The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-21
THEY HEARD GHOSTS.
Queer stories Told About an English
Mansion.
From the London standard.

From the London Standard.
In the nineteenth century ghosts are OBJ
solete but they are costing me goo
year I have written to my lawyer, but I
am told by him, rightly or wrongly, that
the English law does not recognize
ghosts, and that ! must go on paying 900
a year while my lease lasts for a house
that no one will give me $50 for. I have
already wasted 1900 over It,
1 will call the house Silverton Abbey
though that is not its name. Some time
ago / left India on furlough, and ne
ing near the end of my service, looked
out for a house that should be our home
for a few years. After four months vain
search | was told of Silverton Abbey.
found the house in most respects what !
wanted, but the gardens were scene OF
utter desolation. Weeds three feet high
full value OF the house, If everything had
been in order
My furlough was passing away. My
time was hanging heavily on my hands
No other place offered. 1t would amuse me
to get the garden in order
Asking why the garden was so DESC
late, was told that my landlord was the
most cantankerous person in the county
Before any lease could be signed a quarrel
had usually arisen, and the papers had
been torn up, in one case after the would
be tenant had sown his seed in the gar
den. The house had been empty for four
years. No one said word about the
had bene frightened out of the house him
self, was silent on this point
1t takes two to make a quarrel ]
never began one in my life. So l took
the house for Ave years; hoping that nv
landlord would not quarrel with me- /
was mistaken-but that has nothing to do
with the ghosts.
The first thing we noticed was that serv-
ants fought shy of us. No sooner was Sill
verton Abbey mentioned than the servants
broke on negotiations. In some way we
struggled on short-handed. Stln, no one
said anything about ghosts.
Summer had turned into autumn, when
one evening a violent rafting al one of
the windows sent the parlormaid-a girl
from the village-into Mysteries. l ran
outside, but found no one. After being
confronted by glass of port, the girl
sobbed out that II was well known that
Mr.. - walked" She told a long story.
which was afterward corroborated of past
events connected with Silverton Abbey. It
was not pleasant story, and as it affects
persons still living win give no details.
AS soon as we began to ask people about
what the girl had said, mouths hitherto
shut were opened. Silverton Abbey had
always been known in the nearest town
and all around about us as the haunted
may say that am not physically nerv-
Gus. | have been under fire repea teddy,
have been badly wounded in action, and
have been complimented on my GOODNESS
when bullets were flying about. / was not
then afraid of ghosts, so far as knew.
Besides, suspected trickery. ! had been
often in places where my revolver had to
be ready TO my hand.
A light was kept burning in the upper
and lower corridor all night. A lamp and
loaded revolver were by my bedside every
night. No one could have entered the
house without being detected, and prob
ably shot
AS winter drew on, and the nights be-
gan to lengthen, strange noises began to
be heard. Night after night have l gone
over the house with lamp in one hand
and a loaded revolver in the other, but
never did find any one about. Furniture
had never been disturbed, though l could
have sworn ii was being moved. No liv-
ing being had been seen in the places
from which steps had been heard
The goVernesS used to complain of a
who used TO come as if to strangle her
az she lay in bed. She also described
some footsteps which had passed along
apparently by his or her actions, intoxi-
Gated. But, in fact, no one had left his
or her ROOM and no one had been intoxi-
Gated.
A German parlor maid and house maid
had been induced, on receipt of very high
wages, to come 10 Silverton Abbey They
were old friends, and occupied the same
not agree. They never went into the viii
lage, and never cared to gossip. We never
told them of any ghosts.
One night the housemaid, according to
her account, was terrified by a tall lady
with heavy, dark eyebrows, who entered
the room and bent over her bed. After
this the housemaid took hot water up to
the bedroom and dressing rooms in the
evenings by the front stairs. The other
servants went up the back stairs after
dark in pairs.
One night we had driven into the town
to a concert. 1t was nearly midnight when
we returned. Our old Scotch housekeeper
VINO admitted us, a woman of iron nerves
was trembling with terror. Shortly be-
fore our arrival a horrible shrek had
rung through the house. To all our ques-
IONS she only reDlieds 1T was nothing