The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-05-08


ing ghost stories. That is a very
good sort of thing for a rainy af-
ternooD; and it is a much better time
than after night. If you tell ghost
stories after dark they are apt TO make
you nervous, whether you own up to
1t or not, and you sneak home and
dodge upstairs in mortal terror, and
uDdress with your back to the WALL
so that you can't fancy there Is any,
thing behind you.
We had each told a story and had
had the usual assortment of myster-
ious noises and death warnings and
sheeted spectres and SO on. down
through the whole catalogue of hor-
rors-enough to satisfy any reason
able ghost faster. But Jack. as usual,
was dissatisfied. He said our stories
were all secondhand stun. There
wasn't a man in the crowd who had
ever seen or heard ghost; all our
so-called authentic stories had been
told us by persons who had the story
from other persons who saw the
ghosts.
OhC uOOSh SCl lIOll
that" said Jack. Il never expect to
get so far along as to see a real ghost
myself, but would like to see and
talk to one who had"
Some persons appear to have the
knack of getting their wishes granted.
Jack is one of that ilk. Just as he
made the remark Davenport sauntered
In, and, finding out what was going
on, volunteered to tell a CHEST story
Understanding that had happened
to his grandmother-or maybe it was
his great aunt; forget which. 1t was
very good ghost story as ghost
stories go, and Davenport told it we'll
Even Jack admitted that, but he said:
Its only secondhand, too. Did
you ever have a ghostly experience
yourself, old man?"
Davenport put his finger tips critic
ally together.
Would you believe me if l said
had?" he asked.
"No," said Jack, unblushlngly.
''Then there would be no use in my
saying it,"
But you don't mean that you ever
really had, of course?"
81 don't know Something queer
happened once. I've never been able
to explain it-from a practical point
of view, that is. Want to hear about
itr'
OF course we did. This was exclt-
ing. Nobody would ever have sus-
pected Davenport of seeing ghosts.
''Its conventional enough" he be-
gan. "Ghosts don't seem to have much
originality. But it's first-hand. Jack,
If that's what you want. l don't sup
pose any of you have ever heard me
speak Of my brother, Charles. He
was my senior by two years. and was
a quiet, reserved sort of fellow-not
at all demonstratlve, but with very
strong and deep affections.
"When he left college he became en-
gagged to Dorothy Chester. She was
very beautiful and my brother idol
lied her. She died a short time before
the date set for their marriage, and
Charles never recovered from the
blow.
II married Dorothy's sister. Virginia.
Virginia did not in the least resemble
her sister, but our eldest daughter was
strikingly like her dead aunt. We
called her Dorothy and Charles was
devoted to her Dolly, as we called
her. was always Uncle Charley $
girl
When Dolly was twelve years old
Charles went to New Orleans on bust
ness, and while there took yellow
fever and died. He was buried there
and Dolly half broke her childish
heart over his death.
"One day five years later when Dolly
was seventeen, I was writing letters
in my library. That very morning my
wife and Dolly had gone to New York
en- route for Europe. Dolly was going
to school in Paris for a year Business
prevented my accompanying them even
as far as New York. but Gilbert Ches
ter. my wife's brother. was going with
them. They were to sail on the Ara
gon the next morning.
81 had written steadily for about an
hour. At last, growing tired, / threw
down my pen. and. leaning back in
my chair, was on the point Of lighting
a cigar when an unaccountable i'm
pulse made me turn round. / dropped
my cigar and sprang to my feet in
amazement. There was only one dooi
In the room and | had all along beer
facing 1t. could have sworn nobOd,
had entered yet there, standing be
tween me and the bookcase, was
man-aDd that man was my brothe
Charlesi
There was no mistaking him; say
him as plainly as see you. He was
tall. rather stout man, with curly hai
and fair, close-clipped beard. III
wore the same light gray suit whicl
he had worn when bidding us good-b,
on the morning of his departure 70
New Orleans. He had no hat on. bu
wore spectacles, and was standing Il
his old favorite attitude, with hi
hands behind him.
II want you to understand that q
this precise moment. although | wa
surprised beyond measure, was nc
Ia the least frightened, because di
not for moment suppose that wha
j saw Was--Wcll q ghost or apDaritio