The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-31
her roses. air. and Nirs. Hughes know
none OF the traits OF the former own

'tHS VI tiie LiditS Oh tne FORMER own
crs.
It was carly winter when tho
HuShescs took possession OF white
Marsh, end it was not until spring;
that Mrs. Hughes realized tho cntranc-
INF beauty OF her home.
The rosehIshes put forth their clean
red stalks. and in carly May many of
them were full OF buds. On the see
ond terrace of the falling garden was
an especially luSuriaAt bush. whose
blossoms wero more backward than
no rest.
One bright morning In the last of
May Mrs. Hughes found blown rose
uron IT. It's creamy petals and golden
heart filled her with JOY, and she put
forth her hand to pluck 1t, but Before
her fingers touched tho rose the busl,
swaycd as if caught In the teeth OF
mighty wind. Mrs. Hughes looked
hround-the landscape was peaceful,
no storm was rising.
Extremely puzzled. Mrs. Hughes
again tried to pluck the rose: again the
bush trenlbled. She grasped the stem
iirmiN. but as if In wrath II snntchcd
Itself from her hand. The bush swaycd
Violently again. and the very shutters
OF the house banged sharply
Mrs. hughes was frightened at this
phenomenon, and she left the rose
bush.
She spoke OF the occurrence. and
when her husband tried to pluck the
rose the same thing happened. and he
had the conviction that ii he did pluck
Il something tremendously disagree
able would occur.
The servants alleged solcmnly that
ole Miss amt never lowed nobody
to pull dat rose"
Tho Incident puzzled the whole
countyside. and many came to witness
the antics of the haunted bush"
Mrs. Hughes became nervous over
the ineSplicable performance, and de-
cided to have the bush destroyed She
was sick of It's frantic twirling, tho
spontaneous Banging of shutters and
l'attling OF doors.
One morning when she was making
her rounds of the garden tho rosebush
was gone roots ard all--the very place
thereof knew 1t no moro.
Did tho gardener take IL up?
He says not.
This story can be verified by many
living witnesses who reside in Glouces-
ter county to-day.
Just after the war Mr.. virEinius
Dabney. author of "Don Milf" was
staying Mt an old place in I.oudoun
county, Va. His fortune was gone.
aud he was visiting kinamun anu
reading law. He slept In house In
the yard. which consisted OF two
rooms.
passage ran parallel with the
rooms. and there was n door at each
end OF the. passage. In the room nd
Joining Mr. Dabncy's q friend had been
sleeping. hut he was now away
The first night nothing happened.
Mr.. Dabncy was sound asleep by II
o'clock. The next night when he was
absorbed in Blackstone, he was star
tied Just as the clock struck lo by
hearing the south door of the passage
noisily open, heavy footsteps stalk it's
length. and then out Of tho north
door He supposed some belated SER
Want was taking II short cut home and
took no notice of the occurrence for
several nights. At last coming to the
conclusion that II was n nuisance, he
barred both doors with n primitive
and very heavy wooden beam which
rested on wooden sockets.
The intruder shall so all the way
around tonight" he thought; but, 10!
at midnight he heard the door very
noisily open rs usual and the footsteps
hurrying over tho bare planlSs might
have been those of n giant in seven
leaguc boots. The north door banged
TO as MIR. Dabncy jumped out OF bed
Tic moon shone brightly, and no
moving object appeared on the sweep
of sreenswnrd.
"a ghost?" Mr.. Dnbney asked him
self seriously. He laughed at the idea
and went hack to bed.
The next night he sat up, and Just
as the wild Footsteps came down tho
massage he rushed out. lamp in hand
The footsteps were still sounding, and
4 hpI zl.l .f IL.
to, although the door was barred. lie
looked around tho passage. Gould
something have fallen. and night
anu its quietude have magnIhed tho
sound? No. Tho several brides.
spurs and whips hung on their respec-
tive nails. II they had fallcn and
readjusted Themselves the
marvel would be greater
Each supposition failed to explain.
and the auditory apparition appeared
every night. One especial night the
scurryinG was so tremendous that Mr..
l)abney opened the north door ana
peered out. 1t had been showing since
. o'clock. Not footprint married the
soft Wilderness which lay in iieecy
piles even TO the doorsill.
After the lapse OF y week or two
the friend who had been sleeping in
the house returned.
Just ut midnight the south door
opened and loud footsteps sounded.
Quick as Hash both men went out
OF bed and In the passaGc In a
twinkling they had unburrcd tho
door and were out IN the yard. to find
naught but tho stiffness of the rural
midnight!
MIR. Dabney and his friend. reserved
as to ghosts. as most of us are. had
neither spoken to the other OF his
experience, but evidently the subject
had pcrturbed them, for each man kept
awake for the noiso and rushed into
the passage simultaneously.
What is it, Mr. Dnbney asked
his friend when they could find or
see nothing.
II don't know" lie answered.
You have heard 1t bctore?"
Many, many times
Spoken of it?'