The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-01-08
A HEADLESS GHOST.
TerrIGes = Farming Corimunity In the
South of England.

.South of England.
About thirty miles south of London
on one of the prettiest parts of Englan
; is village called Stafford. Adjoining
it is a large common or public pasture
There are few houses fronting on IT.
prominent among which there was
about twenty years ago, rather SIN
gnlar looking ediEce known to the
village folks as the "B!ack House. u
The name was apparently ill-chosen:
| for the bricks were white and the tiles
bright red. But there was good
reason for the name, as any local gos-
sipe1was pleased to explain. The house
had been built by farmer named
Somers for the reception Of young
lady of good position who was shortly
TO become his bride. The wedding
day had been fixed. But a few day be
fore the cne fixed for the wedding day
the bride disappeared, and few hours
after her deparsut farm hand IN the
employ of Somers was also sought for
and found not.
Rumor coupled the two names and
the disappointed bridegroom started
off in hot haste in pursuit. For several
months the house remained uctenant-
ed, but one night lights were observed
ia the windows. The next day there
was much speculation as to whether
Somers had returned or whether he
had rented. But there were no signs
of life during the next nor the succeed
ing day, and finally it was thought
Ir,ic Ia 70 i
'iugly the local blacksmith and Somers'
farm bailif broke open thefr'
The house was found exactly AZ eft
BIZ Somers when he started out on his
tour Of revenge, nor vas there any ex-
planation to be detected Of the lights
seen at night
That evening the windows were
again bright, and forseveraI successive
nights the phenomenon was repeated.
Finally = committee Of three was ap-
pointed TO investigate, The members
OF the committee were the blacksmith,
the parish clerk and an old skcptic
who believed in no one but himself.
After eating hearty supper at the viii
age inn, the trio set out on their task.
The clerk was nervous, the blacksmith
defaht and the skeptic sarcastic. The
door was forced open and the men
proceeded to investigate. They made
a tour Of ell the rooms, but discovered
nothing. TIE clerk became reassured,
the blacks. nth signei for some one or
something to fight and the skeptic
threw in an - told you there was
notniug," every two or three min
uteS.
But shortly before midnight the
light Of the lanterns carried by the in
trepid Investigators was supplemented
by bright illumination, which seem
ed to have no natural source. The
clerk looked at the blacksmith, and
even the skeptic felt himself at fault.
Suddenly the first named sprang to his
feet and rushed headlong out into the
passage along it TO the front door,
and through it on to the pasture.
The blacksmith and the skeptic turn
ed and decided to follow his lead as
they could. For standing in the far
corner, was figure so weird that not
even the skcptic could control his fears.
It was the figure Of a young woman,
headless and enveloped in
a shroud ofsurpassing brilIiancy. From
this unnatural clothing the mysterious
light seemed to emerge. The two
men got away safely and corroborated
the parish clerks description of the
scene. The story was not generally
credited, but again and again was the
house rented, only to be vacated by
each succeeding tenant after one days
occupation. Neither Somers nor his
false lady love ever reappeared at
and when your correspon-
dent last saw it the black house was
still unoccupied and was gradually
Jalliug into ruins.