The Best Ghost Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 303 pages of information about The Best Ghost Stories.

The Best Ghost Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 303 pages of information about The Best Ghost Stories.

Mrs. Veal died the 7th of September, at twelve o’clock at noon of her fits, and had not above four hours’ senses before her death, in which time she received the sacrament.  The next day after Mrs. Veal’s appearing, being Sunday, Mrs. Bargrave was mightily indisposed with a cold, and a sore throat, that she could not go out that day; but on Monday morning she sent a person to Captain Watson’s, to know if Mrs. Veal was there.  They wondered at Mrs. Bargrave’s inquiry; and sent her word, that she was not there, nor was expected.  At this answer Mrs. Bargrave told the maid she had certainly mistook the name, or made some blunder.  And though she was ill, she put on her hood, and went herself to Captain Watson’s though she knew none of the family, to see if Mrs. Veal was there or not.  They said, they wondered at her asking, for that she had not been in town; they were sure, if she had, she would have been there.  Says Mrs. Bargrave, I am sure she was with me on Saturday almost two hours.  They said, it was impossible; for they must have seen her if she had.  In comes Captain Watson, while they were in dispute, and said, that Mrs. Veal was certainly dead, and her escutcheons were making.  This strangely surprised Mrs. Bargrave, when she sent to the person immediately who had the care of them, and found it true.  Then she related the whole story to Captain Watson’s family, and what gown she had on, and how striped; and that Mrs. Veal told her, it was scowered.  Then Mrs. Watson cried out, You have seen her indeed, for none knew, but Mrs. Veal and myself, that the gown was scowered.  And Mrs. Watson owned, that she described the gown exactly:  For, said she, I helped her to make it up.  This Mrs. Watson blazed all about the town, and avouched the demonstration of the truth of Mrs. Bargrave’s seeing Mrs. Veal’s apparition.  And Captain Watson carried two gentlemen immediately to Mrs. Bargrave’s house, to hear the relation of her own mouth.  And when it spread so fast, that gentlemen and persons of quality, the judicious and skeptical part of the world, flocked in upon her, it at last became such a task, that she was forced to go out of the way.  For they were, in general, extremely satisfied of the truth of the thing, and plainly saw that Mrs. Bargrave was no hypochondraic; for she always appears with such a cheerful air, and pleasing mien, that she has gained the favor and esteem of all the gentry; and it is thought a great favor, if they can but get the relation from her own mouth.  I should have told you before, that Mrs. Veal told Mrs. Bargrave, that her sister and brother-in-law were just come down from London to see her.  Says Mrs. Bargrave, How came you to order matters so strangely?  It could not be helped, says Mrs. Veal.  And her brother and sister did come to see her, and entered the town of Dover just as Mrs. Veal was expiring.  Mrs. Bargrave, asked her, whether she would drink some tea.  Says Mrs. Veal, I do not care if I do; but I’ll warrant you, this mad fellow (meaning Mrs. Bargrave’s husband) has broke all your trinkets.  But, says Mrs. Bargrave, I’ll get something to drink in for all that; but Mrs. Veal waived it, and said, It is no matter, let it alone; and so it passed.

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The Best Ghost Stories from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.