The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1902-01-01
THE GHOST OF
Quincy MANOR
A New Years Story by Arthur J. Strinser.
rcopyrsghs, 1901. BY Arthur J. stringer.l

it with my own eyes as plainly as see
you now. I've seen 1t. and l intend to
lay it. couldn't sleep at nights for it.
and it got on my nerves. None Of the
people about here will so near the
place. That's why it has never been
sold or rented. They say that over
eighty years ago woman was MUIR
dered there and buried in the cellar
and that she still hauNts the place.
That's all nonsense. Of course, but for
all that there's something mysterious
and uncanny about ii, and l mean to
follow it out to the bitter end. You're
cool and level headed and analytical,
and so | want you to see me through
with it"
We turned in through broken wall
topped by thick tang!e Of brushwood.
Beyond this was an orchard run wild.
Beyond this again, in the midst Of q
dark little clump Of spectral looking
trees. stood rambling. old. many ga
bled structure. looming up gloomy. des-
olate and forbidding through the gray
afternoon.
1t was certainly not an inviting LOOK
ing place. Even the village express
man had declined to DO more than leave
Ford's boxes and trunks outside In the
snow on the tumbledown veranda. We
went up the dilapidated steps, and my
companion unlocked the massive front
door. Then for two hours we worked
like beavers. hauling In and unpacking
the boxes. building fire in the massive
old fireplace and doing what we could
to make ourselves comfortable for the
night in the big dark paneled room
which Ford spoke OF rs the long
room." The old colonel, learned. oc-
cupied two little rooms in the extreme
south wing and did not so much as
make an appearance as we pounded
our furniture defiantly about the place.
| suggested that we both look thor
oughly over the building while there
was still a little daylight. We went
from room to room. peering into twillt
closets and probing about gloomy pas
sages till it grew dark. and Ford went
back for lamp. The hours slipped
past, but still we searched about the
strange old house. 1t grew late, anu
we found nothing but dust and cob
webs, though l believe Ford would
have kept up the search till New Years
morning had not somewhat disgusted-
ly protested that a hot dinner would
suit me better than ghost.
Ford cooked the dinner himself, and |
must confess it was an atrociously DAD
one. Over our coffee and cigars. how
ever. my good nature returned.
laughingly inquired for little more
information about our esteemed friend,
the ghost. and timidly insinuated that
perhaps the pugnacious old colonel bad
a more or less active hand in the mat
ter. But Ford wouldn't hear OF such
a thing. The colonel Is decrepit anu
can scarcely walk. He even lent me
that long uarreled old rife leaning
against the fireplace there and said he'd
be greatly obliged if I'd fill this fool
ghost full Of lead for him. And would
like to see how an apparitlon takes to
bullets. But, besides all this. Wethef
ell, our ghost. is-a woman.
"A woman
"Yes, q woman. and with one OF the
most remarkable faces l ever saw. The
fact is. there couldn't be a more beau
tiful face! She suddenly appears. from
nowhere at all. apparently. and is al
wsys dressed in white. | know II
sounds tr!te. but IL you'll only watt
He broke off, for at the back Of the
house bell rang loudly. There was
something ominous. disturbing. unnat.
ural. in the sound of that changing bell
as it echoed generously through the
huge empty halls. Ford did not move.
The bell rang again. A little shiver
crept up my spinal column. For the
third time the bell sounded.
Its the front doorbell." whispered
my companion. Its one Of the signs
of-it.'
| seized the lamp and hurried to the
door. No one was there. Outside an