The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-24
A GHOST STORY.

On the outskirts OF Hollertou, large
northern town of some importance as q
manufacturing centre, there stood few
years ago house Of considerable size.
which was commonly said to be haunted.
The last tenant and owner was Squire
Dudley. TO whom also belonged many
broad acres OF the district At the age
OF forty he married q girl Of seventeen.
Incompatibility Of temper, It was said,
led TO frequent Misunderstanding and
quarrelings; and angry. voices. and
sometimes screams, were heard pro-
ceeding from the dwelling. Two sons
were born to the couple. The elder.
soon after attaining his majority, went
abroad to seek his fortune. Disagree
ments with bis father and an inclina.
ton for roaming life led to this decl.
sion. The younger turned out good
ior.nothipg scapegrace. Having made
serious inroads into his father resources,
and having rendered himself liable TO
penal servitude by embezzlement and
forgery, he fed the neighborhood and
country. Then everything in that
uOuseuOlu Wtub bmhbA1 W toSh oSN
ruin; and one winter, about Christmas
time, Squire Dudley and his wife mys.
teriously disappeared. After brief In
terval, the creditor took possession,
stripped the house Of Its contents, leay-
ing only a little lumber; aud from that
day 70 the time OF which write, rats,
spiders and the reputed ghosts were Its
only occupants. According TO common
report no human foot had crossed its
threshold for at least ten years.
The gossip OF the neighborhood
teemed with accounts OF the awful
sounds that had been heard issuing
from the building. Groans. shrieks and
piteous walls, unlike any that had ever
come from human lips, broke upon the
midnight darkness. The bell, that
seemed to sob and moan, had scared
many traveller into rapid flight.
Such was the story narrated to little
convivial party, in which was. Included,
seated around the smoking room OF the
Crown Hotel, Hollerton, on the 23d OF
December, 49,. The party consisted
OF two London commercials, both OF
them friends OF mine; rich grocer,
who related the story. the leading
draper OF the town, aud myselt-Tom
Smith.
The grocer thoroughly believed in the
spiritual manifestations" as he termed
the doing Of the ghost. The other men
were slightly skeptical; as for myself. |
utterly and emphatically pooh.hooed
everything attributed to the ghost.
"Well," said the grocer, with a
warmth. "Ah wouldn't spend neeght
in that hawsome place for thousand
pump
He had been decidedly nettled at the
ridicule I had thrown on tho absurd
alarms OF the people, and now leaned
forward in my direction and. with his
bands firmly grasping his knees, said:
moo. Master Smith, and what you
got to say? What's your figure, COON
moo"
"I am prepared" answered, much
to the grocer's CONSERVATION, ITO spend
tomorrow night-Ohristmas eve-in
that house alone, on condition that you
and the other gentlemen guarantee that
the sum OF Gl00 be paid me on Christ
mas day."
II is needless to detail the discussion
that ensued. At last document was
drawn up and signed by all present to
the effect that was to receive the
sum named on carrying out my part OF
the agreement. 1 bargained for chair,
bedstead, bedding and blankets. a parcel
OF sandwiches and q flask of whisky.
arranged the bedstead in the corner
OF my chamber, aud with the aid Of the
piece of skirting board and two heaps Of
plaster, made rough stand on which
to place the candlestick.
wetted my lips with the contents OF
the flask, made myself comfortable on
the bed, and took from my pocket. the
best tonic know of for low spirits
"Pickwick."
After two or three hours reading I
felt drowsy, ate sandwich, resorted to
the flask and went off into troubled
slumber.
Iawoke in fright. A moaning and
wailiug greeted my ears. 1t came dur
ing lull in the wind, and sent q tremor
through my blood.
A stray rat scudded across the floor
and disappeared down some convenient
hole. ! hope devoutly he was not
scout sent from headquarters to recon-
hotter.
Like timid schoolgirl, pulled the
blankets over my head aud tried to WOO
repose.
The wind increased to q fitful gale. 1t
came in sudden terrific blasts. flashing
the back Of the house., shaking the
foundation, Kissing and grooming
through gaping holes and q thousand
creyices. Once or twice the house
seemed to rock, and plaster fell to the
floor with thud. began to fear that
tho whole crazy fabric would collapse,
and I would be buried in the ruins.
Yet felt dare not leave that room,
even 10 save my lie.
looked at my watch. TWAS nearly
II. Just as took up my "Pickwick,"
again, the bell rang out three sonorous
dismal strokes. Each stroke seemed q
groan OF anguish. Was this my death
knell? Was something awful about to
happen to me?
Again that wierd, mufIled, unearthly
wailing! Was there actually some lost,
wandering spirit, escaped from pur-
gatory, inhabiting the house? l listen
cd for many minutes; aud then, above
the bowling wind, sound reverberated
through the house which / shall never
forget. 1t was like the piteous, expiring
cry OF some poor soul in direct agony.
It was no blast OF wind, or knell from
the bell above, nor chickering's aud NUT
terings Of ghosts and COLLINS. 1t was
human.
My blood ran cold; my teeth chat
tered Il trembled from head to foot. A
presentiment oil an approaching en-.
counter with a creature Of appalling
aspect unnerved me.
It was now 2 o'clock. Six hours more