The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-07-30
INTERVIEWING A GHOST.
rbe Strange Case of Smith, the
Reporter.

urive years ago | was newspaper re-
.,.ter moor and temperate. wish to
p D the latter fact on the mind OF
,l,a reader in the beginning, otherwise
tbe following tale might lead to other
conclusiops Now ! have as much
Money rs need can take adrink when
Iaesire to do so, and only write when
tho shirt moves me TO do so.
..It all came about in most singular
and unearthly manner, too. AT that
time was employed on an afternoon
div and one morning when showed
m at the city editors desk for instruc-
lions he sent all the other boys out
srst then, turning to me, knocked the
asbes from his cigar, and said:
".smith, how is your supply OF nerve
this morning.
III he had asked me whether or not
had made my last will and testament
should not have been any more sur
rrised; but | managed to keep my face
from revealing the establishment felt,
and answered:
.Well, the supply is equal to the de-
mand, so far as know
,.,How would you like to tackle a
ghost tonight for an interview" was
the next question asked, as he looked
from the corner of his eye, presumably
IN SEQ how far would jump at the start
ling question.
Il did rot jump, but felt my flesh
crawl at the very thought. Every re-
porter knows that when he refuses an
assignment his resignation is the next
thing in order. This flashed through
my mind, but although poverty had its
heavy cloven foot on my neck, and |
needed every dollar could make, still
at that particular moment | did not
care SO much for losing my position as j
did for the thought that might be
laughed at by tho Drawer of the profess
sion, so | answered, as calmly as lcould:
THAT depends somewhat on what
sort of ghost it is. | hope would not
shrink from ghost of a chance, or pos
sibly from real, genuine graveyard
ghost; but, no doubt, could tell more
about that after seeing ono
"sWell, Smith, we'l give you
chance at the genuine article this time,
went on the editor. News is littlt
Fat Just now, and we need something t.
freshen up matters There is q haunte:
house in the suburbs. 1t has been va
cant for years because of the unsocia
bility and exclusiveness of the presen
occupant. ! desire that you spend te
night in that house. Give a detaile
report Of your visit, minute picture
the surroundings, and try to get somt
thing from his or her ghostship, if sue
a thing as ghost exists. You can G
out an hour or two before dark and &C
your bearings.
with that he turned to the work bt
fore him, and for moment | stood {
one in y stupor. | thought it just
probable that | would turn the river L
stream as that ! would see or hear
ghost, or attempt to speak to it II
should stumble on one; but l left tt
room with firm resolve to do as bi
den, let come what would.
at may be imagined that | suffer'
from fits and starts during the da
Sometimes cold Precipitation stood o
on my brow in great beads; then aga
would be parchcd and feverish.
IAN hour before shutdown stood b
fore tho house in which | was to speI
the night | had made up my mind
write up the place while / waited
hic rho tcli,N tn and | firm
expected to wait all night and leave
the morning without seeing or hearil
any thing out of the ordinary. Th
was in my callow days, so far as ghos
are concerned.
THE premises looked as if they h
once been the comfortable home of sol
well-to-do person, but as stood there
could not help observing that t
gnawing tooth of time had gotten
its work. The front gate stood b
open in disconsclate sort of way, a
in many places the once neat picl
fence in front of tho house was dow
and blackened by alternate rain d
sunshine.
SIT was in early fall, and the yard v
overgrown with rank weeds. I
building was outlined dark and desol
against the paling eastern sky. 7
window shutters hung listlessly fir
their fastenings, and mournfu
creaked at the slightest breath of wi
u made my way toward the fro
door in about the same manner tina
culprit walks up to the altar of just
with a good deal of hesitancy q
trepidation.
u placed my hand to the handle
the door and the bolt yielded wit
grating protest. A gentle pressure, {
the creaking hinges sent myriad
echoes bounding and rebound
throughout every part of the house.
looked into the hall and saw that ev
thing there was dusty and time-wc
The carpets and rugs, once the best
market afforded, were old and faded.
l yentured in and closed the d.
Strange to say, that every moment
lear left me. This was another
Prise. | Expected that my knees wo
smite together, and that would hal
get out OF there alive. l pinched
arm to assure myself that had not
eumbed and fallen to the floor or tn
mad not been asleep and dreamed it
involuntarily placed my hat c
ricSety old hat-rack in the hall,
then explored the rooms on tho gro
noor. All were furnished, but the C,
IONS had moldered from the chair
.nat a touch of the hand sent them
.,'s away in dust. The draperies at
eae rooms were as tender as cobweb:
v looked at every thinp in the ma,