The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-06-01

or IL. Really, / don't think he became
over six feet high-simpty assumed an
erect position, but i'm my excitement I
thought he was twenty feet high!
After he had lowered himself again.
I began to grow easier, and finally
quoted some extracts from my medical
works to prove the nor existence of
ghosts.
CATER continued quotations, I final
~ decided that I had not seen anything
unearthly; that the appearance of my
visitor was due to some optical defect of
mine, or that I was dellrious from some
cause.
''It would never do for me to remain
there all night I should be joked to
death. My professional pride was in
volved in this matter.
"Emboldened by more quotations, I
started down to see if I was really inIa
trance or d%elirious. Well, gentlemen,
I was perhaps within ten feet of the
ground when my hat dropped, and out
came that strange, n~ondescript thing
with a roar that made my blood run
coldI
Suddenly remembering that I had
some pressing business to attend to at
the tree top, I started back rather
faster than is my wont. Frightened
almost to death, I reached the topmost
bough, still reaching out for more
boughs. Entertaining ghosts was a
now business to me, and I didn't try to
be very polite, but that thing seemed
in no hurry to leave. In fact, it seemed
to enjoy my company, backward and
embarrassed though I was.
For a while I had a vague sort Of
idea that perhaps it was>a Ku Klux,
then I remembered that no human
being could have made the noise he
made.
"Of all the horrid nights I've ever
spent that was the worst. The only
light was an occasional rift of moon
shine, the only noises, those made by
owls and whippoorwills. Hour after
hour passed, and still 1 sat there.
"Twice I started down, but my faith
in medical works invariably failed be-
fore I reached the ground.
after hours of thinking and careful
scrutiny of my visitor, 1 decided it was
either Old Nick or a ghost. You
may laugh, but it wasn't very pleasant
to me. 1t seemed that day would
never come. Finally three weird and
awe inspiring figures appeared in the
vicinity of the Haunted House bah
bling and gesticulating. They moved
about until my mysterious visitor
emitted a doleful howl.
"As if it had been some demoniac
signal, the three weird forms dashed
toward met Silently, rapidly, I was
surrounded. Again I tried to convince
myself that I was in a trance, but it
was impossible to do so.
"'Weu catch him! surround him,
therer shrieked the three figures.
"Actuated by an irresistible impulse
I leaped down and braced myself for
for my impending doom. These we're
my last moments, 1 thought, but 1
should die fghtingl
''Shrieking madly, I dashed at my
pursuers, fighting with the strength of
despair. This lasted for a short time,
then I fell tainted. As in a dream I
heard the shout of my captors-then
all was blank.
"When I recovered consciousness, l
was lying before a fire in the "Ha'nted
House. For fear of seeing some un-
earthly sight, I shut my eyes again.
"Then I noticed that my captors
were men. Slowly I opened M eye.
'Hallol old fel,' said a jolly, fat fellow,
guess that bear gave you a pretty
good scare
"'Bear9'I queried in amazement.
Eyes he replied, the bear that
freed you. It was a clown bear run
away from a circus yesterday. Had
on clothes like a clown. We captured
and chained him about dark, buthe
escaped early in the night. His chain
got tangled under your tree. Say,
how'd yer like his comp'nyH"
Well, sirs. I felt like crawling in a
keyhole. The other day I told Rolfe
about 1.-THE first time I ever told it,
and then. I'd as we'll proclaim it from a
housetop. He can't keep a secret.
CARRIER DOVES HELPED ON A
COURTSHIP.