Haunted Mansion Stories- Tale of the Leaping Ghosts

Tale of the Leaping Ghosts[1]

Names: Brian Kent, James Roberts, Kenneth Lloyd, Willie Lloyd and Damon Scott

Born: 1840’s

Died: October 31, 1860

            The spring of 1860 was filled with tragedy for those living around New Orleans. Once again fever had come out of the bayou and was bolstered by malaria. Scores died and few families were left untouched.

            In this unsettled time of almost daily funerals, there arose a gang of young men whose joy was to hide behind tombstones and leap-up with terrible screams to frighten the mourners. Time and again the solemn rites were fiendishly interrupted by these hooligans who then fled laughing with delight.

            Most folks put it down to bad parenting and ignored the rebellious youth. However, this changed when Old Man Johnson died of the shock at his grand-daughter’s services. The sheriff tracked the boys down and brought them in for trial. Because of their ages and lack of intent, they were spared the jail. But they had to help Widow Johnson on her farm for as long as she lived. To stop their pranks they were also sentenced to spend Halloween night in the graveyard.

            On that spooky evening the Lloyd gang was trouped-up to the cemetery and deputy LaRue was set to watch them. Night fell and the boys sat around the fire telling lies and trying to keep warm. Just about 11 they heard some rustling in the wood about. The youngest, Brian, was sent out to investigate. He came back laughing, fit to be tied. Seems the sheriff and some others were out there, covered in sheets, fixin’ to try and scare the gang. Since LaRue had fallen asleep they decided to have a little fun. Quickly they dug-up Mr. Johnson (who had just been buried that afternoon). They propped his casket up and put his hand as if trying to open the box. Then these scoundrels took their customary spots behind the tombstones to watch the fun.

            Just as sheriff Loustalot stepped into the firelight screams of terror erupted from around the plot. Lighting a torch which he held up high, the old cop saw 5 young men bobbing up and down, clawing at their legs. Running to the nearest, he saw an arm stretching out of the grave and clasped around James’ ankle. Try as he might they couldn’t loosen the grip. Suddenly a voice boomed out over the pandemonium, “You boys wanted to play with the dead? Well, now you can…forever!” Mr. Johnson’s casket was wide open and his eyes flamed. Then with a wave of the corpse’s hand, all five boys dropped dead.

            Spirits filled with such disrespect would be delicious to Madam Leota and it wasn’t long before they were drawn to her at Gracey Manor, there to play their games for eternity.

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[1] “Leaping Ghost” by Robert Miller, “Frogmiller” on Flickr.com