The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-09-07
STORY OF A WILL.


ghostsl Whyi Do you think I am
Spiritualist? Nonsenser'
$50 you don't believe IN ghosts and
spooksi You have never had any remark
able experience?''
Hold on theroi Now that you seem
determined that / shall commit myself,
and probably having heard that have q
ghost story to tell, | viii satisfy you; but
let me remark before commencing that
the story am about to tell Is God truth.
aud ss such must be received. Scoff at
it but once. and shall stop - the middle
Of my story.
Yes, do believe in ghosts, or, at least,
in some strange natural phenomena that
the world has called ghostly for the last
eighteen hundred years CT more. Now,
listen:
Ttwas in the latter part OF 1876 that
undertook case for u young woman. 1t
was for divorce.
"She was the daughter Of my aged
client, DR.. Baxter, a man who could have
raised $500 co in hard cash inside of
twenty four hours.
The case was somewhat remarkable
Annie Baxter had married astockbroker,
named Thomas Thorne, against her
fathers wishes.
Her husband, she soon discovered, had
married her chiefly for what he could get
ont Of her father, who, he hoped, would
soon get over his displeasUre and forgive
his daughters disobedience; but the old
doctorwas stubborn and did not relent.
He refused TO see Annie and forbade The
mention OF her name By any Of lis house
hold.
"Thorne, on finding that he could not
get hold Of any Of the doctors money,
soon tired OF Annie; and Annie. who had
been = spoiled and petted child, brought
mp in the lap of luxury, became miserable
and in want. But she stood her sorrows
with heroism, and not a complaint escaped
her till Thorne began to drink and gam
BILE. at times not returning for weeks to
his home, and then under the influence Of
liquor.
'She was obliged to earn her own living,
and when her child was born she had to
go to one OF our large free hospitals for
care and attention, u is doubtful if her
father would have lot hergo had he known
her condition, for he still loved his
daughter; but she did not let him know,
and one day while making his rounds in
the maternity ward Of the b. Hospital to
which he WAS physician, his attention
was called to a woman who had tainted,
He went to her bedside, 1t WAS Annie,
his daughter, who, not expecting TO see
him, had been greatly shocked. She did
not know Of his connection with the hos
pital.
The doctors kind heart was softened
at ONCE. Hewss greatlymoved. He had
her carried in al ambulance TO her old
bone uHcer his root IL had forgiven
her.
Just about this tin.e T'horre was
arrested IN bad houce, where he was
raising row. and sent to prison for six
weeks. Annie then placed her petition
for divorce in my hsnds, and my connec-
ticu with the case commenced.
The divorce TasObt4iued with ease. as
Thorue mnde no answer 10 the complaiut
and the casr was perfectly clear "a our
favor
Now begins tho ghoa;!y part Dr.
Baxter owned ANAL yscht, IN which he
was accustomed 10 make short excIr-
SONS about New York Bay and Long
Island Sound. On tine last excursion of
any kind he ever made the yacht capsized
in q squall and the doctor wss drowned,
everyone else being rescued alive.
After the funeral the doctors viii was
looked FOR. 1t was known that he had
mado viii at the time Of Anuie's mar
riage, leaving ali his properly to his sis
ter on the condition that Annie could
have $500 year from the estate during
her life.
After ta.her and daughter haca-ne
rc>oucilcd he told me he intended 20 make
n new Will aad leave his property chiefly
to her. but tine only viii that could 10
found af;e: his death was thc CORNER. and
his sister. Mrs. J., refused to waive her
rights under the VIII IN the least BY
my advice Annie asked her to mako her
a proper compromise, but she refused 10
do anything more than stand Syths will
Almost a year passed away, when one
1 1
me 10 cali on her at the Gi.Scy House,
where ste was staying =Aw days, on
bus::'ess az the utmost Importance. On
going there she tod me strange story,
strange that L feared she had lost her
mental balance. hut ! saw she was per-
fectly earnest about &.
"a few icbts ago said she, while I
] was sitting with my little boy by the
fire in my room, at about 10 o'clock in the
evening, there being 40 other light than
that Of the fire in the room. ] heard a
strange noise. Then the door opened
and closed. l looked around. much sur
pr.sed at receiving such n late visitor,
especially as he came without knocking.
But my first surprise was lost in he ter
ro- and dismay that camc over me as
saw enter and approach ny chair-who
do you think? My father or his ghost!
las ! knew he had been dead over n
year, you may imagine my feelings He
came direct towards me. casting his
ulster overcoat off on n chair az he used
to do when he came home late.
Annie, " said lie, putting his hand
onmy head and stroking my hair. Il have
come to see You righted. You are suffer
ing from n most unnatural fraud and
crime. Your aunt stole my last will As
l had promised you, i made you my heir
and my only heir-and the will was drawn
by my own hand, and executed three
months before died.
Your aunt, in whoIn ] firmly be
lieved, was one of the witnesses. DR. r.
who Went to China before my death. and
is there still, was another. am deter
mined 10 see You have your rights, though
am no longer in the flesh, and be assured
that L can see you through.
The lost Will is in your aunt's
bureau drawer in her bedroom, on the
second floor of our old house. The ebony
bureau. Hou viii find the viii under the
paper on the bottem of the drawer. And
this is the way for you to obtain If.
Go to your lawyer and tell him
wll1t have told you. Ask him to 90
with You To call on yonr aunt. As usual
she Will receive you kindly. She Will be
in the library. Go ~ about dusk on We'd
ncsday evening, the 10th, and while she
Is talking to you win appear and carry
out the rest of the plan"
'IneH the doctor put OF mis- coat again
and kissed my baby aud myself in the
most afectionate manner-uuite as
though he were alive-and started to 60
but before he had reached the door his
form melted into air and shadow. He
had disappeared
''On hearing this strange ghost story 7
sat still for lew moments ana reflected:
then l resolved TO seeit through.
Accordingly, ON Wednesday, at the
time indicated | found myself sitting
with Annie Thorne in her aunt's library
Hergu,st was very kind and genial, but
did not offer to have rhe Gas lighted