Indian Ghost Stories

S. Mukerji

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Indian Ghost Stories, by S. Mukerji

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Title: Indian Ghost Stories
       Second Edition

Author: S. Mukerji

Release Date: November 20, 2005 [EBook #17113]

Language: English







Produced by David Starner, Martin Pettit and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net






INDIAN GHOST STORIES

S. MUKERJI

SECOND EDITION

ALLAHABAD:

A.H. WHEELER & CO.

1917.

  • PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
  • PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
  • HIS DEAD WIFE'S PHOTOGRAPH.
  • THE MAJOR'S LEASE.
  • THE OPEN DOOR.
  • WHAT UNCLE SAW.
  • THE BOY WHO WAS CAUGHT.
  • THE STARVING MILLIONAIRE.
  • THE BRIDAL PARTY.
  • A STRANGE INCIDENT.
  • WHAT THE PROFESSOR SAW.
  • THE BOY POSSESSED.
  • THE EXAMINATION PAPER.
  • THE MESSENGER OF DEATH.
  • ADVERTISEMENTS

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

I do not know whether writing ghost stories is a mistake.

Most readers will like a ghost story in which towards the end it is found that the ghost was really a cat or a dog or a mischievous boy.

Such ghost stories are a source of pleasure, and are read as a pastime and are often vastly enjoyed, because though the reader is a bit afraid of what he does not know, still he likes to be assured that ghosts do not in reality exist.

Such ghost stories I have often myself read and enjoyed. The last one I read was in the December (1913) Number of the English Illustrated Magazine. In that story coincidence follows coincidence in such beautiful succession that a young lady really believes that she sees a ghost and even feels its touch, and finally it turns out that it is only a monkey.

This is bathos that unfortunately goes too far. Still, I am sure, English readers love a ghost story of this kind.

It, however, cannot be denied that particular incidents do sometimes happen in such a way that they take our breath away. Here is something to the point.

"Twenty years ago, near Honey Grove, in Texas, James Ziegland, a wealthy young farmer won the hand of Metilda Tichnor, but jilted her a few days before the day fixed for the marriage. The girl, a celebrated beauty, became despondent and killed herself. Her brother, Phil, went to James Ziegland's home and after denouncing him, fired at him. The bullet grazed the cheek of the faithless lover and buried itself in a tree. Young Tichnor, supposing he had killed the man, put a bullet into his own head, dying instantly. Ziegland, subsequently married a wealthy widow. All this was, of course 20 years ago. The other day the farmer James Ziegland and his son cut down the tree in which Tichnor's bullet had lodged. The tree proved too tough for splitting and so a small charge of dynamite was used. The explosion discharged the long forgotten bullet with great force, it pierced Ziegland's head and he fell mortally wounded. He explained the existence of the mysterious bullet as he lay on his deathbed."The Pioneer, Allahabad, (India,) 31st January, 1913.