, 1888-11-29
A HAUNTED FAMILY.

| ocOikiuy anu ub CNcuiuk ClOoCu III OOtu
myself and my horse. tired and hungry,
began to look out for some place at which
we could obtain rest and refreshment for
the night. My objective point was Gala
| CHAN 3, a stage road station where | ex-
pected to meet my friend Whipple, with
whom had proposed to stop for q day or
two. | should have reached his place be-
fore sunset, but as 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
my tired horse.
A few moments brought us to su bstan-
tial log house standing y little back from
the road, in the midst of a clearing"
The bars we're down, in the careless fash.
ion of this thinly settled part of the coun.
try, so. riding directly up to the house, |
raped smartly upon the door with my
whip handle. 1t struck me as rather
strange that on a, warm September,
windows should be closed. and, as bright
pine knot blaze was visible through the
chinks, was still more surprised at re-
ceiving no answer to my summons. Rap.
ping again. | was conscious Of stir with
in; woman's voice broke out in half
suppressed exclamation, and two children
began to cry.
Surmising that these might be timid
psple left alone in the cabin l called out
cheerily. and at the same moment my
horse whinnied in a friendly manner.
Upon this the door was partially opened
by woman whose half eager. half fright
ened face was made visible by the light of
a pine torch which she he'd above her
head. briefly explained the situation,
and the woman at once opened the door
wide.
"Come right in!" said she almost ca.
eerly. you 'uns has follered the wrong
road an lef' Calaghan's g more'n five miles
back. Thar amt place roun' here whar
you kin git bed an supper less you be
nice bed in Jenny's room, seein' Jenny's
away to her gran 'thers; an for vittles
we kin give YOU fried chicken, an bac'n-
an'.eggs, If that'll kintent you. Here.
Joe, take the hOss an see he's tended to !"
But Joe, a boy Of some l2 or l3 years,
held back. He peered apprehensivsly out
into the darkness, and at length proposed
that should accompany him to the stable,
as he said, to see that the horse was prop
erly attended to. With this request |
complied, and on my return to the cabin
felt considerably enlivened by the welcome
odor of boiling coffee and other viands
which my hostess was preparing for my
supper. now observed that there was a
man lying on bed in corner Of the neat
and comfortable room-a pale, anxious
looking man, who, his wife told me, was
"down with a spell O. the shakes, mean
ing chills and fever, complaint not un-
common in this part of the country.
1T amt took a how'll on me for a many
his pillow, 'nor wouldn't this time ef
'twarn't for u considerable shake up and
duckin' got two nights ago Did you ms
come by the ford four mile below here
An did yer happen to view anything any.
way out o. the common?"
I had come by the ford. replied, but
had seen nothing ut all unusual; and then
noticed the husband and wife looked al
each other and then glanced nervously to-
ward the curtained windows,
TELL him bout it, Dick" the woman
said, as she turned the nicely Drowned
chicken in the frying pan. "Mebbe he'll
know more bout the nature of it thar
we'uns."
At this the me n abruptly commenced.
"Ye see, l was down to Woods mill
with ole Hick'ry an two bags o. corn To
be ground, and twas purity late when
come to start home. Their moon was jes
risin' outer the big pine tree atop o
. Breen's hill when we crossed the ford an
, come nigh ter the landin'. The wartel
, was purity deep thar an the bank high
an jes ez we was q wadin' through,
, happens to look mp, an .-pausinR an,
regarding me keenly-'you uns won
skeercely believe it, but see mist
4 shad,er of creeter-a mans shape, l
!. wn.-come skimmin' long In an out be
: hin the bushes. 'thout techin' o. tn
!. groun', an all of "A suddent melt out O
+. sight, like nothin' on airth could melt |
o but a-spook."
The woman rocked herself uneasily il
her chair and her husband put up hi
hand and wiped his damp brow.
Looks hyar. stranger" he resumed
"a impressively nara body kin say the
= Dick Carney's one to b'lieve in spooks an
;, spirits an sech like. but what seen the
night seen, nor carn't make 'totherway'
| seen that critter fly like bird in th
a air. 'thout techinR anything nor makir
> one bit O. noise. bur jes' clawin' his wa
- long like he was swimmiu'. An what
~ more, Ole Hick'ry seen it likeways, fur b
gin snort an backed inter the river a,
m afore could git q grip onter the bridl,
N over he went, an | had swim fur def
lite afore got on t'oiher side. Wal,
o. tramped up TO the ferry, nigh three mi
NJ above here, an three mile back this sid
an was all shook up with the chills whe
10 got home, bout daybreak. Ole Hick'l
al come home safe an sound y leetle late
but faint likely him nor me
forRit what We seen thet night"
10 hardly knew what 10 cay 70 this sing
er lar story. Ny own idea was that Mr.. Cs
~ ney bad probably taken q drop too mu,
y | Al ttkha vnillv--knk nok dar;ru ~ hs~t