Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-05
A TRUE GHOST STORY
rHe REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE or
BISHOP WlLBeeFoRcE.
Singular n Important Disclosure
Made by the Quiet Clerical Guest at
an English Country House when
Addressed by the RishoO

-@f
an English Country House when
Addressed " IN. bishop.
The following remarkable Incident In
the life Of tile late Samuel Wilberforce.
bishop of oxford and afterward Of
Winchester. is related MS absolutely
authentic, and the good bishop himself
Is said 10 have many times rehearsed
the story to his friends:
On u certain occasion the worthy
bishop had accepted an invitation TO
stay at Il country house not far from
London. Entering the drawing room
previous Il dinner on the evening Of
his arrival, lie noticed a priest, evident
" of the Roman communion. sitting by |
the open fire and taking no part in the
general conversation. The bishop was
somewhat surprised at not being pre-
scented to the priest, and his astonish
| ment was great when n few moments
later dinner being announced the guests
retired. leaving the priest at his place
BY the fire. The hostess having as
signed Bishop Wilberforce the seat Of
honor 1t her right hand, as soon Us an
opportunity offered he remarked:
II beg your pardon, madam, but may
| inquire who was the priest we left
sitting apart in the drawing room2'
All, yon have seen him, Them re;
piled the lady. 1T Is not every one
who has that privilege. | cannot tell
yon who he Is or whence he comes
For many years this specter has haunt
ed the house and grounds. 1t has, in
fact. been a tradition in the family. He
seems to do no harm, and. although he
appears only occasionally. we have be
come quite accustomed to our friendly
ghost
How very Singular remarked his
lordship. But have you never ad
dressed your priestly specter?"
Indeed, ! have had no opportunity,
nor the desire. for that matter" re
sponded The hostess. growing pale.
MAY ! take the liberty nowY' in
quired the d%ignitary.
with all my heart. your lordship,'
replied the lady. The bishop arose
| Hllut iGlul iIllS w luC hlS soohbt
found the priest where he had left him
a few minutes before. Having 10 fear,
the bishop said kindly:
who are You, my friend, and why
are you herc?"
The specter seemed to sigh deeply
and say as though to itself. AT last"
Then In a hollow voice. addressing
the bishop, it continued: II nun the
spirit Of a priest who left this world
some eighty years ago. and ! am here
to impart to any one who will receive
1t a secret which died with me.
could not rest In my grave while q
great wrong was being done which 1t
was in my power to right. have been
returning all these years In the hope
some one would address me. for It was
not given to me to be the first to speak.
All men have Stunned me until now.
and 1t Is your mission to do my bid.
ding. / was a priest OF the church Of
Rome and was called to this house
eighty years z to receive the con
fession OF d dying man. He was the
sole possessor OF a secret the kn0wl
edge of which would alter materially
the entail of this vast estate, and In his
death he wished to repair the terrible
wrong he had brought upon his kin.
AT his request I wrote down the
confession word for word as lie gave 1t
TO me and when he finished had barely
time to administer the final sacrament
OF the church before he expired In my
arms. Ii was very important that ]
should return to London that night.
and In passing through the library 10
leave the house | concluded 1t would
be safer not TO carry the paper on
which was written the confession AWAY
with me. but TO place II in some secure.
unseen spot, where | could obtain X
the following day and deliver the docn
ment 10 the person for whom II was in
tended. Mounting the steps to the
bookshelyes, | took out q copy Of
Young's Night Thoughts which was
the first book upon the uppermost shelf
nearest the last window. and, insert
Ing the paper carefully between its
leaves. ] replaced the book and depart.
ed. A horse was awaiting me at the
door. but ere we reached the entrance
Of the grounds he took fright. ! was
thrown and Instantly killed. Thus died
the secret Of my c~onfessor with me. No
one has disturbed that book In all these
years, aud no one has had the courage
TO address this messenger from the un-
known. The paper will be found as
have stated, and II remains for you
10 correct the injustice which has SO
long beon upon this noble family. Ny
mission Is over. and 7 can rest III
pface"
AT the close OF this remarkable speech
the specter faded gradually from sight.
and the bishop was left gazing into
space. Recovering from bis astonish
ment. Bishop Wilberforce went at once
10 the library and found the book ex
actly as indicated by the specter. IN
Its secluded corner upon the top shelf.
thick with the dust of ages. evidently
the book had remained nnmolcsted
many years. There was the document
Just as described. but nov faded and
l -.lfZ-. I r~r a .xf.t.