [ found out who
Sarah Jopland was. speculation was worse than
useless.
So asked Sir Percival with assumed indiffer-
ence If he remembered the name In connection
with his family.
1T does not strike me as being familiar in
tnat way. he said; but 1t is common name
In the village. You will find dozen JopIands
there"
Sir Percival left the court that day. He was
going to town for week. / told him laugh
ingly that | hoped before his return | should
have Cleared up the mystery.
u nope so. too. he said. gravely. This un-
happy ancestress of niue is great weight ON
my mind. long pedigree has it's dsadvan-
tages as well as its advantages
AS soon as his back was turned went down
to the village and found the eldest Jopland in
the place. He was also that troublesome crea-
ture. the oldest inhabitant. He was as well IN
IN his own humble family history as was Sir
Percival in that of the MortOns and the Rail-
lards. From old Jopland learned the fate OF
Sarah Jopland, and why she haunted the ruined
chapel OF the Morton family.
am sure cannot make known the result of
my Inquiries better than by reproducing the
letter which two days afterwards | was able to
write 10 Sir Percival. / can very well COW II.
as it lies before me now. Sir Percjyal bavip,,