The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-09-20
THE TWO GHOSTS.
How Fred Got a Home by Means
of Two Apparitions.

In the fall of 1866 l was living in
Philadelphia, occupying bachelors
quarters; but congratulating myself
upon the fact that my boarding-house
existence would soon be changed into
living in home. The partner of my
joys, who was to occupy that home with
me, was young lady born in the city
of Penn, whom it is not necessary to
describe, as she is now looking over my
shoulder at the lines / am writing.
We were to be married the day after
Christmas, and the wedding was to be
a double one, for my old friend, Fred
Doolittle, was to marry the sister of my
Ella.
Where was the home to be locatedf
This was the question ] was trying to
answer at the time of which / am writ
ing. did not want to rent. / wanted
the home to be our home by title as
we'll as by occupancy. l had u few
thousands of dollars, but not enough to
buy in the city, in good neighborhood.
We-that is, Ella and had talked the
matter over, and concluded we could be
very happy in modest home with a
couple of acres of ground attached, and
not more than an hours ride by cars
from the city. Every day for several
weeks looked for such place. | read
the closely-printed columns of the
Ledger under the head Of Real Estate
for Sale" but saw nothing | thought
would suit us, until one Friday | read
n glowing description of the very place
we wanted-only the house was larger
than necessary-and | was greatly sur
prised at its cheapness. The advertise
ment referred for further particulars to
Fourth.
l at once went to Mr.. Smalls' office
and learned he had gone out a few min
utes before I called. 1 made my busi-
ness known to tall clerk in charge.
who seemed to smile when mentione ed
the house. and said: Il am very sorry,
but Mr. Smalls has gone out to show a
house to customer, and the keys to
the house yon want to see are in the
bunch with the ones he has taken"
II want TO see the house to-day, if
possible" l answered. "a train will
start in an hour and / would like to go
by it,
''If you are very anxious" replied
the clerk, with very apparent grin,
81 think you can get the back door key
from the owner, who lives out Arch
street, almost on your way to the sta
ton"
got the owners name and address,
and entering the first passing car rode
out to Twentieth street, and then
walked three squares to Arch, and ring
ing the bell at tho proper number, was
shown into a handsomely furnished
drawing-room, where the owner of the
house soon entered. When l stated my
business, he smiled as the clerk had
done, and asked: do you think you
would like the house?"
''If it is according to the description,
! think will" / answered.
Have you heard any thing about it?"
Nothing but what the paper says"
Then 1 may as we'll be frank with
you," he said, ''and tell you the house
has the name of being haunted"
didn't like the idea of living in a
haunted house, for i wanted to enjoy
my wifes society without ghostly in
terference. But / was not believer in
spirits, and accounted for all the So
called manifestations on the theory of
simple mental action on the part of the
person affected. Besides, thinking it
would be sport to show the owner how
foolish and unfounded was the belief
that the house was haunted, [ at once
answered. Il don't believe it,"
''All righi," said the gentleman,
f-Here are the keys. You may go and
sleep a night or ego in the house if you
wish. There are two chambers pro-
vided with beds, ohe on the second and
the other on the thirtl aoor. Take your
choice"
didn't hesitate, and rack the keys.
Why should l fear ghosts? There were
no snch things, and felt sss match
for any one who might attem 1T to play
ghost. In fact, rather prideG myself
ON my physical development and con-
sidered / was as brave as the ordinary
man.
AS some preparation was necessary.
I abandoned the idea of taking the next
train, and concluded to wait until six
O'Clock in the evening. When that
hour came was on the cars, with some
matches, candles, and two revolvers in
my pockets, and heavy cudgel in my
lnand If there was any one about the
house anxious to play ghost proposed
10 give him the opportunity of being
one in earnest. had calculated on be-
iRg at the haunted house at seven
O'Clock, but on account OF delay,
cansed by derailed freight train. 1t
wss two hours past that time when
reached the station. / had but a quar-
lcr OF milo to walk, and after being
directed by the stationmaster. who
looked suspiciously at the cudgel,
started of at a brisk pace, and In less
than four minutes came 70 house
which stood among the trees, three rods
from the road. AS ! saw light in one
of the windows thought 1t could not
be the house wanted, and walked to
the adjoining dwelling, few hundred
feet further on, which was perfectly
dark. There was nothing suspicious
looking about the place, and at once
went to the back door and inserts
ad the key which did not appear to fl
vary we'll. While was at work with |