Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-01-20

A GHosr Stony.

dHOsT OT0hl.
Many years since. way back IN the
thirtIes. when Charles Town was bot
small hamlet. congenial company OF
young men were congregated around
blazing wood fire III the reception room
of the old Sappington Hotel. The hour
was late. the night intensely dark, and as
several of the party lived in the country
and were anticipating lonely ride, the
conversation turned upon ghosts. and
especially upon that Of the Woman in
Black. whom legend had it so often APP
peared at the dead hour of night at old
St. Georges chapel-a spot that one Of
the party present had to pass on his way
to his home. Among the party was
youth about nineteen years old, the son
of a widow who lived but few miles
| from the town, who was noted for his
lfearlessness- indeed it was SAID of him
that from childhood he had been totally
without fear. To banter that he would
not go to the old chapel at dead hour of
night. he replied that he would wager
champagne supper that he would visit
the ruins at midnight and bring from
them a small book of prayer that could
| be placed, in daylight in some niche IN
the wall. The wager was eagerly ac-
cepted and time agreed upon for the
adventure. 1t was agreed that they
should meet at the same place upon a
certain night in the dark of the noon
AT midnight the youth was to start upon
his perilous venture, and after securing
the book was to bring it to the home of
his mother, where a committee would
meet him. The writer of this has heard
him relate the adventure SO often. even
when an old man, that he gives it to his
readers in his language.
We met. according to an agreement,
at the hotel, and spent several hours in
i social intercourse. As the old hotel
clock pointed to twelve we separated. a
committee of five going to my mothers
and starting upon my lonely journey to
the ruins of the old chapel. | reached
them in safety. and tying my mare,
Black Bess, securely to fence post,
entered the ruins and without difficulty
secured the book, and after placing il
safely in the side pocket of my coat,
left the ruins by the door and started fol
my horse. AS | approached her found
her rearing, plunging and in every way
not ten feet away from her stood ths
form OF a woman dressed in sombrt
black, With difficulty l loosened m,
mare, and mounting her, started for nj,
home, which / could reach by roat
through the Briscoe farm and entirel,
different from the one the committe,
from town had travelled. As | reached
the gate that stood at the head of th.
lane where it entered the Briscoe land
. found the woman had proceeded me
; With whip and spur l urged the mar,
forward, but in spite of my efforts, sh,
, wheeled aud carried me several hundred
yards in the opposite direction, Afte
quoting her as best could, took he
, back to the gate. but with worse results
This time she wheeled and carried M
back to the turnpike. Determined NO
to be outdone, and with my blood a
: fever heat, | again took her to the qat
, at full speed. Using the whip unsparine
, ly and knowing that the top slat of th
gate was off, hoped she would Jump il
and braced myself for the effort. | wa
+ not disappointed. She took the jun
and landed safely. AS l passed tn
! sombre figure the sight of her seemed t
add terror to the n are. and l was unabl
= to control her until reached nv home
! Calling my stable boy, Taunton. de
r livered her into his hands for a goo
{ rubbing down, and entering the hous
: delivered the prayer book to the commit
, tee.. had won the wager, but wa
, badly shaken up, In due time the suppe
, came off and was the event OF the season.
: The youth who made the famous rid
aud won the wager never lost his love TO
j adventure. He served with distinction
. in the Mexican war, in the John Brow
war in Kansas, and, although an oil,
man, in our War between the States. an,
was among the first to go to the gol,
fields in California. He died where h
was born, in sight of the Old Chapel
/ and lies buried in Zion aveyard.
would write as his epltaph:
Here lies the body of Major -.
a soldier of three wars and q brave and com
: teous gentleman.