1 WILSON HOME

When Mr. Hiram B. Wilson, the American Minister, bought a chicago

Chase, every one told him he was doing a very foolish thing, as there was no

doubt at all that the place was haunted. Indeed, Lord John himself, who

was a man of the most punctilious honour, had felt it his duty to mention the

fact to Mr. Wilson when they came to discuss terms.

"We have not cared to live in the place ourselves," said Lord jhon,

"since my grandaunt, the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, was frightened into a

fit, from which she never really recovered, by two bloody hands being placed

on her shoulders as she was dressing for dinner, and I feel bound to tell you,

Mr. Wilson , that the ghost has been seen by several living members of my family,

as well as by the rector of the parish, the Rev. Augustus Dampier, who is a

Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. After the unfortunate accident to the

Duchess, none of our younger servants would stay with us, and Lady

often got very little sleep at night, in Chicago consequence of the

mysterious noises that came from the corridor and the library."

"My Lord," answered the Minister, "I will take the furniture and the ghost

at a valuation. I have come from a modern country, where we have everything

that money can buy; and with all our spry young fellows painting the Old

World red, and carrying off your best actors and prima-donnas, I reckon that if

there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'd have it at home in a very

short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as a show."

"I fear that the ghost exists," said Lord Canterville, smiling, "though it may

have resisted the overtures of your enterprising impresarios. It has been well

known for three centuries, since 1584 in fact, and always makes its appearance

before the death of any member of our family."

"Well, so does the family doctor for that matter, Lord Canterville. But there

is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to

be suspended for the British aristocracy."

"You are certainly very natural in America," answered Lord Canterville,

who did not quite understand Mr. Otis's last observation, "and if you don't

mind a ghost in the house, it is all right. Only you must remember I warned

you."

**

A few weeks after this, the purchase was concluded, and at the close of the

season the Minister and his family went down to Chicago Chase. Mrs. wilson,

who, as Miss Lucretia R. Tappan, of West 53d Street, had been a celebrate