The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-06-07
A GHOST
An English Farmers Cruel Revenge
on His False Lady Love.

About thirty miles south of London,
in II of the prettiest parts of England.
is a village called Stafford. Adjoining
1t is d large common, or public pasture.
There are a few houses fronting on il,
prominent among which there was, about
twenty years ago. u rather singular look
ing cdiice, known to the village folk as
the Black House" The name was an.
parently i'll chosen, for the bricks were
white and the tiles a bright red. But
shere was a good reason for the name, as
any local gossiper was pleased to ex-
plain. The house had been built by a
farmer named Somers for the reception
of a young lady of good position who
was shortly to become his bride. The
wedding day had been fixed. But a few
days before the one fixed for the wedding
day the bride disappeared, and q 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 off 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 re-
turned or rented. But there were no
signs OF life during the next nor the
succeeding day, and finally ii was
thought advisable TO force an entry.
Accordingly the local blacksmith and
Somers' farm bailiff broke open the front
door. The houge was found exactly "a
left by Son.ers when he started u on his
tour of revenge, o veg there any e.
PLANTATION To lie detected of The lights
seen at night.
That evening the windows were again
bright, and for several successive nights
the phenomenon was repeated. Finally
a committee OF three was appointed toin.
Testlgatc. The members of the com
mi'tee were the blacksmith, the parish
clerk, and an old sseptic who believed in
no one but himself. After eating a
hearty supper at the village inn the trio
set out Of their task. The clerk was very
nervous, the blacksmith defiant and the
skcptic sarcastic. The door was forced
open and thC men proceeded TO investi.
gate. They made a tour of all the rooms,
bu, discovered nothing. The clerk be.
came treasured. the blacksmith sighed
for aomconc or something TO fight, and
the skeptic threw in an II told you there
N"' hptbibS NNtiy tSpDi tiItC IlllulSS.
But shortly before midnight the ligh.
of tue lanterns carried by the intreI d
Investigators was supplemented by q
bright illumination which seemed to have
no natural source. The clerk looked al
the blacksmith, and even the skeptic fell
himself at fault. Suddenly the frs,
named sprang 10 his feet and rushed
headlong out into the passage, along it tt
the open pasture. The blacksmith anC
the skeptic turned and decided TO follow
his lead as best they could. For, stand
ing in the far corner was a figure so weirC
that not even the skeptic could contrc
his fears. Ii was the figure nf l. young
woman, absolutely headless, and cnv
opea in 4 shroud of surprising brile
fancy. From this unnatural clothing tht
mysterious light seemed to emerge. Tn,
two men got away safely and corrobo
rated the parish clerks description o
the sccne. The story was not generally
credited, but again and again was tn,
house rented, only 10 he vacated by eacl
succeeding tenant after one days occu
patton, Neither Soners nor his falls,
lady love ever %Ieappeared at Stafford
and when your correspondent last saw i
the black house was still uHoccupied ant
was gradually falling into ruins.