Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-05-07
For The Ellsworth American.
The Ghosts Of Verona.

The Ghosts Of Verona.
TRUE STORY
For spectral visitations there is no CO.
zier place than an old deserted house.
But for spiritual parade ground, dark
glens. deep gorges and solitary woodland
roads offer great inducements. In these
lonely places disquieted spirits are suppos-
ell to meet and hold midnight musters.
and wander up and down in vengeful
quest.
But whoever heard of wan spectres
making trysting place of an old barn ?
But they have; at least, lothian Stubbs, of
Verona, thought so many years ago.
lothian lived in this island town and was A
very respectable fisherman and farmer.
lothian was a thrifty man, but snug mean
and very avaricious. Money he liked and
would have 1t If he had to go to bed with a
very sick conscience. Many a scutiie has
he had with This poor monitor over a
doubtful dollar lothian was avery dex-
trous wrestler, though, and conscience
was always thrown, and would get up TO
assert itself, sore and bruised
lothian had a neighbor, Philander Hurd.
Hurd was sick man. unable to work, and
was failing fast. He owned some rocky
land, full of knobs 1t was his farm Be-
side raising few vegetables aud little
corn aud grain he cut hay enough to keep.
very inditiercnty, COW, horse and a
yoke Of oxen. BY the merest accident
these oxen were valuable animals, large.
fat and handsome.
Hurd'> barn was some hat remote from
hi> dwelling house. It was situated in the
middle OF rough field and was a.
near lothian Stubs house a. his own
Hurds falling health made the care of
his stock very .laborious, and as his
strength failed the thought OF selling
pressed upon him. Hurd mental soil
was a uneven and knobby As that of his
farm. II had been worked Is little there
fore was a. incapable of plenteous har-
vest. He was iiliterate and credulous-a
! believer In the black art Of witches and in
4 the prcternatural fraternity of spectres,
I sprites, phantoms aud ghosts. This was
known to Slubbs; but the truth WAS
/ Stu5bs was not an intellectual mammoth
! He was only a little in advance OF Hur,i;
/ he could believe very large and unreas-
/ onable ghost story. Bat knowing the great
weakness of his neighbor, Stubbs resolved
! 10 w"rk it for all it was worth. He want
/ cd Hurd's handsome oxen He was will
/ ing TO pay for them, but not what they
were worth, or would bring in the market
He was determined TO own the oxen but
he would purchase them for twenty or
twenty five dollars less than thcv were
worth. To do this he would play upon
Hurd's credulity. Stubs sci in crcula-
tion that Huri- barn was haunted. Lights
/ had been seen there. strange noises heard
shadowy forms had been seen fitting in
ethereal dance. 1t does not take long for
/ such story to ind every home in a town
and to excite the wonder bump Of every
| inhabitant
/ Excited thronss gathered about Hurd's
/ barn 10 watch the coming of the nightly
| visitors. Huri became more anxious than
ever To sell his cattle. Though the crowd
t had not caught sight Of riotous ghost.
yet Hurd- fears tormented him with sucl.
/ terrors that he found no rest day and
/ night, All the while Stubs was diligent-
/ ly increasing Hurd's fcvcrish emotions
/ lie was neither priest nor Levite he did
/ not pass his neighbor on the other side.
| but he played the role of the Good Samari-
/ tan. But he was little confused as to
the rider Of the beast.
| He went to Hurd and commserated
/ him on his barn as a spectral lodging
( place Told him Of his lirm belief in the
4 visits of Uneasy spirits and advised him TO
sell his stock, and like philanthropist, as
! he was, Stubbs offered to buy his oxen,
/ but would like to look at them first So
he appointed time when it would be con
4 venlent for him TO examine the animals,
/ taking good care to make the time even
| ing Meanwhile, that nothing should be
wanting in the way of a demonstration OF
| spectral presence, Stubbs coyenanted with
| his son, young man Of some twenty years
Of age, to arrange spectacular revelation
that should do credit 10 the reputation OF
the barn, and at the same time frighten
Hurd out of his wits. This sons name
was Hiram, q youth of decidedly angular
appearance, and of very doubtful courage,
but of such build,-lean, long and lank
of body and limb, that his father need not
have hesitated to have pitted him in race
with the most nimble ghost Hiram was
delighted with the cast of characters in the
little drama which Hurd his father and he
were to play On Hiram's part this was
to be a dress affair Ghostly robes and
adornings were sought, far and near His
mothers sheets were formed and fitted in
to appropriate habliments for first-class
ghost. BY the terms of agreement the
evening would occur on certain Friday in
the month of November
There are sometimes unknown and un-
welcome witnesses to a compact. The
harmony of this contract was interfered
with by an unobseryed party. Willingly
or unwillingly, Israel Whitmore stood
where he heard lothian Stubbs and Hiram,
his son, plan the apparitonal surprise for
Philander Hufd. Israel was thoroughly
indignant over the mean artifice that
Stubbs was working to over-reach Hurd
Israel Whitmore stole away from the
clandestine interview, saying as he went !:
The way to fight fire is with fire If
Stubbs wants a haunted barn, he shall
have his souls desire gratifed There
shall be ghostly exhibition thatll make
Jotham's hair stand on end,'' and Israel
turned for his home determined on an un-
earthly muster at the old barn.
The next day Israel went to Bucksport
village. some three miles distant He had
decided upon a conference with a black
smiths apprentice by the name of Fred
Wakefield. Fred was tall, handsome
young man. the soul of honor, and the en-
bodiment of fun and good nature.
Israel found Fred hard at work at the