The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-03-03
A GHOST STORY.
Thrilling Occurrence Based on Actual
Experience in the Life of the Wri-
ter
(COmmunicatei.)

ter.
Communicated
The following facts are an absolute oc-
currence in my early youth, as can be
substantiated by several of the parties
connected with it, and which constitute
an era in the lives of three or four of US
which will hardly be forgotten as long as
we live. 1t happened at old Plank
Chapel church, in the Southern part of
Vance county, and as have been asked
by scores of friends to write it up and
have it published as it has furnished
fun and rare fun too at Christmas times
when ghost stories are the order OF the
day, through the courtesy of the GOLD
LEAF will give the facts as they oc-
Cured, leaving out the names of the
other parties concerned.
In the year 1874 a friend and myself
were visiting the town of kittrell, and
accepting the invitation OF some lady
friends to tea We decided to prOlong our
stay until 9 OR 10 o'clock, as the evening
was warm and the moon at its full. After
enjoying the evening as only lads Of 16
or 1S years old could under the circuIn-
stances, we started home, and my friend
prevailed On ME to ride with him around
by the church. AS it was not more than
mile or two out of my way to do so, |
readily consented, especially as | wanted
to compare notes with him and convince
him that | had had a nicer time with
my best girl than he had had with his.
SO we rode leisurely along not once
thinking that there was a storm brewing
although it was continually flashing
lightning, and we were not aware OF it
until the soughing of the wind and lower
ing OF the clouds, together with a few
drops of rain, admonished US we must
seek shelter and that Immediately. And
as we wereclOse by the church we decided
to go in and "wait till the clouds rolled
by
We tied our horses, took Off our sad
dies. went into the church and of course
we took back seat. Now there was
another gentleman. Mr.. -, who had
also been out to see his best girl that
evening, and the clouds coming on SO
quickly he too had sought shelter in the
church. Recognizing our voices he
thought he would have little fun with
US, SO he got under the bench as he had
like us taken back seat.
After we had been in the church say
five minutes, or probably less, Mr.. -
pinched the calf OF my leg when instant
ly drew up my feet and put them Oh the
bench L was sitting OIL, remarking to my
friend that there was something else in
the church besides ourselves. He admon-
lshed me that my imagination was too
firtlle and to keep still and quiet as the
wind was blowing tercely, the rain pour
ing down in torrents, while the light
ming was one continuous flash.
HnI ~ bop
ute before felt him vince and | knew
the something that pinched me had also
attracted his attention in the same way.
ly in a solemn frame of mind as beftted
the time and occasion az o'clock at
night in az old country church) with
two graveyards, one on each side OF US.
We had not been in the church more
than ten or fifteen minutes when blind
ing flash of lightning lit up the church as
bright as day, and looking up towards
the pulpit | distinctly saw woman
dressed in white with her hair hanging
down over her shoulders. She was stand
ing with one arm leaning on the top Of
the pulpit, the other hand raised and
pointing directly at us. l have already
stated there were two graveyards at the
church and, as it happened, old Sister
S. had just been buried there few
days before. AS might be reasonably ex-
pected | was wrought up to apretty high
state of excitement by this time. So call
ling my friend by his name, said "Oh,
Lord! R yonder is old Mrs. S
come back to life again. My friend very
peremptoriIy called me fool and told
me if did not hush he would stick his
knife in me, (but he took pains to speak
in a whisper). Another binding flash
and | could see that the woman in
white had left the pulpit and advanced
some ten or fifteen feet nearer to us.
This time my friend also saw her as [
could easily detect by the shiver that
passed over him and the stifled sigh he
gave forth
By this time Mr. c., the third party,
(who had thought he would have some
fun out of u.s. hearing us whisper there
was something or some onein the church
besides us, raised up his head to see
what it was Just at that moment
another binding fash Of lightning came
and disclosed the fact that the appari-
ton, ghost or woman had walked down
to within about dozen feet of where we
were sitting. This proved too much for
our highly strained nerves, and my
friend Mr.. R broke and ran when |
Immediately followed suit, while the
third party Mr.. C. came tumbine
after us.
Now my friend R and the other
gentleman Mr.. C. lived in the same di-
rection and they both had to go the
same road home, each living about
mile and a half from church. SO my
friend Mr.. R let out Ito use a slang
expression) and the other gentleman
right behind him, my friend thinking it
was the ghost about to catch him, while
the other gentleman, Mr.. C., was
doing his best to keep up with him; and
| tell you it was nip and tuck with them
Well to make a long story short we both
left our horses there until the next morn
ing. My road led out in Northerly dl-
rection from the church, the distance to
my home being about three and hall
miles, but the time made on that oc-
casion is unknown and will always re-
main so. But dare say if it were known
it would beat the record.
The next morning when | went after
my horse | saw and recognized the cause
of all the trouble 1t was d crazy woman
who had gotten away from the Franklin
county poor house. She, like US, had
evidently gone into the church to get
out of the storm.
NV friead and | have had many Il
hearty laugh over the affair and have
referred to it as the most vivid expert
ence in our lives. My friend said he was
SO sore he could hardly walk on account
of running so hard that night. However,
my recollection now is that | suffered
very little Inconvenience from my terri
BILE run =. G. ROWLAND.