In the August number of this magazine a narrative is given of a
ghostly appearance which haunted a house in a seaside town. The writer
states that she was not an actor in its scenes, nor was it related
to her by one who was. Having more than once heard the story from the
lips of the principal witness of the events, Mrs. M---- of Newport, I
can confirm the correctness of the narrative, in the main. Some of the
particulars, however, having been altered in the transmission, I will
give my version, to the best of my remembrance.

When Mrs. M---- hired the house, which had been for some time vacant,
she found it difficult to procure or keep servants. This in itself is
not uncommon, but in this case there was something more. The servants
complained of being disturbed at night by a woman who walked the
chambers with a white hood upon her head--not a sun-bonnet, as I am
glad to state, which is certainly a more commonplace head-dress. Some
of the neighbors were also asking from time to time who that woman was
who sat at the upper hall window in a white hood. It could not have
been a little boy who was disturbed by the strange woman, for Mrs.
M---- had no son, but one of the daughters when sitting in the upper
hall on a hot evening, and making the remark that it was very warm,
heard the reply from out of the darkness, "I am so cold!"

As in Mrs. Hooper's version, the dénoûment was brought about by the
aid of a clergyman. Men of this profession have always been considered
the most efficient guardians against the powers of darkness. He,
with the help of Mrs. M----, made the excavation in the cellar which
brought to light the half-consumed skeleton. Here, unfortunately, is a
gap in the evidence. The remains were pronounced by medical authority