The Opelousas courier., 1889-07-20
rHE HAUNTED MANSION.
INV / am as Skeptical Concern,
ing Ghosts as Ever.

Il he fall of 1852 (says an ~acquaint-
80 n whom we are indebted for the
aresaut singular storyl I was spending
I'D weeks in the City of New Orleans.
aae evening, while in company with
-orne friends-ladies and gentlemen
~ conversation turned upon ghosts,
sohgoblins, evil spirits, haunted
ho,,ses. and the like; and being a great
.kentic in all such matters, | freely ex-
crossed myself to that effect, saying
that I believed all ghosts to be mere
tsneies of timid Missionaries, and the
,acturnal disturbers of haunted houses
toexist only in the fevered magma
tions Of ignorant, eredulous FOOLS
There were none present who had
.etuaIIy seen a ghost themselves,
though a number of them had seen a
number of persons who had; and as
tnr haunted houses, no n was pre-
pared to speak from actual experience,
though a few of such reputed places
we're known to the excited believers.
..WeIl,n said !, rather boastfully,
III there is such a thing'a as a haunted
house in the universe-haunted by
snirit-devils and not man-devils-I
should like nothing better than to pass
anight in one"
.Would you dare to do it2n inquired
avery pretty young lady, fixing her
large, black eyes upon me, with an ex-
preston that / thought implied some
doubt Of my courage.
TRY me and see!n I replied, with a
iigniied bow.
Good faith, then, we wil1!" reioined
an excited gentleman, as he seized me
by the button. "sThere is a splendid
mansion, some two or three miles
above the city. which is fast going to
decay, in the midst of a beautiful
orange grove, because no one cares to
live in it! Comei to put your boast
ing to the test, I will wager you a
champagne supper that you daressot
pass the night there, alone, from sun
to sum-
III take the bett' returned I, prompt
E-for the least hesitation then would
have brought upon me a storm OF
ridicule. 'Now, what night shall we
name for the venture, and how shall
IObtain entrance into the buildingT
Il will let you choose your own
night ; answered the other; land as
the doors of the mansion are always
unlocked. and frequently standing
open, you can enter any time, without
let or hindranee."
IF not too soon for your purpose, ]
viii name tomorrow night for the
great trial OF my nerves by super
natural agency. But / give fair warn
ing to ali whom it may concern"
added, slightly COMPRISING my lips,
and speaking in that tone of stern de-
termination which always shows the
Individual to be in serious earnest,
that / shall go well armed, and be
likely to try the effect of a few leaden
balls upon whatever object, either OF
this world or the other, shall venture
70 disturb my peaceful tranquility"
ard IL you do shoot a ghost,
laughed one Of the most skeptical o.
Che ladies, ''pray bring it off, and have
II stuffed for future exhibition"
by my faith, I believe such things
are all sta6s!n I rejoined, in a merry
mood.
Well, matters being all settled fol
the subsequent trying of my nerves
and the shaking. of my skepticism, ]
took leave of the company at q sea-
soaable hour, repaired to my hotel,
and slept soundly till morning.
The next day I provided myself with
Two brace of pistols, a couple o
sheath-knives, a bottle of brandy ant
. basket OF provisions; and in the aft
ernoOn, accompanied by the gentle
man with whom | had laid the wager
and two others, / rode out to the haunt
ca mansion to make a reconnaissance
~ force. When it was first pointed
out TO me. looming up grandly beautl
iul from amid q delightful orang'
grove, believed my companions Wer'
TESTING, not thinking it possible that's 9
lovely d place had been abandoned 10
what appeared to me 10 trifing a Gauss
" snperstitious spirit-deviltries. Hid
ang past II some little distance, we lei
we carriage, entered the grounds o
loot and approached the building
through an avenue OF trees. Their
was en- air of desertion and desolatIol
soout the premises that / confess sen
chill through me at the very nrs'
Gould there possibly be any truth i
she strange report concerning its un
natural tenantsP Pshaw! what non
sense! The structure itself was large
reorny and grand, with marble steps
auted columns, tesselated floors an
ssone stairs. The doors we're open
aad the whole house empty, dusty an
o~ecaying-a fit abode for painful an
kaooEny contemplation.
We explored every portion aDov
ground but did not descend into IN
CELLARS the doors of which were locked
aiaet that struck me as soneWha
angular. When my friends got cad
~ depart + told them they might leav
sne here-that, Heaven and the Otht
f4acs permitting, / should spend tn