Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-01
A QUEER GHOST.

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bargain and was not to be frightened
out Of such an excellent opportunity to
get cheap home becaure it was said to
be haunted.
So he and his wife and baby moved in
and were delighted with the appearance
of everything. That very evening.
though, he Intercepted his neighbor re-
garding the ghost that was said to be so
noisy at night II tink it vas all fool
ishness, responded that gentleman. @My
wife unit me never heard anytings until
Katrina wakes us COP. guess twas the
chimney vane.
Mr., Budd examined the vane and oiled
it, and when supper was over and the
light lit, began to feel that the house
was too cosy for the hahitation of
ghost. AT 10 Mrs. Budd carried the baby
upstairs, and Mr.. Budd promised to fol-
low when he had read his paper through.
1t was II before he finished, and he had
Just seen to the bolts and was about to
turn out the light when his wife, wrapped
in cloak, and ciasping the baby in her
arms, crept into the room, pale and
trembling, and with her teeth chattaring
in her head.
"Oh. Ben, my dear, thank heaven
there is nothing the matter with you"
she cried. Somebody is being muir
pered, I'm sure. am afraid it is Ann.
Oh, what shall we do?r
Mr.. Budd, nearly as white as his wife,
dashed open the door leading to the pas.
sage and ran up the kitchen stairs A
cry of Saints protect us /" was heard,
and he returned to the parlor.
"Ann was quietly asleep until ] wax
ened her, "he said. I'm go upstairs and
see what it is. Stay here.
But Mrs. Budd, vowing she would not
be left alone, followed him.
The little bedroom, bright with pink
and blue chintz, and white spreads and
curtains, should have been the most
peaceful place on earth, but it was at the
moment full of the most fearful sounds
that ever fell on mortal ears. Horrible
groans, long-drawn obs +! Then gurgles
and gaspings Then silence for a mo-
ment only To make the renewed moan
ings more terrible.
In fact, Mr.. and Mrs. Budd, having
ficbNhto w bilSnG avn VI oohiANo W. SoAtN
time, retreated to the parlor and there
sat until morning, Mr. Budd having con-
fessed to the story connected with the
house.
"But, you know. Kitty, | couldn't be-
lieve in ghosts, and | don't now, OF
course, he added. by way of moral.
"Well, am convinced, for one, :" fall
| tered Mrs. Budd. THAT could be moth
ing but some one being murdered. And
since no one is being murdered, of course
it is a--a--manifestation.
This was said as the dawn was break
| ing and the groans had ended with what
seemed the sounds of a fearful struggle
| and loud "Ah, God I"
After breakfast Mr.. Budd, weary with
| his vigil, set out to call on his landlord
| and give up the house.
The landlord was out and aplacard on
| his door announced that he would not
| be back for week. Mr. Budd returned
| YEARLY and consulted with his wife, and
| since no harm had been done them she
| decided to have mattress brought down
| to the paIor and try one night more.
Meanwhile they might find another
| house, and ii the rent must be lost, 1t
must, that was all.
But no other house was to let within
| the village or outside of it. Summer
guests thronged the place, and night fell
| and the Budds saw the darkness come
with terror in their hearts. Mrs. Budd,
however, fell asleep on the improvised
mattress. and her husband, armed with
lantern, crept upstairs to listen to the
| ghost again.
He was worse than before, for he
gasped more, but as Mr.. Budd grew
calmer it occurred to him that the sound
| was not in the room. He crossed it and
laid his ear to the wall. The fearful
| noise came from the next house. Per
haps the German was playing ghost to
lower the value of the property and buy
it cheap. The roof of the portico was
beneath the open window. Mr.. Budd
slipped softly out upon it and crept to-
ward his neighbours easement.
1t was wide open. A lamp stood on
the chamber mantlepiece, and its light
fell on great oaken bedstead and two
night-capped heads reposing on tat pill
lows. From the large noses connected
with these heads proceeded the most fear
full snores ever heard by mortal ears.
These were the sounds that had driven
tenant after tenant from the adjoining
house and given it the reputation of be-
ing haunted.
Mrs. Budd slept sweetly-Mr Budd
listened until Katrina went through the
process of shaking her master and mis-
tress awake, and heard his neighbor ut
ter his morning moan of ZACH Gott I"
which 1--WE trust was devoutly meant,
and then descended to relieve Mrs
Budd's mind I; but though the ghost was
laid, it was impossible to sleep in the
pretty blue-and-pink bedroom Their
neighbors' SHORES drove slumber away
as certainly as supernatural cries Of
murder could, and the Budds went back
TO town in fortnight