Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-11-27
The ElmSbury
Ghost
Ii Appeared In Person to Mr..
Ebenezcr Pollock
By CLARISSA MACkIE
Copyright. 1909. by American Press
Association.

Pollock for Si.00Or'
The auctioneer's hammer fell with
resounding thud and nearly grazcd
the nose of the purchaser.
Didn't mean TO damage a good Gus.
toner" cbuckled the man of the ham.
mer rs he pulled down the red flag
above the gate and climbed into hiS
buggy "Come down TO Lawyer fitch's
Office bimeby. Meier. and we'll close
the deal right aud proper"
VERY WELL" said Ebenezer grufliv.
He watched the crowd of women tip.
toeing out of the house and waited un.
I'll the last one had passed through the
gate. each with furtive glance at the
new owner. He was aware that they
marveled because he had bought a
ghost ridden house
When he was alone In the shadows
Of the tall oaks he looked up at the
house, dark and foIbidding in the midst
of rank grass and weeds. Whatever
had been its original color, II was now
faded TO dingy mustard hue. blotted
with the dark green of heavy wooden
shutters tightly closed.
There were years and years when
the shutters had never been closed.
Those were the days before old Simon
Elmsbury's granddaughter had run
away with the schoolteacher and had
In consequence been disinherited by
the old man. Simon had left the house
and land and furniture to the Foreign
Missionary society. and now, five years
after his death. they had put II up at
auction. and Ebenezer had bought II
at much below its real value.
1t was well known that Simon would
have opposed his granddaughter's mar
rage 10 any man. He was selfish
enough TO wish to keep her at his side
to wait upon him. for she was the only
relative he had.
LET us come and live with you.
grandfather" Cornelia had pleaded
with her arms around his neck You
will like Henry better when you know
him." But the obdurate old man had
angrily flung her aside. and the next
day the girl had been married to Hen
~ Stone and disappeared from Mel
vile.
After that Simon Elmsbury closed
the main part of the house and lived
In the east wing for ten years. and
then he died without one relenting
word to Cornelia. The Stones had new
er been heard from since their depar-
ture from Melville. No one knew
where they lived or even IL they were
alive. Old Simon Elmsbury went 10
the grave unattended by any relative.
Since Simons death gossip had 1t
that the house was haunted. On stormy
nights. the credulous said. the old
piano tinkled softly behind the closed
shutters. and woman's thin. sweet
voice was heard singing In low tones.
Snatches of this weird music could be
heard sometimes In the. lull of Shrek
ing wind or dashing rain. On other
nights all was still. Some claimed
that Cornelia was dead aud that her
sweet spirit came back 10 sing In the
rooms of the old home. where she had
spent happy girlhood.
In spite of ghostly rumors. Ebenezer
Pollock had suddenly made up bis
mind to give up boarding In the vii
lage hotel and occupy home OF his
own. The Elmsbury place suited him.
II was near his harness shop. aud the
east wing was just large enough to
fc cft A g far I'm
main portion of the house. he gave II
over TO rats and mice and mold.
Now he walked up the path aud en-.
tered the front door. creaking rustily
on its hinges In the south breeze that
swept the yard. On the second floor
door banged loudly. Ebenezer start
ed and then. with an exclamation Of
disgust. entered the house.
4 long. dark hall stretched away
into lnky blackness. and TO the right
and left open doors gave glimpses into
darkened rooms family Illuminated
with candles placed there by the auc-
tioneer.
EbeneZer creaked In and out OF the
rooms filed with decaying furniture.
carefully blowing out the candles. Up
stairs the candles were tiickering
strangely. and there was chill In
the large north bedroom as IL from
an open window. but all the windows
were tightly shattered and barred.
Once outside again. he turned the
great brass key in the front door with
an involuntary sigh of reef. The east
wing had a separate entrance and was
shut OF from the rest of the house
by sealed door. days work by
black Anna would make the wing very
habitable for him and his bachelor be-
longings. Ebenezer didn't want a
housekeeper-he detested women.
He had lived In the Emsbury place
for three weeks before he heard the
singing ghost. IL was the 2lst OF Sep
TENDER. and the equinoctial gale was
shaking the old house 10 its very foun.
dations. Ebenezer had gone 10 bed.
but he could not sleep The wind
screamed down the wide chimney aud
whistled around the windows. The
roar OF heating rain drowned all sound
save the whisfIiug wind There were