The Illuminati was a small shop, selling candles and other gift items,located just off the square in downtown Waxahachie. It has been closed now for a couple of years.  I would stop in often to visit with the owner and look around the shop.  One day when I was in, the front door kept opening and closing. Each time it would only open about 12 to 24 inches and then slowly close. There was no wind outside and none in the shop so I asked the owner why the door kept doing this repeatedly. Was there something wrong with the latch on the door?

She told me that was their ghost, Mary, introducing herself to me. I couldn't believe it.  When asked if she was serious, she said “as serious as a heart attack!”  I wanted to know more.  When the shop was first opened, the owner and her son began to notice things being moved around in the store. They would put a display of candles at the front of the store and overnight the candles would be moved to other places.  They began to notice that other items would be moved around.  The doors and windows would slowly open and close for no visible reason.

One afternoon the owner was in the upstairs storage area moving some stock around when Mary actually appeared.  Of course the owner was startled and stood staring at the ghost for several seconds.  The lady was dressed in older style clothing and appeared to be in her early 30's.  Feeling no fear and sensing that this lady meant her no harm, she spoke to her.  The owner asked her name and did she live there.  Although the spirit did not answer, the owner sensed that she heard and understood by the look in her eyes.  Waiting to see what the lady might do, they simply stared at each other for thirty seconds or so and then the apparition vanished.  Even though the owner could not see her,nonetheless she could feel her presence.  

Not knowing the ghost's real name, the owner named her Mary and accepted the fact that this spirit was a part of doing business in an old building.  The owner and her son were so accepting that the son moved in upstairs for awhile.  He told his mother He could feel Mary's presence whenever he was doing various tasks about the building or cooking upstairs in the evening.  The owner, not feeling threatened in any way by Mary, felt that Mary was taking an active part in the business and was curious about what was going on day to day.