Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-08-22
A Berkshire Ghost Story. :
DY ITTA ALLEN FELLNER.

great ana pOWer1ul blacksmith IN a
quiet little village among the Berk-
shire hills.
Tim was an honest. hard working,
kind hearted man, and a great favor
ite with all the country people for
miles around, in spite of his being NOR
bidly superstitious and a firm believer
In spirit rapping, haunted houses and
ghosts.
Tins dearest friend, farmer John
Davis, or honest john" as he was
everywhere known. was always child
ing Timothy about his belief or, as
John would put it, his "foolishness.
Still, whenever they had an hour to
and the talk always turned to GHOSTS"
and spirit rappings."
All through the winter months they
were much together. 1t was Toms de-
light to close his shop early and drive
to his friends house and spend the
long wintry evenings by the fire in
the farmhouse kitchen, expounding his
favorite views on spiritualism.
Although John Davis professed to
be an unbeliever in spiritualism, and
was known as ' honest John" he could
vouch for more bloodcurdling ghost
stories and thrilling adventures than
any other man about the country; and
Tim was an earnest listener.
One of their most horrible tales. hor-
rible for a true story" was about
haunted house, of course. haunted by
q hcadless ghost. The old house still
stood i'll the neighborhood, but no liv-
ing being could occupy it, for when
ever the housewife attempted to pre-
pare the morning meal there always
appeared beside the kitchen stove a
man without head. but with a
SCARED and bloody neck. 1t was most
horrible! There was only one cause
Tor such a ghost-murdcr.
Years ago. the story ran, a terrible
crime had been committed there; a
most brutal murder it was, too. A
simple, honest peddler, who merely
sought nights repose beneath that
humble roof. had been beheaded with
an axe while awaiting his breakfast.
Then the fiend who did the awful deed
escaped by stealing a horse from the
barn behind the house
The years had come and gone and
che murderer had not been found, and
to this very day no one had yet been
able to live in that house, or even use
the barn. The horses stabbed in that
barn. no matter how securely fas-
tened, would become united during the
night by some mysterious hand, and
scamper wildly away, even when
strong ropes or heavy iron chains were
used
John Davis had never fastened
who had been very religious and just
man, had often tried to do so, in years
gone by, without avail.
Even Johns own mother, who had
teon noble Christian woman, had
actually seen the headless man sitting
beside the fire in that old haunted
house upon two different occasions,
and although John said he did not be-
.ieve the tale himself. he always add
I'd, when telling it:
"And fathers word was as good as
Bible truth" and everybody knew
that mother could not lie'
And Tim believed it all, and would
hardly have ventured home at night
If he had not kept his horse with him
to keep him company.
Now it happened that as these two
old men would often meet and tell
their tales, they sometimes had lis
tener, young man who loved humor
and occasionally dropped in to hear
their stories. His name was George
Cowee. He was a slender youth with
much learning and refinement. He
was a nephew of Deacon Cowee, a
wealthy farmer living a short distance
som the Davis place.
He always agreed with Tim, but he
ad no more faith in 'Tim's views"
Shan John himself, but he liked Tim
nd he liked to hear him talk. 1t
was very amusing.
The night before Christmas he hap
pened into Johns kitchen, and there
he found Tim, who, as usual, was tell
ting about 1.-The dead coming back" and
communicating with their friends by
rapping on tin pans,' and as usual
John loudly declared it was all 'bosh"
and nonsense
Tim had just been down to the city,
where he had attended a full fiedged
spiritual meeting, and he was strong
er than ever in his belief, and had
many wonderful things to relate.
When George Cowee arose to go that
night he said to them:
II am going away tomorrow-out
west" Then he added mischicvously,
slyly winking at John: Tim, If
am killed before ] return will let
you know it through the spirit.
will rap on the head board of your
bed at night. Spirits arc always around
at night, and | shall rap very softly at
first. then louder t!.an bass drum,
so that you will know that it Is l,
George Cowcc. and no matter what
hour Ii is, YOU must hasten here to
IoI,p's I,n,,.n all u, i'm I IN, curo