Wethersfield High School - Elm Yearbook (Wethersfield, CT)

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Every year at midnight on the thirteenth of July, Samuel Gray's ghost is said to return to tell where the treasure is hidden. I-Ie is said to carry a light in his hand and to wander all over the house looking for someone to tell about the treasure. The present owner has left a key with me so that anyone interested in the house may see it. That is about all I know about the haunted house, the woman finished. Thank you for telling me. I think I had better hurry home to dinner, said Philip. As soon as the family had assembled at the table that noon, Philip told the story that he had heard. If When he had finished Carol exclaimed, Why, today is the thirteenth. and it is tonight that the ghost returns. Let's go and stay in the house tonight and see if the ghosts comef, Pm going, too, said Polly. Well, if Mother and Father say you may go, we will take you,,' responded Philip. At first Mr. and Mrs. Shotwell refused to allow them to go, but finally gave their consent. That afternoon the Shotwell family went to the woman with whom Philip had talked. Mr. Shotwell told her about the plans and asked her if she would show them the house. She was very glad to do so. She told them that some people came every year to spend a few weeks there. For this reason the second floor was furnished and the young people could stay in that part of the house. It seemed to Philip, Carol, and Polly as though night would never come, but it finally did. Just before dark they chained Pep up because they were afraid that he would frighten the ghost if he came, took their blankets and a flashlight, and started for the haunted house. The three climbed the stairs to the second floor, entered one of the rooms and shut the door after them. They spread their blankets on the floor and lay down, planning to get a few winks before twelve o'clock, when the ghost was to appear. Toward midnight Carol thought she heard a noise like a door squeak- ing on its hinges. She clutched Philip, who was almost asleep and whispered, What was that? I didn't hear anything, replied Philip, sleepily. You are just nervous and think you heard somethingf, But I did, Phil. Someone opened a door.

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THE GHOST OF THE HAUNTED HOUSE The Shotwell family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Shotwellg Philip, fifteen, Carol, twelve, and Polly, ten, had decided to spend their vacation at a small summer resort, called Bayside, on the Maine coast. Of course, Pep, their dog, had to go, too, for the children would not consent to leaving him at home. One morning after the family had been at Bayside a few days, Philip went on an exploring trip. He managed somehow to escape the girls, not because he did not consider them good sports, but because he wished to discover something without their aid. The day before he had noticed a road, partly hidden by the shrubbery, which turned from the main road about half a mile from their cottagef He was curious to know where it led. , ' He followed the road up-hill for a short distance until he came to a bend. There on the left, around the bend stood a large square weather- beaten house. He knew from its unkept appearance that no one lived there. Because of its position on the hill it appeared to have three floors on the front and only two on the rear. He tried all the doors and windows on the first floor, but they were locked. Philip went back to the main road to see if he could find someone to ask about the house. He walked along the road until he came to a house. A Woman was sitting on the verandah. Philip approached her and told her who he was. Then he asked, Wl1o owns the house on the hill? It is owned by Mr. David Gray, who lives in Massachusetts nowf, answered the woman. His great-great-grandfather started it before the Revolutionary War and it has never been finished. It is haunted. I-Iaunted! exclaimed Philip. Please tell me about it. You come sit on the steps and I'll tell you the story, said the woman. As I said, Mr. Gray's great-great-grandfather, Samuel Gray, started to build this house and had almost completed it when the Revolutionary XVar broke out. The British wished the house for their headquarters because of its size and its position near the harbor. Because Samuel Gray was a rebel, the red-coats drove him from the house. Before the British came, however, he hid all the family valuables and then escaped. After the British left the Gray family returned. However, Samuel Gray, who had been seriously wounded, lived but a short time. He was the only person who knew where the valuables were hidden and when his family realized that he could not live they questioned him about the money. He tried to tell them where it was, but all they could make out was: Under stone. What stone he meant no one knows, for there were many stones near the house. Anyway, the treasure has never been found. Q, .

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Nonsense, I didn't hear it. All this talking had aroused Polly, who asked if the ghost were coming. just then there was a thud and a sound of something dragging on the floor below. The three huddled together, shaking all over. Polly began to cry and to wish she had not come. Philip called her a cry- baby' and thus silenced her. Something like a step sounded below them. Then they heard the clank-clank of a chain being dragged across the floor. Philip grasped the flashlight and started for the door, saying, I'm going to find out what is making that noise. If there is a ghost there I want to see it. That's what we came for, isn't it? Come on. Too frightened to remain in the room alone, the two girls followed him. They went along the hall until they reached the door leading to the stairs. Philip opened the door and paused to listen. The girls crouched behind him, trembling from head to toe and expecting to see Samuel Gray's ghost appear at any moment. There was a scratching noise and again came the clank of a chain. As the trio ,reached the stairs, the noise grew louder and louder. Philip turned the flashlight in the direction from which the sound emanated. He discovered Pep, who was bounding up the stairs, dragging his broken chain. Philip laughed. Here is the ghost, he said. -Elinor Wells, '27. 'laura' EVENING The flaming sky grows Dull. It fades and fades to Somber grey. The sun has gone, Taking away with it The warmth of day. The birds peep sleepilyg While In the east, the radiant Moon Risesg flooding the earth With a silvery sheen. And night is here. -Eleanor Buck, '27.