I have often wondered why a soul would wander the earth when paradise awaits in the heavens above? Usually, the story revolves around love -- the loss of love through tragedy, and the following story about a spirit who wanders the halls of the historic Partridge Inn, in Augusta, Georgia is a prime example.
The Partridge Inn has been in Augusta for a long time. In fact, it was first constructed as a two-story house back in 1816 and was owned by George Walton, the governor of Georgia and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
As time went on, the building evolved and grew; going from a small hotel offering guest accommodations to the grand lady, high on the hill that stands overlooking Augusta today.
You could surely say that there is a lot of history here. And our story goes back to the mid 1800s when the hotel was nothing more than a residence, where a woman named Emily was preparing for her wedding.
The story goes that she was a beautiful woman deeply in love with a young suitor who would arrive shortly.
As Emily prepared for her wedding, admiring her beautiful gown, she probably looked at herself in in the mirror and smiled. Dreaming of the wonderful life that awaited her -- swaying back and forth, twirling about and laughing with joy. But, then a knock came at the door. She could probably tell before the first words left the messenger’s mouth, but she waited in anticipation as the man described what had happened.
The mid 1800s were tumultuous times and as her fiancé rode astride his horse, galloping into town in formal clothing, he was mistaken for a soldier wanted for treason and was shot from his saddle. There would be no wedding and as the tears streamed down Emily’s face her visions of a happy life shattered before her.
It has been said that Emily wore her gown for weeks on end. Refusing to discard the now worn and soiled outfit, refusing to discard the memory of a lost love. In the years to follow, Emily would be courted by many, but none would replace her true love; she eventually died alone and broken-hearted.
She never forgot him and it looks like her soul never let go either. You see, she still is waiting for her fiancé. Many guests and employees have seen her over the years; her beautiful, white gown, flowing along the floor as she fades in and out of view, looking for love and a man who would never join her.
We’ll see you next time on Stories, Secrets and Sagas.
