The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-27

the Oh Columbian tavern, on Cary street
IN attend the meeting oil board o
for some other business matter, he seem
oJ moro grave than was his wont Ill
was absent.minded, rarely laughed, an
Ind lost his former elasticity and cheer
fitness. Visitors going out to see thei
old friend. the lady OF the house, 0b
served how nervous she had become
and although always glad 10 see them, i
vas plain that either the cares of conn
trv hnmc we're too much for one al he
dime of life. or that she was about 10 b'
visited by some serious illness In tn,
meantime. the question as to the cause
of this altered appearance of things at th'
BIC brick h use was whispered around
on every side Il WAS known at The
banks and by those best acquainted viii
Mn IS affairs that no change fol
the worse had occurred in his iinanca
status. Whatever the cause might be, 4
evidently had its effect upon the whole
family. The learned and accomplished
DR.. Nc, if he knew, said nothing Z
cnlighten the friends Of his patrons. II
was generally known that the family hac
suffered losses in their domestic rela
tions. But this was common 10 all es'
adjustments of the kind in Virginia.
One fayorite old female servant had
died a short time before, and two men
one the butler. we l-traned and ac'
complished dining-r0Om servant, had
disappeared They both had been in
herited and reared in the family, and
nothing could have astonished their in
dulgent owners more than that they
should have deserted a home 10 which
they had every inducement TO be attach
ed When these two valuable slaves had
zone or how they got off, no one knew
Questions put 10 the other servants
ELECTED no satisfactory replies, they APP
pearing totally ignorant OF the cause OF
their going, and Of everything else con
nected with their disappearance
Things went on in this way at the
" big brick house for many long months
The warm weather had come and gone
With the autumn and its glOres came no
change In the demeanor of its unhappy
inmates, or any explanation OF its
cause At length, one night, at late
hour. when Miss -----, who lived near
old Colonel As. in Richmond. had
iust returned from a party" her AZ.
tending maid was helping her 10 doh the
hnerv fashionable at that day. On such
occasions the latter had always seemed
inclined to talk 80 ask test questions, OBJ
throw ont hints as 10 this gen leman on
that IL was liberty assumed and
allowed rs matter 81 course between
mistress and maid Instead OF exhibit
ting her usual garIulity the negress was
silent, and seemed disturbed and de
pressed. Her mistress for some time
could not induce her 10 give a reason for
her conduct Al length, after considera-
bic persuasion she began her disclosures
by asking her mistress, in low tone OF
voice, and after casting a suspicious
glance around the room, IF she amt
don hear bout dat thing over dar at Miss
-" MOI replied her mistress,
what do you mean" After long pro-
cess OF questioning and cross-Queston-
ing Miss -- found out from her
maid that the family al the big brick
house had been forced tO the conclusion
that their home was at times visited By a
ghost or by some one with malicious in.
tent who had determined they should not
rest from annoyance, as long az they
should continue 10 live 40 that place
The unaccOuntabie noises said To be
heard, and the apparitiOns seen at diff
ferent times Of the night had kept them
in state of uneasiness and discomfort
for several years past. Mr.. - 3 butler,
who was her admirer had told her all
about il long ago, but she had been
afraid to speak Of il. She begged her
mistress not TO let any one know how
che got her information. She WAS afraid
the ghost might come after her for
diyulging the secret, or DO something 70
prevent her and tho butler from ever
being married.
The secret was now oU. The young
lady whispered il 10 her mother II
passed mysteriOusly around among she
ladies until il reached the ears OF the
men. Somehow this will take place; no
matter how solemn may be the promises
10 the contrary, and how firm may be the
repOsed.
The two men servants had been
away from their masters
house, and the old female family ser
want being 100 infrm TO resist the strain
upon her superstitious sensibilites, and
had actually succumbed to its depressing
effects
Those who knew the secret now under
stood why such change had taken place
in the physical appearance and spirits OF
their country friends AT the same time
they could not understand why people
Of so much good sense as they were should
give way TO a weak superstition, or allow
themselves 20 be annoyed by 80 baseless
a cause. Be this as il may, al OF a sud.
den Il was announced that our disturbed
family were about 10 abandon
their country residence and return
to the city This fact seemed
10 corr0bOrate what had been diyulged
by the maid servant 10 her mistress. Ii
was also noticed that Dr. Nc had
been seen Oftener than usual crossing
Mayos bridge on his fine horse after his
DAYS work in town was over, and riding
the big brick house. The cOincl-
dence OF the secrets getting out and the
return OF the sufferers 10 the town was
a fortunate circumstance for the latter
Their friends who thought they knew
the cause had the delicacy never 10 refer
70 II and did all they could TO suppress
talk about 1t. OF course, the refugees
never alluded 10 IL; but for tho present
gave a variety OF reasons for the sudden
move they had made IL was many years
before they found out what had been
said about the ghosts and appafitions
and We shall see how they received the in
formation
In 4 few months after their return 70
ne city, every member Of the family re-
gained their former good health and
spirits They occasionally drove out TO
their now deserted country home, but
never spent the night there. The ser
wants not necessary to the town house
were hired out, and after while the
place on the other side Of the river was
advertised for sale NopuFchaser could
be found IL was rented out, but never
held very long By a tenant. At last II
began 20 be neglected The fencing was
destroyed by depredatOrs, and
The cattle made havoc with shrub
and bush and garden The young trees
were broken down, and the eyergreens
just beginning TO grow were torn by the
horns of the intruding COWS The house
all this time was kept shut up II Is we'll
known fact that an unOccupied building