The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-03-14
sPoOk FURNITURE.
Il Not This, Then What Could II Be!
A Peculiar Story.

A Peculiar Story.
\ singular story Is related by the
New Orleans Times-Democrat. 1t was
told by a well-known professional man
at stag dinner, and the unusual eX-
perience stated in his own words IS
well worth repeating:
In the spring Of 1892" he said. Il
was living in house in North Ram
part street, which had taken on a
one-year's lease, expecting to build.
Our family consisted Of myself and
wife, our little boy, then only years
old, and my unmarried sister. The
house was two-story brick, which
had been built before the war and the
interior arrangement was very SIM
pie. The front door opened on hall,
which contained the staircase and ran
all the way through on the right-hand
side. while on the left was, first, our
parlor, then the diring-room, and last
ly, a small unused apartment not
much larger than closet. Upstairs
we're bedrooms, and in the rear was
detached kitchen. We allowed the lit.
tie room on the first floor to stand
vacant for several reasons. To begin
with it was actually too small for &C.
tual service. and it was badly lighted
by only one high, narrow window, be-
sides some Of the plastering had fallen
from the ceiling, and was afraid the
rest might come tumbling down on
our heads. That was undoubtedly a
source Of danger, and prevented us
from using 1t for storage, so We SIM
~, 1ors u = Siyn1
PITY. I suppose the room was con-
structed originally for pantry. l
have been a little particular in de-
scribing these details because, as you
will see, they have direct bearing on
my story.
I'VE had been living In the house
almost year." continued the speaker,
when one Sunday in June, as nearly
as can remember, l went with my
wife and child to see some friends
near Audubon Park. My sister was
visiting at Biloxi at the time. and we
let the servant off for a holiday. We
got back at o'clock or thereabouts,
for recollect it was still quite light,
and as we were walking toward the
house noticed that somebody had LETT
a stepladder standing directly in front
of the high window opening into the
little disused room on the ground
aoor That's rather cordial invita-
ton to providers. I said half joking.
Let's see whether any have availed
themselves Of it. So when we went
inside we Walked back together to the
last door and pushed it open. Why!
what does this mean?' / exclaimed IN
astonishment. There was nobody
there, but the room. which had always
been entirely vacant, contained sew
eral pieces Of furniture. A rough
looking table stood in one corner, with
an old-fashioned straight-back chair In
front of it and opposite was small
bed cot. There We're some papers and
other things on the table and relig.
ious print stuck on one Of the walls.
started to go in, but my wife held
me back. Don't go in,' she pleaded,
the plaster may fall. Those things
must belong to the cook. It struck me
very strange that the cook should
move in without asking permission,
but | noticed that my wife was very
nervous so drew the door to and we
went into the parlor. A few minutes
| later | walked outside to shift the
| ladder, and as picked 1t up glanced
through the window. The room was
| perfectly empty.
II am not superstitious, and the
proof of It is that thought immediate
ly I was the victim of some practical
joke. I re-entered the house quietly
from the rear and again opened the
door, The room was as empty as a
drum, and it was evident at glance
that no sort Of trickery was remotely
possible. won't attempt to describe
my feelings. was so shocked, so be-
wildered, so frightened to tell you the
truth that for moment or two was
sumply rooted to the spot Then l
pulled myself together somehow and
went back to the parlor. My wife
saw at once that something was
| wrong.
Its that room!" I blurted out.
There's nothing IN it now-not a
stick!'
And Immediately I had case Of
mysteries Oh my hands. That's about
all there is to the story. Next morn
ing I examined the place carefully by
broad daylight, and it was plain from
the dust on the floor that no furnish
Ing of any kind had been there for
years. We left the house before the
end of the week. paying months for
felt on the lease, not because we be-
lieve in spooks, but because we didn't
care to stay in place where unac.
countable things happen. It's bad for
the nerves. Ny wife and have talked
the matter over thousand times,
carefully comparing notes, and as far
as we know We both saw the same
things. My boy must have seen them,
too, for when We went back into the
parlor be asked his mother whether
that wasn't Aunt Hattie's chair Aunt
Hattie is an old relative Of ours. who
has favorite straight-back chair, sim
liar to the one we saw in the room.
Of course we have never allowed our
selves to refer to the occurrence be-
fore the child, so am unable to say
positively what else he observed.
What l saw myself was as plain and
as distinct as you are at this moment.
even noticed that one Of the table
legs had been mended with piece
of slat, and my wife remarked the
same thing. The house is still stand
Ing, and has since been occupied by
several successive tenants. AS far as
am aware none Of them have ever
had any unusual experience"