The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-20

mat ldu lOchtl anu uotN'N ia N~'0+~N
ooors anu windows. 1 felt safe and con-
cludcl 1 might have been half dreanins'
so 4 went back ~ bed and slept sOundiy
all night"
Was that the ghost?" asked Hayward.
Eyes, as you viii see. / was not fright
enod. bat all next day l kept thinking Of
that rustlins noise and those soft foot
steps. i knew that number OF soldiers
HAD died ia the building while II was be-
INK used as a hospital during the war. and
1 concluded my visitor must be the ghost
OF ono OF those dead soldiers. and that
perhaps he had more ghosts upstairs az
his companions. 30 1 planned 10 have an
Interview.
81 rejected that ghosts. being 50 differ
ont from real people. could not be seen in
&. bright light, and yet knew that 1 could
not see one If the room were perfectly
dark. That night i read and studied I'LL
III o'clock, and then prepared for bed.
The door which led from my room into
the little front hall did not bolt as usual,
but left wide open ] turned my lamp
down very low 50 as TO leave dim light
in the room, and then l retired / took
the precaution TO put my pistol in a chair
by the bed, in case / might need it. l
lay very quiet but wide awake and listen
Ing"
My goodnessl How could you do sou
asked Jamie. Il should have left the
house or got somebody 10 stay with me.
"a little after midnight l heard noise
in the long hall upstairs. as OF patterins
feet racing up and down.
Weren't you afraid, sure enoughE
asked Ethel
NO: ghosts. being dead people. cannot
hurt me; il is tie live people OF whom l
am afraid"
"Go on. what next?" said several.
presently 1 heard footballs on the
stains. then IN the little hall
Who is there? asked i. No answer
came.
Then heard a rustling noise and whis-
perins voices. Who is there" again
asked.
q ann the ghost Of a Federal soldier. and
would like to talk with you, If you have
no obiectOns,' came the response.
clad YOU seen him yet?' asked Benja.
"No. he did not make himself visible till
lie had satisfied himself as TO my inten-
tons" answered Uncle Ned.
come ill.,, said. III be glad TO talk
with you.
L see a pistol; will you shoot me-? "
asked the ghost.
Not If YOU act fairly towards me-
'rho ghost then gave me a Masonic sign
showing that 1 could trust him; returned
it. and in he walked
90 Uncle Ned. what did he look IKE!
asked Ethel.
Much ike n live man, except that l
could see through him; his BODY seemed
TO be Of fine dust or mist, so that i could
see the wall and other objects on me
other side Of him. He had rather SAD
/
whisper and made very little noise Mheh
/ DE moved ,r,,,...
How could you see through him? Didn |
ne have on any clothes" asked sara.
.ey.s he was clothed. had on Kind OF
,,v.n or robe. but this was Of thin'
white gauzy stuff. so that l could see
throuch il. Now. DO not interrupt me any
more. There's your grandma VINO mas
been listening jus. as intentiy as any OF
Won. vet she has not said "a word ana
,our grandpa has put down his paper TO
listen. but no has not interrupted me
single time" 80, 49,.
"Ned" said grandma. 'you Will have
these children so excited they VIII not
sleep a wink tonight
go. I'm show them that ghosts are
GOOD and kind ana then they il not he
afraid: nine. you know, is real story
not made-up. like many
81 have been wishing TO talk 10 you Tor
some time said the ghost after he had
walked in: but l was afraid / might
brighten your wife-wOmen are so easily
e.ered. Won know-so, as soon as i found
mat She had gone and left you alone, /
came down.
why didn't you come in last night" /
asked.
" because then YOU acted as people
, ,-oro~all, do when We ghosts come around
Won rushed out i'm an excited way as II
Won were going TO Kill somebody or GET
killed. we ghosts do not like to brighten
rernle neither do We care 10 be attacked.
isut YOU were more civil and quiet to-
nirht and 1 saw that ] could venture.
" Have a seat. 1 answered; i am so
clad YOU came i'm. Now tell me an ABOUT
voursclf-Who you are. how You came
here. where is your former home what
object YOU have in seeking me, ana SO
forth.
Thank you said the ghost, as he TOOK
n seat i'm my big library chair nave
been longing for just this opportunity. /
lave been in this building ID years ana
YOU are the first man 10 give me q decent
/ reception.
( AN right. we are sworn friends now
we have pledged each other ON the
square" so give me your story
My former home began the ghost
sNas I'm MCdon. Illinois. ] Joined Company
4 & Thirty-second Regiment Illinois Nolun-
toere. when 1 was ID years Old. / nrst saw
real fighting and did real fighting at
shiloh. our regiment and the Forty FIRST
uHnols were stationed on ridge from
which we we're pouring a very destructive
fire into the Confedcrates on that ever
memorable Sunday morning OF April 9Th
DO was there that your governor isince
United States SENATOR Harris displayed
his military prowess' at the head or his
Tennessee Regiment he drove our two
reeiments from our vantage ground. with
the loss of many on both sides. IN tell
YOU. my friend that was the hardest day s
work ] ever did I'm my life
Yes 1 answered. j have often read
OF that great two-days' battle. which
showed such skill and fighting capacity
on both sides. but what became Of you
4 after that battlc?'
'Our regiment was transferred 70
Bucn's army and we moved 10 Nashville.
We were subsequently stationed at
Murfrecshoro under Parkhurst'
All Then you must have been cap
tured boy Forrest In his raid Of July 18th, "
] ! suggested
YES said The ghost; I was one OF the
100 Fcderals who then surrendered 10 the
celebrated Confederate cavalry leader
We'll tell me-. inquired 7. is there
any truth in those stories that Colonel
Pcckham and Captain Roland were pulled
ont from under q bed in a private house
f..t alfI