The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-11-12 00:00:00

BY THE
Althor of "The Heiress of Athertone Grange."

CHAPTER XLIII.
SHADOWS.

By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night
Have struck snore terror to the soul of Richard
Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers.'
--SSJAKESPEARII.

OING out, Barney?'
Mrs. Mordaunt asked her son the question, seeing
him bustling about after a fashion of his when he was
restless instead of going to bed like a Christian,' as
she phrased it. She liked to have her supper early
and to retire about half-past nine—anything later
than that savouring of dissipation and evil ways.
Barney had been the most docile of sons. He had
striven in every way to please and comfort his mother
en I make her life happy, but she could not persuade
him to go to bed early.
Even when he did not go out, he would sit up half
the night doing all sorts of things that she declared
cOuld have been as well done in the daytime. He
would make his baskets by the light of a dim lamp,
and sort fishing-tackle and manufacture cunning flies
that should wile the wariest of the river trout out of
their snug hiding-places, when all the world was at
rest. He was given to say he could not sleep, but
/Ors. Mordaunt- thought she knew better than that.
When he did go to bed he slept well enough, and there
was no traffic at the ferry to worry him in the night.
Barney had reasons of his own for his watchfulness.
He had a theory of his own, like Phil Donovan, and he
hardly let a sigh or sound of the night escape him.
Donovan had paid him a visit on this particular even-
ing, and his mother had not been best pleased at it.
You have lent that man a boat?' she said, when
Phil had gone away, after lingering a little while to
see if there was anything to eat or drink going about.
Yes, mother.'
What for?'
I didn't ask him. He will bring it back safe
enough.'
The boat, perhaps; but he will bring something
e'se with it if you don't mind.'
'What?'
Trouble for you, my boy; he's after no good.'
He won't bring me trouble by what he's doing to-
night. He isn't poaching, mother. Let Phil alone,
there's a good soul—he isn't hurting you.'
Mrs. Mordaunt knew from her son's tone that he
was somewhat annoyed at her remarks, and she was
silent, till the unmistakable evidence of Barney's
intention to go out disquieted her again, and she spoke
to him.
Yes, I'm going out a bit,' he said, without looking
at her. 'You needn't be frightened, mother, ythell
be quite safe, and I shan't be far off.'
I don't know that I am frightened,' she replied;
It's a bit lonely when you are away, that's all. But
maybe you won't be long.'
'Not longer than I can help. I am going to earn
some money; let that comfort you, mother. I dare-
say this night's work will be a good five shillings in
my pocket, and you shall have it all. I'm going to
do something for Mr. Stone.'
'Oh !' Mrs. Mordant said, shortly. She would have
liked to expostulate, but she thought she had better
hold her tongue, and indeed nothing she could have
said would have made any difference.
Is Mr. Stone coming here?' she asked at length.
Shall I put the kettle on?'
She had come to understand Mr. Stone's ways, and
knew'that one of his weaknesses was a cup of strong
coffee, which he declared she made to perfection.
'Put it by the side and bank up the fire,' Barney
said.- 'Mr.-Stone isn't cor.ing here that I know of,
but I might be glad c f a drop of something warm
when I come home again'
She did as he bid her. She would have done any-
thing in the world at his bidding, and made up her
mind to sit up and watch for his return. She was
restless and uneasy to-night; she could not tell why.
There had been talk of the ghost the last day or two,
and she was terribly afraid that Barney would come-
to some harm in his nocturnal rambles.
'They are saying it has been seen again, Barney,'
.she-said, deprecatingly. She had come to call her son
Barney liSe the rest of Hillford, now—jestingly at
fast, but the- habit hsd grown. He was Barney to
everyone else, and somehow he was not at all like
.the Charley that had left her to go for a soldier so
many years ago; so the new name did not seem so
difficult for her to drop into as it might have done
'under any other circumstances.
'What.?' he asked, only half catching the words.
The thing—the ghost. Don't go near that place,
dear. It sends my heart into my mouth to think of it.
. Don't be a silly old mother,' Barney said, with a
caress that was gentle and tender to a degree, and
_utterly at variance with his general brusgerie, I shall
come to no harm. That ghost won't hurt me, nor a
whole wood full of them. I should like to see it.'
don't say that,' sail Mrs. Mordaunt, horrified
4 and looking round as if she expected to see some
'terrible apparition at her shoulder. There's never ,1
any knowing what they may do, if they are evil ones.
Why, there was your father's own sister—many,
many's the time l've heard tell of it—saw one once. A
man that had (ut h:s own throat it was, and he
appeared to her all over blood, and it turned all her
blood to water, and made her heart go right over, and
she was never to say well afterwards, and died before
she Was forty; a poor thing always.'
I should think she must have been,' said Barney,
withsalaugh that betokened little reverence for the
anatomical phenomena so feelingly described by his
mother; ' Don't be afraid, old lady. My blood won't
turn to water if I see all the'ghosts that ever were
• hatched Out of idle people's brains. Just go to bed and
sleep till- you hear me at that coffee-pot. I'm not
going far.' si.s.
He was gding to put the width of the river between
them, Jaut,he was not afraid to leave her. There was
his dog to' tike care of her, and there were few people
who did not know the animal in question who would
hive-dared to prowl about the Ferry-house after dark
when he was loose, and Barney declared that no
sghotwodldAOlne near his mother when 'Gyp' was
about.
• - If Tt Nee it to-night, I'll come bask with the full
spartic ire. You shall hear all about it,' he said, with
, a snil tPeEhaps I may catch it. Who knows?'
Don't talk like that,' Mrs. Mordaunt said, with a
little shiver. (3flaosts ain't things that can be caught,
Barney. Don't go anigh it; that's the best way.'
Barney did not take this affectionate advice. His
first proceeding was to make straight for Girton's Hole,
and look about him. He had not been gone long
before his mother was, as she declared, almost
frightened out of her wits by the apparition of a man
looking in through the window. She shrieked and
someone laughed—' most unfeelingly,' she said it was,
when she might have died of fright—and it was only
that tiresome Phil Donovan come to say he had done
with the boat and to speak to Barney.
Barney's gone over the water,' she said; glad even
to see her bete noir, for she was unac 'onntably nervous
and low-spirited to-night If you want him you had
better go after him.'
Into the wood?'
Yes.' . _

'Whereabouts?' • ' •
'He's gone to the hole, I expelt. lie often goes
there. He wants to see the ghost, you know.'
I wouldn't go there to be made King of England
to-morrow,' Donovan said emphatically. I saw that
ghost once, and I wouldn't face another for the wealth
of the world. No. If Barney's gone there I'll wait.
I mean I'll see him in the morning,' in added hastily,
as he saw a look of dismay come into the old woman's
face. I don't want to linther you. He'll find the boat
under the willow. I've made her fast.'
'And what has he been doing with her, I wonder,'
Mrs. Mordaunt said to herself, as he walked away.
Poaching, I doubt. He was carrying something
under his arm. Barney will get himself into trouble
if he doesn't mind having dealings with him. He's a
good-natured fellow, too. I wish he was a decenter

Man.'
Donovan didn't go far. Though he would not go
Into the wood, he could watch from the other side.
He was curious to know what Barney was about, and
what he really thought of the ghost; maybe he had ,
seen it at last.
I wonder if he'll see the parson,' he said to him-
self ; I hope he won't. I want that little game all
to myself fora bit. Donovan, my boy, swear off the
drink from this night and your fortune is made;
drink and you'll talk; keep sober and say nothing,
and you may live like a fighting cock as long as the
money lasts. What's that?'
It was something moving on the other side of the
river, the moonlight showed him that, but the light
was fi,frul and a little obscured by clouds.
It's Barney,' Donovan said to himself, and some-
one 4-Ise ; and, Lord! if it isn't a dead body! Vi hat's
up?' •
;- Barney and someone else it was, bringing something
tr to the waters edge that looked marvellously like a
14, corpse; the moon shone out brightly for a moment'
and showed the pallid face white and still, and the
lifeless form inert and motion'ess. Dead without a
doubt. What had happened? Had there been
another murder, and was Barney helping to hide the
evidence of the crime. There was light enough to see
that the other man was Jack's master, Mr. Stone; at
lcast he was nearly sure of it. He was muffled up,
.and wore a loose coat and s'ouched hat; but Donovan
was very nearly sure.
St
They're coming across,' he said to himself. 'Hero's
fs
a queer start. Keep dark, rhil Donovan ; keep dark,
and you may see something.'
ikur only one come across—Barney, with the white
syt• still figure lying before him in the boat ; the other man,
whoever he was, had disappeared among the trees and
gone away through the wcod. Quickly and silently
Bartley rowed across the river, not crouching down like
4. a man who has anything on his conscience and wants
to avoid o.BeratiOil, but sitting bolt upright and
- whist log as he came. It was all very odd. Donovan
drew back behind a tree to wait for his landing. Ile
was not quick enough; Barney had seen him, and
called out to him.
13 that you, Phil?' he said. Bear a band will
you?'
Yes, it's me,' Phil Donovan said, coming out of
the shadow. I didn't know what you were after;
1 who have you got there?'
A gentleman. He has only fainted, I think; I
-; stumbled over him in the wood yonder.'
Seen the ghost, perhaps.'
Perhaps he has; there was no ghost, there when I.