The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-05
"A HAUNTED FAMILY.


began to look out for some place at which
we could obtain rest ard refreshment for
tho night. My objective point was Gala
phans. stage road station where | ex-
pected to meet my friend Whipple, with
whom had promised to stop for q day or
two. ] should have reached his place be-
fore sunset but rs twilight descended |
became conscious that must have taken
wrong branch road, and so missed my
way. In this dilemma | was glad to per-
ceive at some distance before me faint
and uncertain light, toward which urged
ny tired horse.
A few moments brought us TO q sub
stantial log house standing little back
from the road, in the midst of n clear
ing" The bars were down, in the care
less fashion Of this thinly settled part Of
the country, so, riding directly up to the
house, | raped smartly upon the door
with nv whip handle 1t struck me as
rather strange that on a warm September
evening such as this both doors and win
dows should be closed, and, as a bright
pine knot blaze was visible through tho
chinks, was still more surprised at re-
ceiving no answer TO my summons. Rap
ping again, Twas conscious Of a stir with
in; woman's voice broke out in half
suppressed exclamation, and two children
began TO cry.
Surmising that these might be timid
people left alone in the cabin called out
cheerily, and at the same moment my
horse whinnied in a friendly manner
Upon this the door was partially opened
by a woman whose half eager, half fright
ened face was made visible by the light of
pine torch which she held above her
head. | briefly explained the situation,
and the woman at once opened the door
wide.
Come right inn she said almost eagerly.
''Youuns hes follered the wrong road an
lef' Calaghans morn five miles back.
Thar amt place roun' here whar you
kin git bed an supper less you be kin
tent TO stay here tonight Thars nice
bed in Jenny's room, seem Jenny's away
to her gran fther's; an for vittles wo kin
give you fried chicken, an BAG nan eggs,
If thatll kintent you. Here, Joe, take
the boss an see he's tended to"
But Joe, boy Of some L. or l3 years,
held back. He peered apprehensively out
into the darkness, and at length proposed
that should accompany him to the sta
bic, as he said, TO see that the horse was
properly attended 10. With this request
] complied and on my return to the cabin
felt considerably enlivsnod by tle vel
come odor Of boiling coffee and other
viands which my hostess was preparing
for my supper Inow observed that there
was a man lying on bed IN q corner Of
the neat and comfortable room--a pale.
anxious looking man, who, biz wife
told me, was down with a spell o the
the shakes, meaning chills and fever, a
complaint not uncommon in this part OF
the country.
1T amt took a how'll On M for q many
years back, he said, raising himself on his
pillow. "nor wouldn't this time Of twarn' {
for consider bic shake up and dUckin'
got two nights ago. Did you'ns come 10y
the ford four mile below here? An did
yer happen to view anything anyway out
O. the common
HAD come by the ford, replied. but
had seen nothing at all unusual; and then
noticed that the husband and wife looked
at each other and then glanced nervously
toward the curtained windows.
said, as she turned the nicely Drowned
chicken in the frying pan "Mebbe he'll
know more bout the nature Of it than
we'uns.'
At this the man abruptly commenced.
EYE see | was down to Woods mil
with ole Hick'ry an two bags O corn to r.
ground an twas purity late when come
to start home. Their moon as jes' risin
outer the big pine tree atop o Green's
hill when we crossed the ford ana come
nigh ter the landin'. The warter was
pretty deep thar an the bank high, and
les ez we was a. wadin' through happens
TO look up, an "-pausing and regardin g
me keenly-'you 'uns won't skeercely be-
licve 1t, but sec a misty shadder of
creeter--a mans shape il was-come
skimmin' long in an out behind the
bushes 'thout techin o the groun, an all
of student melt ont o sight, like
nothin' on airth could melt but a--spook.
The woman rocked herself uneasily in
her chair and her husband put up has
hand and wiped his damp brow.
Look -a-hyar, stranger" he resumed,
impressively, nara body KIN say tibet
Dick Carneys one to b'ieve in spooks an
6pclllS an. hClNn lliNs out NIoU 80
thet night seen nor csrn't make It other.
ways. / seen thet critter fly like bird
ia the mir 'thout fetching anything, nor
maxim one bit o noise, but jes clawin' his
way long like he was swimmin'. An
what's more, Ole Hiek'ry seen it likeways,
fur he gin snort an backed inter the
river, an afore | could git a grip onter
the bride over he went, an bad swim
fur dear life afore | got on t'other side.
Wal, tramped up to the ferry nigh three
mile above here, drippjn' wet, an three
mile back this side, an was all shook up
with the chills when Igot home bout day.
break. Ole liick'ry come home safe on
SCUM q leetle later, but faint likely him
Dor nell forgit what we seen tibet night.
hardly knew what 10 say 10 this singh
lar story. iny own idea was that Mr..
Carney had probably taken drop too
much at 'the mill'--but not daring to
hint at this contented myself with sug.
gesting an optical illusion, and explaining
ltbe pature Of some ordinary nearly similar
S.rr~-------- $3.50. l---------....-s r. '.-'.