The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-01-21
THE PHANTOM COACH.
Strange Experience OF = Traveller In
ireland.


Strange Experience OF Traveller In
ireland.
Some years ago ! received and ac-
cepted an invitation 10 spend q few
weeks with some friends at their resi-
dence Mount Coote county Of Lin
erick. Ireland. Iarrived one evening
just as that function known az inter-
noon tea" was taking place. and was
In the full enjoyment OF that beverage
and an accompaniment OF hot cakes
when heard a carriage approaching
the house at rapid rate and finally
draw up attic front door. Thinking I
was In no condition to meet strangers.
for my hostess had insisted on
my sitting down to tea 10 my travelling
suit which was rough twee cd. said;
MRS. Rogers II you will permit me
to escape before your visitors como in
/ would like to go and change"
pray don't disturb yourself she
answered. that Is only the phantom
coach.
Tho phantom coach" repe ated.
thinking either that had not heard
Alright or she was joking.
Yes the phantom coach / as
sure you there is nothing there"
but stammered. Il can hear
the horses paving the ground and
champing their bits and. moreover.
the door bell had scarcely ceased to
ring
We'll" she said. Iii you won be-
lieve me go and look for YOURSELF
and taking advantage OF her permits
sion. for was thoroughly mystihed
and equally incredulous l went and
opened the front door. Sure enough,
as Mrs. Rogers had told me. there
was nothing to be seen. and all the
while the sounds OF lingling harness
were distinctly audible. l closed tho
door and returned to the parlor. My
hostess no doubt amused at my
startled expression. asked me i'll was.
satisfied. admitted that. in IA sense.
/ was; that is. us far as tho correct
ness OF her assertion was concerned.
but said:
Surely you don't believe in a
phantom coach driving up to your
door,"
Believe It! or course do. Why.
every one in the neighborhood knows
all about it. and you, See that the
servants are SO accustomed to the,
circumstance that they never even
take the trouble to answer the door"
Shortly afterward her husband
came in. and on being told OF it
laughed heartily at my discontinue.
adding: .Oh. don't let that worry
you. You will soon get accustomed
to it,"
l soon did get accustomed 10 it but
nevertheless the matter worried me
very considerably. puzzled over II
again and again. and thought that l.
had solved the matter by the theory
of an echo but investigation proved
| that no one for miles around was pos
sessed of anything more pretentious
than a one horse trap for. large as
some OF the estates were none oil
their owners could afford TO keep any
thing better Moreover the fact oil
the doGr bell being rung remained.
The same thing occurred at irregu,
lar intervals but always at the same
time between and 6 p. M. aud SO
real and unmistakable were the
sounds that in spite OF previous dem,
onstration to the contrary could
not persuade myself that II carriage
was not actually at the door, anG
would repeatedly open 1t TO assure
myself OF the fact my eyes being al.
ways rewarded with the same empty
space and my cars greeted with
sounds which apparently proceeded
from nothing at all. In this story J
have quoted the actual name OF tn,
house and locality. and. improbable,
as 1t may appear. have exaggorat>
no single fact but stated the case ex.>S
actly as 1T occurred. and as 1t NJ
doubt occurs to this day.