The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-01-08
A TRUEGHOST STORY.
A REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE or BlsH-
oP WlLBERFoRcE.

The Quiet Guest at the Country House am,
the Singular and Important Disciosur.
He Made When A addressed by the bishop
The Estate Changed Owners.
The following remarkable inciden
in the life OF the late Samuel Wilber
force, bishop of Oxford and afterwart
of Winchester, is related as absolutel,
authentic, and the good bishop himself
Is said to have many times rehearsei
the story to his friends. Bishop vii
berforce was most prominent among hi,
contemporaries of the English clergy
and was once leader of the hial
church party. He, however, frequent.
ly found time to devote to the social
side OF life and was sometimes STYLED
the bishop of society"
On certain occasion the worthy
bishop had accepted an invitation to
ftay at a country house not far from
London. Entering tho drawing room
previous to dinner ON the evening OF his
arrival. he noticed priest evidently
OF the Roman communion-si sitting by
the open fire and taking no part in the
general conversation. The bishop was
somewhat surprised at not being pre-
sented to the priest, and his astonish-
ment was great when. few moments
later, dinner being announced, the
guests retired, leaving the priest at his
place by the fire. The hostess having
assigned Bishop Wilberforce the seat Of
honor at her right hand. as soon as am
opportunity offered no remarked:
beg your pardon, madam, but
may | inquire who was the priest we
left sitting apart in the drawing room?''
An, you have seen him, then?'' re-
piled the lady. ''It is not every one
who has that privilege I cannot tell
you who he is or whence he comes.
For many years this specter has haunted
the house and grounds 1T has, in fact,
been tradition in the family. He
seems to do no harm, and although he
appears only occasionally we have be-
come quite accustomed to our friendly
ghost.
How very singular!' remarked his
lordship. But have you never ad-
dressed your priestly specter?''
Indeed. have had no opportunity,
nor the desire. for that matter.'' re-
sponded the hostess, growing pale.
May take the liberty now?'' in
quired the dignitary.
and aass returning ,'f % T the drawing room
found the priest where he had left him
a few minutes before. Having no fear,
the bishop said kindly:
Who are you, my friend, and why
are you here?"
The specter seemed to sigh deeply and
say, as though to itself, SAT last!'
Then, in a hollow voice, addressing
the bishop, it continued: 81 am the
spirit OF priest who left this world
some 80 years ago, and | am here TO
impart to any one who will receive it
a secret which died with me. L could
not rest in my grave while a great
wrong was being done which it Was In
my power to right. have been re-
turning all these years in the hope some
one would address me, for IL was not
given TO me to be the first TO speak. All
men have Stunned mo until now, and
it is your niission to do my bidding. ]
was priest of the church of Rome
and was called to this house 80 years
ago to receive the confession of dying
man. He was the sole possessor of q
secret, the knowledge of which would
alter materially the entail Of this vast
estate, and In hls death this man wished
to repair the terrible wrong he had
brought upon his kin.
AT his request wrote down the
confession word for word, as he gave
it to me, and when he finished had
barely time to administer the final sac
rament of the church before he expired
in my arms. 1t was very important
that | should return to London tha
night, and in passing through the libra
ry to leave the house / concluded i
would be safer not to carry the pape
on which was written the confession
away with me, but to place it in SOM
secure, unseen spot. where ! could OBJ
tain 1t the following day and delive
the document to the person for whom
| it was intended Mounting the step
| to the book shelves, | took out q cop.
OF Young's Night Thoughts, whicl
was the first book upon the uppermos
shelf nearest tho Last window, and in
serting the paper carefully between II
leaves replaced the book and depart
/ ed. A horse was awaiting me at th
door, but ere we reached the entranc
i 81 the grounds he took fright. 1 wa
4 thrown and instantly killed. Thus die
the secret of my ,confessor with me. n
one has disturbed that book In all thes
i years, and no one has had the courae
Il TO address this messenger from the uI
known. The paper viii be found as
i have stated. and now remains Tor 70
Il to correct the injustice which has /
long been upon this noble family d
mission is over. and ! can rest
peace.
At the close,of this remarkable speee
the specter faded gradually from sigh
and the bishop was left gazing I'M
space. Recovering from his astonisl
ment, Bishop Wilberforce went at on
to the library and found the book e
r..%rx, .s ,.,.7i..,fasl Ivy tha fs,r,xas.f.sr