The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-07-25
MARRIED THE GHOST.
written for the SUNDAY TArrIrR)

An hours ride on the New York, Sas-
quehanna and Western Railroad from the
great metropolis brings the traveller to the
beautiful New Jersey town of B. A
few years ago this town was but sparsely
populated village, boasting of one ever
present tavern, which was conducted in
combination with grocery, and another
store containing little of everything that
the tastes or necessities Of the inhabitants
demanded.
The proprietor of the last named store
also had the honor of being the village
postmaster-and, by virtue of his posi-
lion, the political authority of the village.
The village at this time was almost unin-
habited in its appearance, and when the
darkness had enveloped it. u stranger who
found himself there would imagine that
he was separated from the living VIC rid,
and his susceptible mind would be forced
to wander back to his childhood, and all
the weird, unnatural stories that had ever
been poured into his willing ears by gar
rulous and superstitious old women would
recHr 10 him as subjects for his gloomy
thoughts. The slight rustling of the
branches of the trees would startle him j;
the sudden screech of night-bird would
make him stand still and listen, and the
succeeding silence would appali him.
Some distance from the main road of
the village stood house almost entirely
screened from view by group of tall
trees, with which the village abounded.
The older inhabitants said it was built by
man whose eccentricities were material
for the gossips of the village for years
after his death. The house was built to
resemble castle, and its appearance was
in keeping with its wild surroundings.
For years after the death OF its owner it
remained untenanteG, and the inhabitants
were not slow in spreading stories of the
dark deeds that had been committed there
which, III fact, existed only In their
fanciful minds.
But one morning old Farmer Henson
stopped at the tayern-the lounging place
for idlers-and told those he met there
that the night previous, while passing
close to the old castle, he saw a light in
one Of the windows He was one of the
few sensible people In the village who
paid no attention to the many curious
stories told in connection with the old,
dreary castle, and any statement made by
him was accepted as the truth; and in
short time every man, woman and tod
ding Child in tile village had heard the
old farmers story. As consequence,
towards the approach Of darkness the vii
layers were assembled in the neighbor-
hood of the castle, and stationed at points
which would command an unobstructed
view of the window where the light was
expected 10 appear. What an impressive
scene it was! The full moon had come
out, and by the light which it shed around,
the upturned, anxious faces of the vii
layers could be plainly seen. Little chill
dren riveted their large, inquiring eyes
upon the awful window, while others hid
their heads through fear in their mothers
dresses. Large, strengthening men con-
vcrsed with each other in whispers, and
old women who had often been prompted
by their elastic imaginatlons to tell tales OF
the old castle, shook their all-wlse heads
aud murmured, 81 knew It'll knew it p
Farmer Henson told the truth. The
dreaded light appeared to the gaze Of the
terrified villagers, and occasionally the
fitting of a shadow to and fro was plainly
discernible. But when the window cur
talns were suddenly drawn aside, and the
figure of man was disclosed to the now
thoroughly frightened spectators, some of
the women involuntarily skrieked, and the
assemblage dispersed from The fatal spot
in confusion aud fearful anguish.
The morning after this occurrence the
villagers were laboring under great excite
menl, and they decided toiappoint a com
mittee of the more fearless among them to
examine the castle, and discover, if posi-,