The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-09-20

OlceS were ucaiu, HanoS "eic iCi',
and there, when l came to the place,
the old house stood, with moths and
spiders for its only tenants.
went up and looked at it, and then
l talked TO Jane She had not a bit
OF superstition in her, and she agreed
to what proposed.
l went to old Tantivy, and offered
him hundred a year for five years
lease of the place, the five hundred to
be paid in one sum.
"After that" said I, "I'll give you
two thousand for the property. Wife
and are not afraid of ghosts"
The old lawyer shook his head.
"You say you've met with losses,
said he, "and have just six hundred
dollars left? Keep it. You couldn't
live in that house one week. I've tried
it. I'd make bargain with a rich
man, but I'm not rascal enough to
take poor mans all
"I'H risk it," SAID |. Il dc i; freely,
but the papers must be made out fair
and square-two thousand after my
five years lease" And so | had my
way. Jane and went up to the house
next day. 1t was wonderful, grand,
dirty old place. We set to work to
clean ito drive out the insects and
the rats; and we got some fresh straw
to sleep on, for the beds were all mould,
ering away.
That night at nine we lay down,
with lamp burning, and went to
sleep like two tops; and l think it
must have been twelve o'clock or nigh
to it when Jane shook me violently.
1 started up, and holding each 9th.
ers hands, we both saw what had
frightened her A man stood near the
bed, a young man, with fair hair curl
ing about his temples; his breast was
bare, and we saw great bleeding
wound there. I had my pistol under
my pillow, and drew it out and looked
at him. Away you 60, or fire."
said; "I'm not fool to he tricked in
this way"
Instead of oheying, he slowly NOV ed
towards the bed. Jane shrieked, and
drew the counterpane over her head
l covered him with my pistol.
"One step more, and fire. said
He took the step.
l fired. A shrek of laughter fol
lowed, and there was nobody there. l
arose and searched the place. Every
window was barred, every door locked
I unlocked one of the doors, and enter
ed the adjoining room. A great bed
with a tester and canopy, stood there
and upon this lay the figure of q
woman, all in white, covered with
blood. | rushed towards it, lamp in
hand.
Again those hollow shricks oflaugh
ter, and nothing but the stained and
yellow ticking of an old feather bee
la under Tho cononv
Luke, Lukc!" screamed my wifi,
who had followed me, clinging to my
arm. "It's all true. Let us leave the
place."
"Jane," said | sit seems to be true
tina. this place is haunted, but we have
risked our all on it. The things We
have seen have not hurt us, and l pro
pose to drive them out. III take you
to the village, if you like, and leave
you there to live, but here I stay til
| beat these ghosts"
Not alone" said Jane; and she die
uOG lcdN tnc.
If you believe me, day and night fol
three weeks we were haunted as people
never were bcfore-faccs, voices, hands
in house or IN the field; and worse
than all, we all grew i'll.
l sent for doctor, who wouldn',
come, and We went to him.
"You are poisoned,' he said. "Wha,
have you eaten, or what have you beer
drinkine?"
We thought it over, and told hin
that we knew of nothing harmful, anC
that we cooked and prepared all oul
own food.
81 never knew anyone to pass day
at that COMPOUNDED house you live in
without being affected in this way
said he; 'even those who did not eat
there. Constable Collins says he
touched nothing but cold water, anG
he came to me nearly dying"
cts the well, then," said |.
"They used to call it the best wei
in the country said he.
at has a nasty taste now," said l.
"l'll beg water from my ncighbor unit
I've cleaned it out"
And that day | began. We goI
better slowly, and | tried to hire two
farm laborcrs to help me with my well
Not one would come.
| was almost tired of living as did
and feeling like a maniac; and one day
| went to the well, and sat there
wondering whether it might be best tc
give up and go somewhere as a farm
laborer, when | felt an icy hand on my
head, and looked up saw my two
ghosts, side by side.