River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-10-09
The Haunted
SchOOmo u Sc
By LOU LESSERT.

IT HE tranquility Of the sleepy LITTLE
town Of Minton was much dis
turbed. For two weeks the air had
been thick with hair-raising stories
concerning dilapidated log school
house that stood about two miles from
town. Strange lights had been seen
moving about the ruins and fitting
among the branches of an immense
fOrked oak standing just across the
road. A belated traveller, passing the
schoolhouse after nightfall, had been
frightened by white object that rose
from the foot of the fOrked oak, ut
tered unearthly grOans, and then APP
parently sank into the earth. In short,
it was the general opinion that the
old building was haunted. Even the
boldest would not pass it after dark
unless compelled to travel that road.
About five miles from MintOn lived
an eccentric farmer named Zachariah
Hinser. He was very superstitious
man and was, as his neighbors phrased
it, Saving to stinginess." In his youth
he had married Angelina Bradley, the
pretty daughter of Schoolmaster
James Bradley, who, for many years,
taught school in the log schoolhouse
on the road to MintOn. Death had
claimed Angelina, and for two years
her Oldest daughter, Charity, had man
aged the household affairs.
Nineteen-year-oId Charity, who had
inherited her mothers good looks and
gentleness, did not lack admirers; but
Zachariah told her most devoted
sutton, George Burton, that Charity
should not get married before reach
ing the age of %. George did not like
the idea of waiting three years for his
bride. He thought that his salary as
rural mail carrier would provide for
Charity as well as her father did; and
he mentally accused Zachariah of car
ing more to save the expense of a
housekeeper than to promote the hap
piness of his eldest daughter.
One evening, when George was call
ing at Hinser's, several neighbors
dropped into have neighborly chat.
The conversation soon turned to the
sensation of the hour and one ghost
story after another was told.
Charity was surprised to notice that
George, who usually made light of
ghost stories, was listening intently
to all stories told. He talked but
little, and when not listening to the
conversation idly turned the leaves of
an old album containing pictures of
dead and gone ancestors of the Hinser
family.
Young Jim Hinser, whose face was
unusually grave, seemed, fascinated
by the gruesome tales. When Farmer
Dunton began to speak about the
strange sounds he heard in the vicin-
ity of the old schoolhouse, the boy
snuddered, choked upon bite of APP
pie, and left the room.
Poor jim" thought Charley, show
they have frightened him! Such
stories should not be told before chill
dren."
On the following day Zachariah took
a load of wheat to the MintOn mill.
Owing to broken mill machinery he
was unable to start home until late in
the afternoon. BY the time he neared
the ScnOOlnOuSe IL was almost dark,
and he did not relish the idea of pass
ing it. He wished he had not listened
tothestories told the night before. Be
ing in an uneasy state of mind, he was
Mortified to observe the figure of Mas
ter Bradley seated on a high stool just
outside the door, his elbows on his
knees, and his chin resting in the
palms of his hands. He was dressed
in a we'll worn suit of rusty black. A
fur cap was on his head.
How we'll Zachariah remembered
that swallow-tailed coat and fur cap!
The frightened man could neither
speak nor move. The horses plodded
on until opposite the forked oak, when
the figure rose to its feet, and, carry
ing the stool, advanced into the road
in front of the horses; and, raising it's
hand, pointed an accusing finger at
Zachariah, who could only gaze, spell.
bound, at the white face, and the sunk
en- eyes which seemed to glow like fire
The horses stopped when the ap
partition stepped in front of them.