Wichita eagle., 1889-05-23
A HEADLESS GHOST.
An English Farmers Cruel Revenge
His False Lady Love.

An English Farmers Cruel Revenge on
His False Lady Love.
About thirty miles south Of London, in
one Of the prettiest parts of England, is a
village called Shalford. Adjoining it is
large common, or public pasture. There
are few houses fronting on it, prominent
among which there was, about twenty years
ago, q rather singular looking ediiice,
known to the village folk as the ''Black
House" The name was apparently i'll
chosen, for the bricks were white and the
tiles bright red. But there was good
reason for the name, as any local gossiper
was pleased to explain. The house had
been built by a farmer named Somers
for the reception of young lady of good
position who was shortly TO become his
bride. The wedding day had been fixed.
But few days before the one fixed for
the wedding day the bride disappeared, and
few hours after her departure a farm
hand in the employ Of Somers was also
sought for and found not.
Rumor coupled the two names, and the
disappointed bridegroom started of in hot
haste in pursuit. For several months the
house remained untenanted, but one night
lights were observed in the windows. The
next day there was much speculation as TO
whether Somers had returned or whether
he had rented. But there were no signs OF
life during the next nor the succeeding day.
and finally it was thought advisable to force
an entry. Accordingly the local black
smith and Somers' farm bailif broke open
the front door. The house was found ex-
actly as left by Somers when he started out
on his tour Of revenge, nor was there any
explanation to be detected of the lights seen
at night.
That evening the windows were again
bright and for several successive nights
the phenomenon was repeated. Finally
committee Of three was appointed 70 investi
gate The members of the committee were
the blacksmith, the parish clerk, and an old
skeptic who believed in no one but himself
After eating hearty supper at the village
Inn the trio set out on their task. The clerk
was very nervous, the blacksmith defiant
and the skeptic sarcastic The door was
forced open and the men proceeded to in
vestigate. They made a tour OF all the
rooms, but discovered nothing. The clerk
became treasured, the blacksmith sighed
for someone or something to fight, and the
skeptic threw In an IL told you there was
nothing" every two or three minutes.
But shortly before midnight the light Of
the lanterns Carried Dy tue intrepid lNVSs-
tigators was supplemented by a bright illu-
mination which seemed to have no natural
source. The clerk looked at the black
smith, and even the skeptic felt himself at
fault Suddenly the first named sprang
to his feet and rushed headlong out into tbe
passage, along it TO the front door, and
through 1t on to the open pasture. The
blacksmith and the skeptic. turned and
decided to follow his lead as best they
could. For, standing ia the far corner was
figure so weird that not even the skeptic
could control his fears. Il was the figure
Of young woman, absolutely headless, and
enveloped in a shroud Of SURPRISING hrill-
fancy From this unnatural clothing the
mysterious light seemed to emerge. The
two men got away safely and corroborated
the parish clerks description Of the scene
The story was not generally credited, but
again and again was the house rented, only
10 be vacated by each succeeding tenant
after one days occupation Neither
Soners nor his false lady love ever reap
peared at Stafford, and when your CORE
spondent last saw il the black house ,sas
still unoccupied and was gradually falling
into ruins.