The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-23
story OF a Haunted House.

rector OF st. PauFs church here, has
bought a hauntd house on Elm street and
will live IN it
| The house is one Of the most historic
Of old New England mansions. At the
1 time Mr.. Stokes bought ii it was in a
state Of semi-ruin. Instead of razing
It and building palace on its site, as
the people Of New Haven supposed its
purchaser intended to do. he has restored
the house along the original colonial lines
and will live in manner hardly suggest
ing great wealth.
The Rev. Mr. Stokes, who is already
! called "the little minister" by the people
of the parish, vii lassume his duties as
assistant pastor the coming week. He
will assist the Rev. y. P. Pratt Of
| Bridgeport, who is taking the Rev. Of.
Lines place while DR.. Lines is away on
his vacation
g Mr.. Stokes first sermon will be preach
ed Sunday evening, September 30 A party
Of his New oYrk friends and relatives
viii attend the evening service and hear
his sermon.
It is expected that Mr.. Stokes will
move into his haunted house on the
following Monday. The old place is be-
ing made ready for occupancy as fast as
masons and carpenters can work
The residence is the old Pierpont house,
a colonial wooden structure facing Elm
street, and near the new law school The
house is haunted, not alone by memories
of oiden times, but also, it is said by as
genuine a ghost as ever walked o. nights
The millionaire minister did not know
there was a romance connected with the
house when he bought it. The owners
kept that TO themselves. When he learn
ed the story he was not annoyed.
The ghost. that Of a beautiful young
g4rl, has been seen only once in eighty
years. Then she wore a. white muslin
dress and her hair was done up in colo
NAL style The ghost appears only just
before or just after a wedding in the
house
The Raw. Mr. Stokes, when he was a
student at Yale, often passed the house
In those days there were four maiden
sisters, the Oldest SO, who haa lived in the
house since they were born. Aunt Caro-
line Foster, one OF the sisters and the
last one Of the four TO die, used TO stop
in her care Of her garden to talk with
the rich young student She would now
and then take him through the house to
the long osd-fashioned flower garden b.
hind There, IN the shade of climbing
morning glories, she would SIT and tell
him Of the old days in New Haven.
The student became deeply interested
in the old house. He was friendly with
another member of the family, Dr. Fos-
ter. OF College street. When the young
millionaire was I'll DR.. Foster cared for
him Mr.. Stokes accepted the call to New
Haven and it became necessary for him
to look about for a home He asked Dr..
Fosters advice.
IF you are going u livs alone and In
a humble fashion. have the very place
for YOU" said the doctor. Aunt Caro-
line IS gone. and the manse, with the old
fashioned garden, IS vacant. You appre-
ciate the antique beauty and the romance
OF the place. I will sell it TO you"
DR.. Foster took the young millionaire
into the deserted house. They passed
through the front door into the old-fash-
toned hall where Washington once stood
TO meet his generals; then into the right
hand parlor. where Layfayette once held
a reception. and where in later days
Aaron Burr used 70 sit and talk with his
fair cousins OF the Pierpont family.
Next they went into the long dining
room, where once upon a time the Eng
hsh officers who took New Haven, held
high carousal and stirred rum punch
with their swords on the long dining
room table. From this room they
passed upstairs 70 the chambers, Here
were other reminders OF the time when
the English took New Haven and held
It for three days. The invaders used the
Pierpont house for a hospital. The wide
boards Of the floor are still stained dark
red by the blood Of the British soldiers
who died from gunshot wounds received
IN battle with the Americans. Mr.. Stokes
has given particular orders that these
boards be not disturbed. Everything that
has any historical significance he has
ordered to be left intact
Every room has a wide fireplace and a
deep manteL The cnimneys are each six
feet square. The attic Is as innocent Of
any attempt to finish it as IT was the day
after the house was built It was in this
old attic that a young girl, left behind in
the fight OF the Americans from the
town, took refuge. 1t was here the Eng
lish found her. and it is here her ghost
sometimes walks, with 4 gentle smile on
her face.
She goes down stairs into the garden
and there disappears. She has never
disturbed any one No one who has seen
her has been frightened She is most
harmless ghost and during all the years
she has dvelt in the house the children.
genera ton after generation. have come
70 love the stories about her and to long
20 see her. Few ever have been granted
the privilege. DR.. Foster. who took The
Little Minister" over the house, never
saw the beautiful creature
The owner and millionaire climbed
down the narrow stairs and entered the
cellar. with its queer vaults aud its
musty smells. and saw where many a
barrel Of New England rum had ripened
in the cid days. Before Mr.. Stokes left
be said:
I want you 70 consider me pur-
chaser I want the place for 4 home
It is Just what I had in my mind. I viii
pay anything that you ask me 70. Please
let ne have f."
'wgu you promise not to ulo5e-n3ze Il
too much9''
y VIII not change a stick Il shan r.
main as It always has been
ANNUAL CA-TPMEETING AND CON
FERENCE
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS.
Enlpo-ia. Kan, Sept. . 70 s. 800
Fer the above occasion the Santa Re
Rave made Z. rate OF one fare for round
TRIP. Tickets on sale September l.. y. =,
81 - and n Final return limit October
5, Isoo. L r DELANEY, Agent