The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-12-19
PRIESTS GHOST STORY
9E0AN WITH THRILLS, BUT
ENDED VERY TAMELY.
All the Material for Really Excellent
Experience With Spirits Seemed
to Be There Until the Touch Of
Materlallsm Developed.

Doctor Walsh, lecturer and nerve
specialist, tells the following story
In one of his series OF talks on ghosts.
dreams, premonitions. After this tale
1t will be unnecessary to say that the
doctor has never seen ghost himself.
An old clergyman dwelling alone
with his housekeeper and her sister
in rather lonely part of little coun-
try town was awakened late one night
by loud ring at his front doorbell.
In moment the priest was out of bed
and preparing to go on what he ex-
pected was a sick call summons.
Again very shortly came another
ring at the bell. Surprised that the
housekeeper, who slept on the ground
floor, had not answered the door he
went out into the hall and down the
stairs. There standing at the open
door was the housekeeper and her sis
ter looking out into empty space. The
two astonished women turned to him.
There is no one there, fatherl"
they exclaimed
when 1t rang first / went to the
door and found no one," went on the
elder, then when 1t rang again we
were both near the door and opened
1t Immediately and there was nothing
around"
AS they were speaking the bell rang
again and the women in alarm chung
to each other. Boldly the priest
opened the door-still no one In sight.
1t was a clear starlight night and
the house stood in an empty space.
Very cautiously he explored every por
ton Of the grounds, piazza and house,
but not even a footprint could he find
AS he was entering the door after his
search the bell rang again, and as he
was In full view of the bell he was
forced to admit that no visible human
agency rang it. He had great diff
ficulty calming the frightened women
and returned to his room In a puzzled
into bed he glanced at his watch and
saw that 1t was 2 o'clock
The next day he learned with great
sorrow and also with some uneasiness
that the vicar of the neighboring town.
who was a lifelong friend of his and
of whose Illness he had not heard, had
died at 2 o'clock the night before.
After that no mysterious doorbell
ringings were heard until the night of
the day OF the wears funeral. Wear
led out with grief and the funeral, the
old priest had retired early and was
sleeping soundly when he was awak.
ened by knocks at his door and the
voice Of his frightened housekeeper
Father! Father!" she was crying.
Didn't you hear the doorbell ring?
We've gone to the door and there's no
one there! The house must be
haunted. Tomorrow the first thing In
the morning we will leave"
Cutting still the woman's crying
came another ring at the bell Quick.
ly the priest was up and down stairs,
looking at his watch on the way down.
It was 2 o'clock. AS he opened the
door clear and shrill the bell changed
out again.
$50 the bell rings itself. does it?" he
unused after good look around. well,
then. the trouble must be In the bell"
Late as 1t was he went to work pry.
Ing the bell from the door and found
the ghost! A family of mice had
built snug little nest for themselves
there and their entrances and exits
had been the cause of the BELLS ring.
Ing. The late hours they kept was
no doubt due to thei: natural timidity.