The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-11-08

"fhen, marin, the trouble-lhe
harnting, | mean.-began. The
folks that rented he house would
hear steps stealing down the hall,
and in the empty rooms, and some
times a child cryin', Things would
be thrown down in the pantry, and
milk all drank up or spilled.
"Bnt that wasn't The worst. .---
Sometimes OF a moonlight night
they'd see the figure OF child
bendin' over the bed in the south
corner, them pore children used to
call theirn. The ghosts bed, we
call It, fur, marm, lis taken care
of by somethin', or somebody, as
you kin see for yourself Ell you'll
90 thar. Its my opinion no hui.
man hands touch it. Thar il is
clean, and all The rest of The place
grown up IN weeds and grass"
ooh, mamma, lis dreadful y |
whispered, shaking with terror,
It's true, for | saw the bed my
self"
II thought you TOO old, Made
line, to believe such ridiculous stn-
ries," my mother said grayely.-
at is hot pleasant TO think such
crimes were committed in this love
ly spot, but you may be sure that
disembodied spirits have some no.
bier occupation than wedding a
garden bed. 1t is the work of hui
man hands. Perhaps Of some one
who is playing upon The credulily
of these simple folks"
or course this was sensible, but
| was silly young girl with IA viv-
i'll Imagination, and not at all con
vinced that there were no ghosts to
be seen. From the first day | be-
came the prey of nervous terrors.
| could not sleep at night, and |
cert ainly heard steps outside my
door, aud once | heard moan,
and reused the household with my
cries.
Our cook, who slept in The base
ment, declared that she sometimes
heard strange noises at her win
dow. and in the pantry that ad-
Joined Der room, She left us with
out warning, and The only servant
who remained was old Aunt Chloe,
my mothers old nurse, who could
not find il in her heart TO leave lis,
though she said she "reckoned the
ohOstessesn would drive her away
at last.
One night my mother was taken
with severe cramps, to which she
was subject, and which were very
alarming TO us. Run to the pan
Try, honey" nanny cried, 'and
bring me Il box of mustard from
the top shelf"
Selling Il light, | ran down,
thinking Of nothing but my dear
mothers suffering ahd danger. |
was in the pantry, and about to
mOnnt a stool to reach The mustard
when my eyes fell on IA little win
dow. or opening II The wall, and
put there to admit light and air.
Just under it stood little figure
with wild eyes and pale, almost
ghastIy face.
AS my Mortified eyes took this
in, the liOure with a low moan flew
through the little window, and |
fell senseless 10 the floor.
There nanny said she found
me when a few minutes after she
came for the mustard herself. She
cot me 10 bed without disturbing
my mother, but cannot describe
you my sufferings that night
When Harry came the next day
mother told HIM she had made up
her mind 10 give up the place.
ITS really nothing" she said,
but Madeliue's nerves are so shat
tered by old Jumpson's ghost-stO-
ries, that her health is breaking
down. Just look at her"
"What a ninny you are, Mad
die!" Harry cried cut angrily.-
"Here'S delightful home, with
every comfort around il, and just
because you have hysterical hallu-
cinations, it must be gwen up
It's too bad ~
was too sick and languid that
night to contend with him, as sat
by the open window gazing out
into The moonit garden, which
looked very differently from what
il did when | took possession. The
little corner by The south wall had
been undi. i.turbed, as we had not
planted anything there. Never
theless the flowers grew aud flour
ished.
never went near it, or looked
toward it, but unconcioUsly that
night my lislless eyes roved IN
that direction, aud fell upon the
plain outlines of "A figure STOPPING
over the bed.
gasped for breath. and as Har-
ry ran to me, | pointed Ia the
Shopping figure. He saw il, and in
a second had vaulied out of The
low window aud run toward the
apparilion. To my mother aud
me, tile figure seemed literally TO
fly over the palings into the barn
yard, as my brother drew near. In
a few seconds he ran back.
where's the ladder, mother I"
he cried out. Whatever 1t Is, I've
freed il, for it scrambled like a
monkey into The loft over the
barn It's human being I'm sure,
I but is small, and il Is probably
Maddle's ghost"