Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-04-25
THE DANCING SPOOKS
AN OLD FIDDLeR'S STORY OF HIS
STRANGE EXPERIENCE.

Guests at the G. House Bali Talked Only
of Things That Happened Before the
War-Dates on the Musicians Notebook
and the Tombstones Corresponded.
Speaking of superstition, said An
drew Brass as he sat III his easy chair,
reminds me of an experience had on
a wintry night few years ago. No, I
am not superstitious, but my experience
Of that night has impressed me ever
since Being violinist, was accus-
toned to play for all the dances that
took place in the neighborhood i'll which
I lived. One day l received note re-
questing my services at dance to be
held ON that night at the G. House, near
the site of an old distillery. The note
was signed by Your Friends The G.
House was an old log structure and
stood along lonely lane leading from
the high road to the distillery and at
the border of q dense forest. 1t had not
been occupied since the distillery had
been torn down some II years before,
but as the boys had been accustomed to
holding their dances in vacant houses
on several occasions l thought no more
of it, and when evening came 1 started
for the G. House A walk of about an
hour brought me in sight of it. I saw
the windows brilliantly lighted. On
nearer approach sounds of merriment
came from within. The night being
cold, a good fire was burning in the old
fashioned fireplace. A song had been in
progress and just ended as 1 entered the
door. / threw off my overcoat and hat,
which were taken by young lady whom
did not know. Iseated myself near the
fire as the set for the dance were taking
their places ON the floor. After having
warmed took out my violin, and while
tuning looked around, and to my sur
prise those present were all strangers to
me. This puzzled me very much, and in
no way could account for it, but 1 did
not even venture to ask for an explana-
tion from any of them.
"After a couple of hours dancing,
waltzing, ETC., the party was invited to
an adjoining room for lunch, myself in
cluded 1 must confess the viands were
the most delicious 1 ever tasted. Vari-
Gus fruits and wines were served in
abundance The walters were obliging
and attentive. I had good opportunity
to view my companions as they sat down
to dine. They were fine looking young
men and pretty young women. They
seemed to be very kind, but reserved in
their attentions to each other. What
struck me as very strange was that their
general conversation was about vents
of the war and battles that were lost and
won as though it was in wartime. One
would wager that Lee would surrender;
another would doubt it, as Sherman was
cooped up in the south. Lunch over,
we repaired to the dancing room. l felt
much refreshed, and when I played for
the next quadrille it seemed that I rem
dered better music than ever before. The
dancers went through the figures with
the precision of machinery. After four
or five sets had been danced, one young
fellow announced that a collection would
be taken up for me for my services as
musician, which is customary, and asked
me for my daybook, which l handed
him. All of the party signed their names
and amounts given, also date opposite
each name, no two dates being the same,
but all antedating the time of the dance.
This noticed when the money and book
were handed to me, the money being in
fractional currency, the same as was in
circulation after the war; Of course
these circumstances all put together mys-
titled me greatly, but l said nothing
81 looked at my watch. 1t was 10
minutes of midnight, and all were pre-
pairing to depart. The fire burned low,
the candles in the brass candlesticks be-
gan to flicker, and as the hands of my
watch pointed to 12 the lights, both fire
and candles, suddenly went out. I was
in total darkness. Not one Of that party
was to be seen or heard Imade my way
to the door, A heavy snow had fallen !
Not footprint of any footstep could be
seen. l made for the lane with as much |
speed as the deep snow would permit,
and in an hour l was home pondering
the events of the night.
81 resolved next morning to further
investigate the mysteries of the G.
House. After leaving the highroad
found my homeward tracks still show
ing in the snow along the lane to the G.
House. I now saw that it was an old
tumbledown rookery occupied by flock
of sheep. Presently I saw Farmer Freed |
coming down the lane with sack of
feed for his sheep. l explained to him
my night adventure He only shook his
head and smiled, as though my story
deserved no credence. I produced the
money and my notebook in evidence. |
why, he said, what in the world does
this mean? I knew all of these people, |
but they have been dead for years. Come
with me, he continued. You see that !
graveyard down there? That's where |
they are buried. Come on and see for |
yourself. I went in, and there on the
tombstones were the names and dates Of |
death of all those corresponding to the |
names and dates on my daybook did |
not play for any more dances at the G.
House, nor was 1 asked to do so, nor
will respond again to an invitation
signed BY Friends. " - Pittsburg
81 To1