Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-28
GUOSrs ATITAGAIN.
A STORY frO'n the NcighborI:ood of
Georeta's Lookout Mountain

4 Chattanooga telegram says: Just
over the Georgia line, on Lookout noun
tain, are the ruins of an old stone house,
the traces Of fence, and three unkept
/ graves. The story connected with these
signs Of death IS well known here, but
few people away from this city know it,
/ because the incidents are 80 familiar
/ here that few ever speak OF them.
Some years before the war n man
named Marsh came to this section. he
was On utter stranger. but his gentle
manly address and urbane ways soon
made him a general favorite. lie con-
! tractcd for and had built the Old stone
house.
1t was then the finest country residence
in this portion of the South, and great
Was the surprise that Marsh selected so
remote and retired a spot. After its
completion Marsh brought his family. Il
wife and two children, a boy and girl, to
the new house and began life that soon
made them the most popular people in all
the country. Many entertainments were
| given. to which rich and poor alike were
welcome. Poverty and distress were
sought ont and relieved, and the whole
mountain country was in love with the
Marsh lamily. The children were
sent away to school, returning accom-
plished and lovable, as of old.
The girl was her mother over again
except that she had her fathers dark
eyes The son was perfect specimen
OF manhood. The girl had many suitors
and everything was peace and happiness.
One day the son, returning from the
nearest post, brought letter which his
father read with groans, then handed to
his wife, who, after reading, tainted and
died ere the day faded. The children
were not informed OF the contents of the
letter, but as soon as the mother had
been buried hurried preparations for de-
parture were made. Ere they were COM
pleted, but while son and daughter were
absent among the neighbors, two men,
detectives, arrived at the house, and
placed Marsh under arrest. II was too
late to depart that evening, and when the
son and daughter returned, accompanied
by several young men, they we're told by
the grooming father that ne was under
arrest for einbezzling large sum from
an eastern bank years before. The
daughter begged for her fathers release
in vain. A fight followed, precipitated
by the young men, in which one Of the
detectives was killed and Marsh fatally
wounded. The other detective escaped
from the house, but was caught that
night and slain by pursuing mob Of
Marshs friends. Marsh died next day,
and the daughter followed soon, the VIC
tim of brain-fever.
The son, broken-hearted, remained
about the place few months, until the
first call for Georgia volunteers to mp
hold the rebellion came. when no went
to the war and has never been heard
from since.
1t was learned that the letter which
caused the mothers death was one Of
warming.
1t is a popular superstition on the
mountain that on peaceful evenings
group of four can be seen at the old
ruins--a lovely girl, handsome youth
in uniform of gray, the stately mother,
and proud father. Faint songs are
heard, succeeded by groans, cries, and
a pitiiul moaning. The mountaineers
say they are tho ghosts of the Marsh
family come back to live again their
happy life only to have it rudely cut
short,