The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-20
3 DAnY NpEpENDENr: HELENA. FRIDAY MORNING. JANUARY 20, 1898
A GOTHAM GHOST.
Attempt to Solve = Phantom M rstery I
Now York.

Attempt to Solve . Phantom NJ ystory II
New York.
The true history Of a New York Qhos
that for twelve years past has haunted
house not 400 yards from Washington
square has at last bsen ascertained. Bons
nde specters are somewhat = rarity, and the
Sun has the story from . member Of ths
family only ON condition that the name Ii
NOT published. They will. therefore, DO
called the Van Rystnela
Old Schuyler Van Rystael built the
house more than aixty yea q ago. II sits
back Aomswhat from the north side of the
street, ane has q great hall that runs up tho
entire three sto, ies. Al tho back OF the
corridor on the third floor 10 the chamber
Of young SCHUYLER Van RystAel. 4 grandson
of the old gentleman.
mas. 1886. when he WAS little more than II
years old. The roof was covered with
snow, and through a leak at tho side OF the
skylight q trickle of water was dripping.
The steady drop, drop kept the boy awake
and he raised his head to call u servant and
have y basin placed to catch the water.
10 his intense nstonishmsnt he saw a
strange old man in black clothes pacing the
hall deliberately, in time to the drop of the
water. The intruder slowly approached
Schuyler's door and apparently vanished
into 4 pantry on tho left of the hall.
6CAuyleI J0ml6u OuS VI Oous aoSheA II
pantry, mi called his elder brother from
the foor below. Armed with a pistol the
family openod the closet. 1t was empty.
and n close examination of the doors and
windows showed no place whore q burglar
could have entered. The family, therefore,.
retired. making rema,k ks about the effect Of
the Christmas pudding OF S~ckuyler's
digestion.
Nevertheless the ghost continued to walk.
and always ON moonlit nights after a heavy
storm. The Van Rvstaels were peste ed by
would-be adventures, who deai ed to see
the spectral visitor, and on one occasion
Frank Il. Stockton. the novelist. undertook
lions were favorable, the speoter failed TO
appear until Mr.. Stockton retired. Then
Though the hall the weird intruder paced
in unison to the dripping of the melting
snow and vanished az Mr.. Stockton sprang
to his feet to accost him. The Van Rys-
the ghost whether the lady or the tiger
came through the door. However, the
supernatural visitor came less frequently
and was moe unsociabls than
Buch beings are commonly supposed to be,
and until Schuyler Van Rystael came home
recently from Harvard the identity Of the
ghost was unrevealsd.
The rain in the afternoon had started the
old leaks, and the drops elittered in the
moons rays as they fell from the skylight.
Schuyler sat up in bed, and there stood the
old men at the opposite end of the
corridor. With arms clasped behind his
back and head bowed as If in deep medita-
tion, he came toward Schuyle 3 door.
As soon AZ the young man jumped on his
feet the apparition vanished. and, turning,
Schuyler was fiontsd with the explanation.
Directly in the rear of the manor ia u
boarding house of which the third sto y
back is inhabited by a whimsical bachelor.
IL io khsu mania habit tN hviilir lee III ~, |
nate his room and pace the fioor until Il
hour. The Hood of light comes
through his window and projects his figure
on the blanket Of moonlight that on clear
nights falls into the Van Rystsel's hall,
and as the bachelor walks towards his win
the ghost advances towards Schuyler's
door. When the young man springs from
his bed the focus is destroyed and the
vision vanishes instantly.
SCHUYLER now pulls down his shades, but
Nj. Stockton. having given up hope of
aid in solving his self-imposed
puzzle, is as much in the dark as to the fate
of the Spartan youth as is the dul,est of his
Perhaps it was a choice of evils.