The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-09
A SPLITTING GHOST.
WHY THE SWISH OF A CHEWER AN.
MOVED THE OTHER MAN.


objected, and Win Some Success, TO the
Tobacco RABBIT.
The man in tho smoking compartment
was chewing tobacco, and ut intervals lie
sDat at tho CuSpiuOr, with the sibilunt
swish incidental to tobacco chewing. and
every time ho did this studlous LOOKING
man in the corner started norvously and
looked Up from tho book lie was reading.
After half an hour or So the chewor, hay.
ing finished his guild, went back into the
car and tho reader looked at me, with an
evident desire to say something.
II don't like that, " he remarked mildly.
Its vilo habit" assented at once.
"No; not that. It's ghosts"
"Ghostsg" exclaimed and I shot
quick glance Mt tho cuspidor, the reader
and the way to get out In case my travel
ing companion should provo to be crazy.
Yes, ghosts" no won't on calmly
enough. LET mo toll you about 1t. 4
lttlo moro than two years ago I rented a
fine country house not far from New York
ut n low figure because it bore the reputa
ton OF being haunted and had not been
occupied since its owner died, about two
years before my advent. 1t wns O hand.
somo place, and when had touched 1t I'M
bit, put half u dozen servants into it and
invited some friends to spend the opening
week with me it was anything but a
ghostly place. When thoy had taken their
departure, L settled down quietly to nv
work of writing and found an excellent
place for it in the coy library the late
Owner Ind fitted up for his special use
For tho first few nights l did no work
there until quito late hour, and observed
nothing out of the ordinary. AS to the
ghostly visitants, it seemed about the last
plnCp in tho world a ghost nccrsto,,,o,3 o..
the disagrceahlc surroundings of grave
yard would care to frequent. Neither were
there any ghostly indications in any other
part Of the house, nor did my servants no.
tico anything to be alarmed at Ono
night, however L went into tho library
about O'Clock and sat down at my desk,
new one l had set in tho middle of the
floor at u comfortable distance from the
big open CRATE. presume had been at
work 10 minutes when 1 heard just such
a sound rs that man made in hero q while
ago when he spat ut that cuspidor. looked
up quickly, for 1 thought it was my hos
tier, who knew used tobacco, but no one
was visible. L resumed my work, and in
two or three minutes 1 heard the sibilant
swish again. This time 1t came from the
direction of n big old armchair just in front
OF tho fro, and fnncied the splitter might
be occupying it and using the fireplace for
Il cuspidor. I really knew that could not
be tho case but where did the sound come
from? 1 waited again, watching the fire
to SEQ II 1t would give any response, but
there was none, though at intervals of two
or three minutes the sounds came from the
direction OF the old chair.
"Once got up and walked around the
room and out into tho adjoining rooms and
hall, but nothing was visible. 1t was an
audible ghost merely, and apparently not
otherwise disposed to be active. l could
sec nothing or feel nothing, and there was
mono OF the usual disagreeablc concomi-
tants of the ghostly visitants 1 had read
about, such rs cloudy presences, vague
shadows, sitting atmosphere, and oil that
sort OF thing-nothing. in fact, except that
peculiar noise, which was really sooth-
ing in its effect, for I knew how much
comfort n chcwcr could get out of his chew
rs he dreamily chcwcd before an open fire.
At last gave 1t up and went to my work
again and paid no more attention to it I'M
til about 10 o'clock, when l observed that
it stopped, and l was not disturbed further
that night. The next day l kept my own
counsel, and the next evening when I
went to tie library again, shortly after
dinner, l snt down In the big chair to
smoke. y few minutes later heard that
ghostly spit again, this time from the side
OF the fireplace, where an old sofa stood.
Then thought it was rather comical than
otherwise, and felt us if / were visitor
md the ghost was enjoying my company
and his chew ct the same time In any
event, when l went back to my desk the
sound seemed to come from the direction
OF tho old chair again, and l proceeded
with my work until 10 O'Clock, when the
noise ceased as before.
We'll, this peculiar ghostly visitation
continued for nearly Il year, varied now
and again by two noises and sometimes by
three as II the tobacco chewing ghost had
invited few kindred spirits in and they
were enjoying quiet quid apiece. Some
times | felt sure l would hear laugh. or
voice, or Il chair showed back for tho
splitting was so extremely natural that it
seemed impossible not to be accompanied
by other evidences Of "a personal presence.
But no such sounds ever manifested them
selves, and as tho time went by 1 began to
grow moro or less nervous 1t was not
fear exactly, for had been sitting up of
nights with that ghost for months, and
our relationship had actually been more
pleasant than not, and am sure would
havo felt lonely not to have heard ii as
worked. but there's something in tho air
when ghosts are around that makes ones
nerves sensitive. l don't know what it is,
but any man Will find il to be true If no
ever has an opportunity to test it rs did
FINALLY concluded to go To my landlord
and make few inquiries concerning my
predecessor III tho house.
Queer old fellow, said tho landlord
In response to my inquiry as to what man.
ncr of man he was. Queer old fellow.
Lived here with his wife and servants;
wife died, and he lived alone after that as
no had no children; wife was high tenn
percd and painfully neat. He loved to
chew tobacco, she wouldn't let him chew