The Port Gibson reveille., 1894-06-15
a hsApLEss eHosr.



Hls False Lady Love.
About thirty miles south OF London, In
one Of tho prettiest parts OF England. Is
village called Shalford. Adjoining u IL
large common, or public pasture. There
are n few houses fronting on Il, prominent
among which there was, about twenty years
ago, a rather singular looking cdihce'
known 10 the village folk as the BLACK
House, The name was apparently III
chosen, for the bricks were white and the
tiles q bright red. But there was good
reason for the name, as any local gossiper
was pleased 70 explain. Tho house hao
been built by q farmer named Somers
FOR tho reception Of young lady of good
position who was shortly 70 become his
bride. The wedding day had been nxed.
But a few days before the one liked LOT
the wedding day the bride disappeared, and
few hours after her departure farm
hand In the employ Of Somers was also
sought for and found not
Ruuor coupled the two names and tho
disappointed bridegroom started on IN not
haste IN pursuit For several months the
house remained untenanted, but one night
lights were observed IN the windows. Ine
next day there was much speculation as 70
whether Somers had returned or whether
he had rented. But there were no signs OF
life during tho next nor tho succeeding day.
and finally It was thought advisable to force
an entry Accordingly tho local black
smith and Somersi farm bailih broke open
the front door. The house was found ex-
actly as left by Somers when he started out
on his tour Of revenge, nor was there any
explanation TO be detectedo Of the lights seen
at night
That evening the windows we're again
bright, and Tor several successive nights
the phenomenon was repeated. Finally
committee CT three was appointed 70 investi-
gate. The members OF the committee were
the blacksmith, the parish clerk, and an old
skeptic who believed ia no one but himself.
After eating hearty supper ct the village
inn the trio set out on their task. The clerk
was very nervous, the blacksmith defiant
and the skeptic sarcastic. The door was
forced open and the men proceeded 10 in
vestigate. They made q tour Of all the
rooms, but discovered nothing The clerk
became treasured, the blacksmith sighed
for someone or something 70 fight, and the
skeptic threw In an ~ told you there was
nothing'' every two or three minutes.
But shortly before midnight the light Of
the lanterns carried by the intrepid inves-
tigators was supplemented by bright illu-
mination which seemed to hive no natural
source. The clerk looked at the black
smith, and even the skeptic felt himself at
fault Suddenly the first named sprang
TO his feet and rushed headlong out into the
passage. along it to the front door, and
through 1t on TO the open pasture. The
blacksmith and the skeptic turned and
decided to follow his lead as best they
could. For, standing in the far corner was
figure so weird that not even the skeptic
could control his fears. 1t was the figure
If young woman, absolutely headless, and
enveloped In shroud Of SURPRISING brill
fancy. From this unnatural clothing the
mysterious light seemed to emerge. The
two men got away safely and corroborated
the parish clerks description OF the scene.
The story was not generally credited, but
again and again was the house rented, only
to be vacated by each succeeding tenant
after one days occupation. Neither
Somers nor his false lady love ever reap
peared at Shalford, and when your corre-
spondent last saw it the black house was
still unoccupied and was gradually falling
into ruins.