A SPECTRAL WIFE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 March 1925, Page 9

A SPECTRAL WIFE.

DKAI) WOMAN SEEN ALIVE. VICAR’S STRANGE STORY. A ghostly story of a long-dead woman’s visitation to a London vicar, and of a journey in a “spectral” taxicab, is told by Mr. (Charles J. Harper, of Petersham, Surrey, in his book just published on “Haunted Houses.” ( A Kensington vicar was leaving church when a woman stepped out oi the aisle and asked him in agitated tones to come with her to an address near by. ' ; “A gentleman is dying there,” she said, “and he is extremely-anxious to see you before he dies. The clergyman followed her to a waiting taxi-cab, and a short drive brought them to a mansion. The woman urged the vicar, to hurry. He sprang out of the cab, rang the bell, and a butler appeared. “Does Mr live here.?” “Yes, sir.” “I hear he is seriously ill and has sent for me.” The butler was astonished. He said that his master was not ill; that, in fact, he was in the best of health. “But this messenger—exclaimed the vicar, as he turned round, and then an expression of blank astonishment came over him. The taxi-cab and the woman had completely disappeared. The butler was about to slam the door when liis master came along the passage.

“Are yon Mr •?” asked the clergyman. I heard that you were seriously ill, that you were concerned about your spiritual welfare, and that you had sent for me.” The two discussed the matter on the doorstep for a few moments, and then the clergyman was invited to come inside. “ft is very strange,”, said Mr —— “that you should have l>een sent on such ah. errand in. such a. mysterious way. Though il am perfectly well, I have, been- troubled spiritually, and have, been contemplating calling upon you to discuss the matter.” The clergyman stayed for an hour or so. and it was then arranged that liis new acquaintance should come to the church the next morning. He did hot appear, and the vicar called to see what was the matter. He was met at the door by he butler, who told him that his master had died 10 minutes after the vicar ’ left the house on the previous evening. They went upstairs to the bedroom where the dead man lay, and on a table stood a portrait of the woman who* had brought the clergyman ip the cab from the church. “Who is that?” asked the astonished clergyman. “That, sir,” replied the butler, “is my master’s wife, who died 13 years ago.”