Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-06-27

F" supernatural can be explained
by natural causes. and that a
man who believes in ghosts is soft IN
tbe head, an adventure happened me a
few wears ago that put my cynicism to
the test and reflected little credit upon
nv personal courage. Thirty miles
out OF London stood an old manor
house which has since been torn down
n make room for a summer resort. AT
the time of my visit it was little better
than a ruin. The property had been
in law for 80 years, and during most OF
the time the house was without tenant
mr. caretaker OF the 20 or 80 rooms
only four or five had come to be in
babitable. and those were in sad condi-
ton.
was down from London on sketch
ing tour and stopping at an inn half
mile from the manor. / early decided
10 include the ruin in my sketches. ant
one afternoon went over to have look
around. After some waste of time l
selected a spot whence to begin work,
Inn left the work itself for the morrow.
did not seek to enter the house, but in
nasgjng along its south side. and know
ing il to be untenanted, | got quite
shock by seeing for an instant face
an one Of the broken windows. The
gHupse was so brief that ! could not tell
whether il was the face of man or
woman, but knew it was old and ugly.
After a moments thought ! realized
that some Wanderer had taken up lOdg-
iugs there and as it was no concern of
mine I passed on without further in
vesigation. That evening at the inn
/ spoke Of the matter TO the landlady,
and with a serious face she turned to
me- and said:
Better keep on the outside OF the
old house sir That face has been Of
ten seen before. and we know that it
belongs to no one alive"
According to the general belief the
place was haunted. The landlord told
me Of sights and sounds and advan-
lures thaJ aroused my curiosity instead
Of my fears. and almost in minute
made up my mind to thorough inves-
tiGatiOn He was made anxious by my
decision and earnestly sought to dis
sVade me, saying that | would assured
~ come 70 harm but at high noon next
day walked over and went through all
the rooms There were three rooms
downstairs and two on the second floor
which were fairly habitable, but though
the dust lay thick everywhere | could
not ind that even a rat had crossed the
floors To the left on the first floor
was the library. and / selected this in
which to pass the night. | could put
my candles on the mantel, sit down on
an old bench and there was bolt on
the inside of the door in case | wanted
70 shut myself in. There were cellars
underneath, but the stairs were quite
gone There were doors to the five
rooms, but thy were without locks.
braced them all wide open with bricks
before leaving, and | brought In boards
and covered the broken window of the
library.
The landlord and others tried again
10 dissuade me me after supper, but
laughed at their words and went my
way being provided with half dozen
candles and a stout club to keep the
ghosts away. | also had my pipe
and a book and | meant to pass an
easy night of it, | had some little Gu
f0sity, but was entirely without fear.
As for the face | had seen at the win
dow ! still believed it to be that of
tramp. and | argued that If he had not
taken alarm and made off he would be
clear of disturbing me during the
night. ! was all settled when night
-e.. and lit MY pipe and began read
thE. To was Just 10 O'Clock when pull
oa out my watch to wind it, and ! had
only restored it TO my pocket when the
sound of footsteps upstairs suddenly
caught my ear The door of the library
stood open, and | could see out into
i hall from where | sat Ny heart
.aua1 into my throat in a second but
i.a In came TO me that ii was the
NtHp. | rose up, grasped nay club.
anu waited. and | was mad enough
Wien ! felt my knees trembling. The
footsteps moved about for minute or
I"a ana then We're heard on the stairs.
tops wore light for a man and yet
To-. heavy for woman. They de-
s.E3ed as naturally and regularly as
''l be-. and ! was all attention. but
sa5eG * the foot Of the stairs
aM ] found myself looking at-blank-
Some one had come down, out
lad he vanished took up one
q. .I- candles and marched out into
' Aall, but no one was in sight.
admit that a chill crept up my
as returned to the library, but /
my teeth hard and repressed it.
mad been no footsteps. II was
.aaglnation. SO / argued with my
hl sat down again to my book.
over five minutes had passed when
agee doors upstairs swung TO with
tAg in succession. Each one had
" held wide open by a brick. mind
and the night was as quiet as you
! Jumped to my feet as the
hanged. and for a minute
I unr
on myself and picked zip the
4le and the club and walked straight
srs All the doors were shut, bu,
asa each one in turn. gave 'he
z looking ever. and found nr n
The bricks ! propped the .oors
agatn and descended to the H.
= -rL stanGirs- q, ITO Acc.- "a Ilad