The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-01
Edited by MARY MARSHALL
Two True Ghost Stories
By H. r. HOLDEN.

It was q wild. dark. unpleasant night
The steamer lay straining at her heat
and stern lines, occasionally grinding
against the quay-side as she rose ant
| fell on the swell that came rolling int
! the harbor. giving one some idea Of wha
to expect outside.
| I intended crossing the English chan
mel by the boat that night, and hat
been waiting the arrival of the late ex-
press before going on board.
Its a dirty night. SIR" said one Of
the men. as he crossed the Eangway.
Yes: 1 expect It will be a shake-uI
( outside. When do we START
Midnight. II alrs WELL" he answered
a. he pushed back the slide and. turn.
ing half round. went down the COM
panion hatch.
1 was beginning to feel cold. and an
occasional shower of rain made me
think II was time I also went on board.
when. suddenly the station lamps were
turned up and a few porters appeared.
apparently half asleep. and shouted out
something no one but themselves could
understand as the train came to a stop.
My friend whom I had expected to
meet had evidently not arrived. SO I
turned toward the steamer
What time does she START" asked a
stout, redfaced man. muffled up to his
ears in a thick wrap. and carrying a
large handbag. as he came by me.
Midnight. have been told" 1 re-
piled.
What a sea there will be outside" he
rejoined. I'm generally sick crossing
even when its smooth. and I shall be
bad tonight. My plan is always to turn
in at once. and try to sleep it off. II pos
sible: not that 1t Is always successful"
added he as we went below. What
sort Of a sailor are your"
''Oh. I'm pretty well seasoned" re-
piled. laughing: but let me recommend
a cup of hot coffee as a good thing to
take before turning in. I've ordered
some to be sent to the smoking room.
You had better come with me-
I've an idea that sea-sickness Is
brought on to a great extent through
nervousness remarked my stout COM
panion, helping himself to some sugar.
You start by thinking you will be Ill.
and you are Ill accordingly. Now. you
might not think 1t. to look at me. but
I'm naturally as nervous as an old tom
cat. put 1t down TO the effects Of a
fright 1 once had when quite young
ster. Why. even now I don't much LIKE
being in the dark"
Looking at his big joviaI face. 1 laugh
ed at the idea Of his being nervous.
Well. it's certainly very wrong to
brighten youngsters. but I should not
now I was scared once or twice my
self. and it didn't do mo much harm; but
still I'm strongly opposed to youngsters
being frightened
"Ah, yes: but you really don't know
how fearfully nervous I am. My doctor /
says l ought to have strong nerves: but
II Just shows you it's not safe to judge
by appearances. BY the bye. do you
mind telling me how It was you were
"Oh. no; mine is very simple story. |
I was never OF a very nervous DISPOSE !
ton. and as a child. even before l could
read l was extremely fond of hearing
ghost stories I had a small companion
Of about my own age who was equally
keen on them. Now there happened to
be, in his fathers study. a certain book
On haunted houses that he particularly
wanted to read, and, having taken an OPP