Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-08-26
A TRUE GHOST STORY.

Ghost stories are now so much out Of
fAshion that am rather diffident about
telling mine; only as | know it is true l am
strong in conscious innocence. 1t all hap
pened in little village in Wales where |
lived, and as | do not wish TO expose its
real name let us call it Priceville.
On the night my story begins four young
men were seated in Farmer Pinno's par
Tor. The first was Charles Jones, a rather
good looking young fellow, with light hair.
The second was Robert Lyle, who would
have been handsome IL it had not been for
heavy under jaw, which gave an I'M
pleasant character TO his face. Harry
Griffith was the third person. The
son Of an army officer, he bad shown
marked ability at college, both for study
and for unruly conduct in the town, for
which last he was expelled, and his father
soon afterward dying he was left with very
small means and with the fixed determine
ton not to do any more work than he was
obliged To do. Handsome and gentlemanly
he wonld have stood a fair chance for the
hand Of the charming Miss pinno II he had
wished il, hut he never seemed in love with
her in the least, and used really 10 spend
his time at the house either in chatting
with the farmer and his wife or watching
with keen enjoyment the maneuvers Of the
two suitors, ones ". Lyle, rs each tried to
interest MissSinno more than the other,
with view Of finally ousting his rival.
The fourth man was your humble serv-
ant, who plays no more important part in
this story than To narrate il, so no descrip-
ton is needed, and we will pass to Miss
Primo, the most important person in the
room.
For miles around she was known as the
pretty Miss Primo, and she did not belle
her name \ tall. fair girl with blue eyes,
rejoicing in the name of Gwendoline, short
ened to Gwen, she looked what she really
was, good and beautiful type Of English
girlhood.
The farmer and his wife were also there,
but as they play no part in this drama
shall not speak further of them.
The conversation had turned on ghosts,
and story after story was poured forth by
the various youths, each one more grew
some and blood curdling than the last.
Finally Robert Lyle said with shiver
that might have been real or intended .
never met a ghost. and hope and believe
never shall, but if | should ever chance
on one l should Immediately retreat to the
shelter of my happy home and refuse ever
to walk on that road again at night"
"Ah! but you forget" said Miss Gwen
"that ghosts can come into houses without
opening the door, so you would not be safe
even there"
mo, perhaps not: but think a well
lighted room would brighten any ghost, so
shall stick TO my recipe until know of a
better one"
The conversation then changed. but dur
ing those few sentences a mischievous,
sudden look had come into Jones eyes,
which, however faded away almost as
quickly as it had come. No one appeared
TO notice it but myself. made no remark
on il at the time, but often thought of il
afterward
Robert Lyle soon afterward took his
leave, refusing my offer to walk home with
him, and shortly followed him, not much
put out at his surliness, for he was always
strictly peculiar. And now my story real
~ begins Some Of it | know for fact
the rest was not hard to fill in.
Jones and Griffith left soon after / did
Once outside the door Jones turned to his
companion and requested him to help him
In a way he would explain, or, If he did not
care to do so, at least to keep his plan a
perfect secret. Griffith gave the required
promise, and then, standing under the lee
VI a
which was no more and no less than TO
show Lyle ghost the next night that he
came to Farmer Pinnos.
The arrangements were absurdly simple.
They were that Griffith should dress in
white and stand in the church yard until
Lyle passed, when he should give vent TO
his most unearthly yell, jump the ratings
and disappear toward the village. This
was to be only a sort Of byplay to unsteady
Lyle's nerves Jones was suddenly to ap-
pear, also dressed in white, on the bridge
over Lyle's own mill stream. Inside the
sheet be wore be was to carry a dark Ian
tern, and he was then TO wait until Lyle
approached within few yards of him,
when the slide was TO be suddenly opened,
and that was expected TO be more than
enough for our friends nerves, already
shaken.
After this small matter had been settled
the two conspirators separated, Jones 60
ing home along the road and Griffith tax.
ing a shorter cut to the village inn.
After they had both disappeared Lyle
jumped up from where he had been lying
behind the hedge and also went home
along the road. Next day Lyle met Jones
about noon, and casually remarked tina,
he thought Of going over to Farmer Pin.
nos that night. Jones impaired this &c
his ally, and they got ready for action. Sc
did Lyle.
About7 that evening Lyle left his house
and passed the graveyard on his way. The
foolish scheme now began, and after the
first ghost, alias Griffith, had shown Itself
and disappeared, Lyle, pretending TO bt
frightened, began to run along the road
toward the bridge, well knowing that Grit
fifth was behind some hedge nearly choking
himself with delight over the supposed
success Of the scheme. As Lyle came tC
the bridge his pace slackened aud he began
to cross Il, when on the other side from
under the shadow of the parapets emerged
white figure with dim light shining
from it and uttering weird groans which
however, were unexpectedly interrupted
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