'Wicked Captain Walshawe, of Wauling' was an English sinner who married for money and broke his poor Irish wife's heart. When she died, he came home drunk to find her faithful old servant and some other old women having a wake. He snatches the candle from his late wife's hand. It was a holy candle and the old servant curses him.

Walshawe dies, unrepentant, in 1822, His heir, the nameless narrator's uncle, Mr. Watson of Haddlestone, comes to inspect his inheritance. To his vexation, some important papers are missing. Mr. Watson goes to bed and we get to see if the curse came true.

I certainly would have been terrified had I been in Mr. Watson's place.

Enjoy this classic ghost story by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. ( )