The morning times., 1896-11-08
The
Dancing
Ghosts.
BY MAURICE THOMPSON.
tEtnyripnt lSAH

VppyTIBnt, iSoO.J
The lOglouse, two stories high, and set
upon a rude stone foundation, overlooked II
rather dismal strc.ch of country through
wnich the Back Warrior River meandered
in deep channel cut through rock strata ami
red clay. From the earliest date remembered
by settlers still alive forty years ago, this
house had been old, weather-beaten and
lop-sided on account of a settling at one
end of the foundation. 1t was rooted with
clup-boards, Enthusiastically sun warped, its
windows were rectangular holes without
sash or glazing, and its cracks between
the logs were chinkcd with stones Set
aSlant. Over these stones mortar or stir
clay had been roweled, but it had nearly all
fallen off. The striking feature was al
enormous chimney Of gray stone, which
protruded a few feet above the center OF
the roof, with great, Jagged corners and Il
picturesquely- y-irrcgular top line.
This house was known far and near as
1.-The Val Humbert place." and nobody
doubted that IL was haunted. II stood
tenantieSs; for who would live in house
so grim, lonely and ugly, with ghosts and
demons for nightly companions? More
over, the stain OF a mysterious murder
lay upon the floor OF the east room up
stairs. Legend told that Val Humbert
Was killed there on stormy night long,
long ago. How he was killed and what
was the especial mystery, NO one seemed
Ia know. The story hau been lost III sub
stance; but its uncanny shadow fingered,
and So the old structure stood on the
windy and thickety hill, slowly sinking side
wise and gloolnily staring over the lonely
valley.
In s34, on q raw, blustery March even
ing just after sunset, three boys and their
father went slowly in Il heavy road~wa gon
along the abandoned road leading up the
Black Warrior Valley past the haunted
house. The mans name was Levi Surface;
his Sons he addressed respectively as Tom,
Dave and Joe. They We're strangers to
this part OF the country, being on their
way from lower Mississippi to Tennessee,
and were looking out for a suitable camp
Ing spot. Westward a bad looking cloud
was rising; the night would be wet and
disagreeable one.
Mr.. Surface, when he saw the Val
Humbert house loom against the grizzly
sky above the hill, was right glad think
ing he might there get lodging He went
to the door and. of course, found the place
still and empty. Considering himself
fortunate, he called the boys and told
them to drive up the hill and make
ready TO rest here. After duly picketing
and feeding the horses, they took all of
their belongings into the house, gathered
lot OF dry wood and made q cheerful
IRE In one OF the TWO cavcrnous fircplaces
built in opposite sides of the ponderous
chimney.
We'll. boys said Mr.. Surface, when
a great dash of cold rain struck the roof,
its right comfortable here" He spread
his hands to the cracking blaze and puffed
at his pipe
They had taken a frugal supper of
brolied bacon and bread and for want
OF chairs We're sitting on the uneven
.nri,an
March wind moaned and mumbled and
whistled in the chinks. The loose, warped
boards on the roof flapped and ratified.
TITS most like folks a-quarrelin'," re-