The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-21
sIet the past he the mirror"
In which may be seen.
What our lives ought to be,
Not what they have been.

Not what they have been
There are few people who have not So
perstitious vein perm eating their system, and
it requires stoical disposition indeed to be
entirely free from that hidden nerve force
which compels man to look behind him
when q board creaks, or door suddenly
slams in darkened and deserted house.
confess to being neither stole nor dis
believer. Ghosts have never troubled my
slumbers, and my wife possessing rather
nervous temperament has perhaps rather
hardened my own.
But the story am about to relate. while
it has never shaken my own theories regard
ing ghosts, has made me very much more
lenient towards the true believers, who de-
light in gathering around a huge fire in an
otherwise darkened room, and especially
about Christmas time, relating in turn
thrilling narratives in hushed and awe
stricken tones about clanking chains and
creaking boards, until des,ite the warmth
of the fire delightful variety of spinal
chills proclaim the fact that the story has
reached its climax, while neither the excited
listeners nor the talented narrator care to
look over their shoulder and grave doubt
is created whether it is safe to 60 to bed at
all.
1t was only few weeks before Christmas
and my situation and surroundings were
eminently fitted to the reception of ghost
ly visitant. for, besides the servants. WAS
the sole occupant of house which had the
reputation, at least, of being haunted.
My wife and the sole heir to all my mis-
fortunes had gone for short visit to some
relations in New York, and my father-in-
law having accompanied her as far as the
depot, which was about thirteen mile
drive from the house. found myself at ex-
actly 11:3O p. m. the undisputed master of
all I surveyed.
In broad daylight it was very satisfac-
tory prospect. The queer, old-fashioned.
rambling two-storied building full of queer
passages and strange sounds, capable of &C.
commodating comfortably twenty people.
and lonely enough when our little family
were all assembled, but simply deserted in
its present condition.
j Not even q neighbor within three miles,
while the house itself was almost hidden
among the trees which in sum
mer completely sheltered it from the
prying eye of the outside world.
A carriage drive nearly quarter
of mile in length led to the kings high
way. one, however, very seldom traverssd.
save by the farmers when carrying their
produce to the little village Of Swansea,
which. beyond having a market place and
being the terminus of the only railroad
which had SO far dared to desecrate
tins beautiful and fertile valley of the
Berkshire hills had very little to recon-
mend itself to the travelling public.
Strangers, therefore, in the neighborhood
were rare and while venturesome land
agent had once attempented to create
boom, and make the vicinity of Swansea
summer resort, he had merely ruined the
Improvement company that was organized,
and beyond featherinR his own nest, and
adording the village Rossips an opportu-
nifty to freely malign him, he had achieved
nothing.
My father-in-law, Col. Scott, besides the |
old manor house. owned large portion of |