Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-10


steps and death ensucd. A highly re-
spectcd lady, who lived at this old
home when bride. told me that the
house WAS unQucstionably haunted.
for she has heard and seen manifes-
ta'ions that could not he attributed
to natural causes. She said often in
the broad daylight. when sitting
downstairs. she could rain,y hear the
steps Of n small child coming down
the stairs and they would then as
ccnd and repent the walking up and
rown. There was II bend in the
stairs and she often moved her chair
80 as to see half way up the stairs.
when the steps would stop ut tho
bend and then ascend when she
moved her chair SO as to see the en-
tire hiGht OF stairs. the pattering
ceased altogether, until she moved.
when IL was resumed. This lady also
said that she would make up II
feather bed in an upstairs room ana
smooth 1t very neatly. she would
then. both night and in daytime. hear
apparently some one pouring Il sack
Of pears on the iioor' from near the
cealing, or other strange sounds. On
ascending TO the rodm nothing could
bn seen out OF order, except that in
the middle OF tho bed the imprint OF
- man was seen. She said that she
would smooth the bed and soon the
noise would be repeated, and the
shape appear on the bed. Other weird
stories were told In connection with
this old haunted house.
Snw BiE Binck Dog.
Near l.owndesvl,lc. in Abbeville
County, S. c., were two haunted
houses and also 4 spot in the road
where IL Is said a traveller was muir
Il Il n ~,
also killed. This spot was said to
Ice haunted, and that between sun
down and dark II large black dog was
seen In run across the road with Its
head cut off. Negroes avoided this
spot after dark, and many whites he
licved the story. There lived nearby
Il family, among whom was 4 beau
tiful young girl. just budding into
wom0nhood. One day the girl went
to visit n nciGhbor. and her walk
carried her by the haunted spot. Just
before shutdown her brother remarked
that his sister had not returned, and
rs she would have to pass the haunted
spot about dusk, he would go and
meet her, lest she lac afraid. So he
started. hut dd not notice that n
large Ncwfuur md dog. belonging
To him, had truttcd on ahead. Just
before reaching the haunted spot he
heard his sister give Il hcart-rendcr-
ing Shrek, and on rushing tn her
assistance faund the girl lying In
the road ia commissions. II seems
that his dog, unnoticcd Ivy him. had
gone on ahead and just as the girl
reached the haunted SPOT. her mind
doubtless on the story OF the head
less dog, the animal CHANGED 10 cross
the road Just before her. She I'M
No.. nj IN ~
ghost dog and with a shrek dropped
In the road. She was tenderly car
ricd home aud every effort made to
restore her. but without avail. An
eminent physician OF l.owndcsVille,
Dr. Alexander Arnold. was sent for.
and In spite OF every effort she con-
tinucd in commissions. The girl was
finally sent to an asylum for the in
sane. and after years she died with
out regalning her mental faculties.
Superstition PASSES Away.
But with the abolition of slavery
End breaking Of the kindly links that
bound the children Of planters To the
black slaves. the suHcrstitions hav"
passed away. and you now never hear
of n haunted house or place. But
there still fingers in the minds Of
our older generation IL certain amount
Of superstition. but with new gen
Grafton this will also disappear.
In yc oldcn time men and women
OF intelligence and education Were
pregnant with superstition, and man .
honestly believed In ghosts and
haunts. County Eraveyards were IA
vorcd sites for ghostly scenes. On2
night. near Lowndesville. :. e., {,
party Of young people gathered at a
neighbors house not far from an OH
graveyard. The conversation turnec
on spirits, when n young girl pres
cnt remarked iha, she did not be-
liere in such nonsense. and to show
her courage would visit alone the
graveyard as the clock struck IL. ant
TO prove her visit would stick 4 shar-
pencd peg in the grave OF Il note J
Gambler and desperate. She start
ed to carry out her boast. but after
being abscn; an unreasonable time.
her young friends went To the GENE
terry To see what detained her. On
nearing the gamblers grave they saw
something white stretched across IT,
ana on rushing I" the spO; found the
young girl lying unconscious. In
vcstiga;ion showed that in driving
down the peg in the grave. il caught
In the edge Of her dress. and whcr,
she started TO move away of course
1t drew her back. as if caught by i
human hand. Her fright was so great
that She tainted. but happily. after
thing explained To her 4 nervous
lowed