A “Ghost” In A School.
Considerable gossip and many strange rumours have lately been afloat in a small town not a hundred miles from Coleshill, owing to a highly-respectable and flourishing ladies school in its midst having been reported to have become “haunted,” suddenly, during the absence of the proprietress from home for the Easter holidays.
The public journals, as a rule, ignore the re-production of idle tattling, nor should we have referred to this matter in our columns, but that certain young men of the locality have been stigmatized as the instigators of or participators in so silly an affair. While it cannot be expected to put old heads on young shoulders, we believe there is abundant evidence to prove that “the ghost” was a resident in, and not out of, the house.
The facts, as they have been related to us on most reliable authority, are these: –
The proprietress left home as usual to spend her holidays, leaving on the premises the servants, and- which is not usual – one of the teachers; this did not meet the approval of the domestics, or, at any rate, of one of them, who wished to reign supreme as aforetime. No sooner had the lady of the establishment left, than divers strange vagaries commenced – loud knockings were heard at both the front and back doors, panes of glass were smashed in the windows of some of the principal rooms, unearthly noises were said to be heard, and mademoiselle was scared more than once by the youngest servant girl rushing to where she was, screaming and falling to the floor in a fainting fit.
To such a pass had things come, that a strict watch was placed on the premises from evening to daylight – the “ghost” disregarding the usual hours they are said to walk in – with the view of pouncing on the miscreant, but it was equally strange and remarkable that not a sound was heard while police constables kept guard; nor, though they were altogether concealed, was there a single approach to the house so long as they were in charge of the place.
No sooner, however, had they left, than the knockings and confusion were said to re-commence, and were repeated at all hours both of day and night. At length the superintendent of the force, with his well-known vigilance, was determined to fathom the mystery, and, making a searching investigation of the house, he ascertained, beyond all doubt, that the kicks were given from the inside, the indentations in the doors plainly showing this; the broken windows also demonstrated the same to a certainty, as no stone or other missile said to have been used could be found in the apartments, while the blows must have been given from the inside.
His suspicions fell on the young girl, who he believed had adopted this ruse to show her annoyance at having mademoiselle left in charge and in endeavouring to get rid of her. The officer taxed her so closely with the offence as to extort all but an admission from her, and a threat to place her in the lock-up at the police station would undoubtedly have availed in revealing the whole truth, had not the young lady interceded earnestly on her behalf. The superintendent, however, gave the silly girl distinctly to understand that a repetition of the noises in the slightest degree would lead to her immediate apprehension; and, strange to say, since that time and the return of the proprietress, not a single unusual sound has been heard, nor have there been any more fainting scenes got up at will on the premises.
An endeavour has been made to keep the affair a secret, fearing the effect publicity might have upon the school, but all well-thinking persons will regard the matter at its real worth, and regret the annoyance it has caused the principal and governess, as well as the young fellows upon whom, for a time, suspicion rested. Like most other absurdities of the kind, it soon became town talk, but equally soon ceased to be “a nine day’s wonder.” Great credit is certainly due to the active superintendent for his determination to trace the mysterious affair to its true source, as he verily believes.
Coleshill Chronicle, 11th May 1878.