The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-12
A CENTENNIAL GHOST
which Has Come to us From the
Eighteenth Century.
An Old Timer in Cincinnati. Which
Walks Again in Our Gem
tennial Year.

-
srszzling rain, accompanied by a raw
wind, that pierced the marrow In one's
bones. Rumors of a murder up the
Licking, caused friend and myself tc
take long tramp through mud and
water to ascertain the truthtulness Of the
story. 1t proved to be q hoax.
1t was after II p. IN. when we sprana
from the Newport ferry and FASTENED up
shs long hill On the Cincinnati side. My
friend left me at the corner of Third and
lawrence streets, We hads each other g
Aassy good night" and separated
felt Ill and out of sorts, cold, tired and
hungry and drenched to the skin. But
s0Ring my evercoat closer sbout nv
sArost thrust my bare hands into the
aeep pockets aud pl0dded on AS ab-
~1ptly turned the corner of Lawrence
sns Fourth streets, ran against the tall,
Eaunt figure Of q man. He was clad In
black and wore . 'slouch" hat, pulled
lew over his eyes, and the high collar of
kis coat coming up over his ears almost
entirely concealed his features
stepped quickly to one side, and
wsuld have passed him, but he sudden
~ placed long, white, bony, gloveless
han d upon my shoulder. Something in
ths touch made me doubly shivsr, while
whispsrI young man, earry q bit"
For my life could not raise my hand
and push that osheI hand away; and in
spite OF myself stood stin and waited.
Two minutes perhaps went by; II
seemed like twenty, when l managed
10 say through nv chatterinR teeth:
"Wall, what do you wsnt1"
The only answer was chuckle long
and and deep; then the bony hand slid
from my shoulder, and linking his arm
m atro al
asstrian started on. Reaching Sycamore
street he leossned his hold slightly and
Epoksi
''Ah, my old stsm ping ground, and
after all these years" Then he heaved
sigh. He was becoming e fearful bore
and was just on the point of despera'
Hon when suddenly be turned and went
into q restaurant, and, dropping nv
arm, said: "Come. let US have supper"
and pointed to ne of the tables. gladly
accepted this Invitation.
Taking or my hat | expected nv Wis |
Wis to do the same, but instead. be |
arew bis slouch hat still lower, and then |
l noticed that hs sat with his back to- |
ERrd tbs light.
Ny queer friend called for brandy
cocktails and oysters for two. ] was |
fevenously hungry and very weary, and |
ths meal was least TO me After the
luncheon came the choicest of cigars
Really the man was no "ohumP," after
We smoked In silence for a little
while, the warm room, generous lunch
con, and fine cigar all having their sooth-
tns sasot upon my weary body.
caught myself noddiug, when the
stranger spoke, srousing me with
stsrt He had removed the cigar from
sis mouth, and knocking the ashes from
iss tip. said, in that same hollow whis-
per:
"Is Ia just 100 year. age since was
korO.''
aat bolt upright and stared. "one
sundred yesrsP exclaimed in very
evident surprise.
Yes" he answered hoarsely.
hat do you meant" asked.
"Just what say" he replied, nodding
ais head conclusively. 'Shsll tell you
the story ?" he asked
l took out my watch. Half past
sweive: at Is time to be in bed" said. !
6e chuckled again.
"It win net take long" He leaned
svss ths table and vhispsred. ''and yos /
We'll II must must" I answered
~ hs handed nae another ''Havsna."
Listen, ths stranger said, and hts {
ve'oe sornshow reminded me OF the wind Q
p Aen Il walls through branches Of pine
lFees. q
! was listening with sil the ears / had.
~Jnst one hundred years ago, whsH 2
bsE bins were the rule sud brick man
Ezeus unheard of when the sky could
- seen and nswsboys did not hold high b
n On were non est when street ears and p
railroads we're sOmethins to dream of in
Ase taturs, and 'msshes were those eRly |
% Legitimate potatoes, q ghost walked
~ bat nensense." speculated.
SYoung Dan, beware," said the
granger, snd again his breath seemed to
Heat over me and chill me- and as I shiy-
szed and seemed to shrink into nyssli
- continued,
"a tall, gaunt ghost with eyes Ike
salls OF are, and clGmmy, salon-like
azgers, with skeleton form robed in
5@rm ents OF snowy Wilderness, with
'shdsls upon its deshless feet, whose N
bones ratified aad ahafed In the wind as
A walked"
"Ugh," grunted. and began bus.ep-
ag up my ovsrcoat, for / W as cold,
sycamore street was the nlaca frs. r
ARosen for its pranks and rambles Up
'Sd down, up and down, from the
auady ohio's brink to where Ninth |
arest now is, 1t walked. Many an aged I
ifsndsire, If he dared, would testify to
ae truth of my story, whose father be-
ore him knew the tale. No one couId
all Whenos the ghost came or whittier IL
snt, and woe be unto the lone pedes-
Fian wac CHANGED upon Sycamore street
a the wee sma" hours. 1t was 6rst
con enc night during a terrible storm.
seu ben Brow n, man of ysars, had a,
sken refuge under a Wayside tree, and
Tas waiting for the rain to slacken.
? nen tho heavens were lit with lurid
lar and terrific crash OF thunder fol-
swsd The wind arose and walled
arough the branches of the trees abovs
Id Reuhen's head. Then came the "a
ound OF harsh discordsn, laugh that -
rated upon his nerves and made his ~ =,
,rinkled hesh creep. There was tiap- -, ~
ang oi wings, swishing of garments a
crriDie rattle of dry bones, and then, a @r
III, white, misty something Ieomed 10 g.,
efers the lone old man. VI VI
How do you k-n-o-w ?" I managed ta W
nestion. IA
Ny stsry-teller gave another blood. ""
arc ling laugh, and answersdi "Wait aS
nd sse." 90
Ine shadow, ghost, spirit, or what tb
on VIII, cold, clammy, and death-Iike. %
loved nearer the cid gentleman, and caI