The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-22 00:00:00

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
AT THE FERRY.

Trifles light as air..—SIIAXISPEAItt.
THE weeks passed slowly enough to the sorrowing
friends of Helen Ramsay, and no tidings of her had
reached them. It was the second week in the new
year which they had all planned to make so bright
and happy, when Horace Gayford made his appear-
ance in Hillford, and took up his old quarters.
Mr. Jarvis had persuaded Mrs. Churchill to remain
at Campsie House for a little while longer than was
originally intended, as he said he had been some% htt
negligent over the little repairs he had ordered at
Fernbank in her name, and the house was less com-
fortable than it might have been in consequence. Be
had done everything he could think of in Biarritz and
the neighbourhood, and had put the matter into other
hands when he left. Mrs. Churchill Was not sorry to
put off going back to Fernbank for a little while;
she dreaded the fresh talk that would arise with their
teappearanoe in the town, and the well meaning Byrn-
pathy that would only serve to reopen the wounds In
their hearts.
Mr. Jarvis was a good deal disturbed when he heard
that Ws client at Hillford had presented himself at
Norwood, and asked all sorts of questions about him
of his wife and daughters.
Whatever possessed him to come here?' he said,
and Mrs. Jarvis smilcd at his evident vexation.
'Didn't you want us to know him ?' she asked; is
he not a gentleman?'
Oh, yes; but he is odd. He might have written
to me if he wanted anything. I would have told him
all I know.'
'I fancy he didn't know where to write. He seemed
very anxious about poor H.len. I think he said he
was an old friend of her parents.'
_

Oh, he told you that, -did ho?'
'Yes; is it not true?'
'Oh, yes, it's true; he has been in India. Did he
say anything else?'
'Not much. I showed h'm parts of your letters,
and asked him to stay till Mrs. Churchill came in. She
and the girls were out when he called.'
s And did not see him?'

'No. What makes you so anxious about the man?
Should I not have seen him?'

_
'Oh, it was all right, of course, only it is a bad pre.
ce3ent to establish to have clients calling here. II
one does it we are liable to be inundated with them.
Every man who goes to a lawyer about anything, no
matter how trivial, fancies his business more im•
portant than anyone else's. Stone is a good fellow,
times
though a little odd at; but I am not going to let
him be a bore for all that.
Have you known him long?
'Oh, yes; a good many years. Put he only recalled
himself to my memory when he w
wanted sone business
done a little while ago. Be hasn't much to interest
him, I fancy, and it makes him curious, perhaps, about
anything that goes on.'
He seemed more than curious, lie spoke as if he
knew Helen, and poor Frank too, very well indeed.
He did not seem to think mu,•ll of the poor boy.'
' Indeed ; what did he say about him?'
'Not much, only that he was not good enough for
Helen—not worthy of her, that was the word he used,
I think. I am sorry I saw him. If I had known you
would not like it I could easily have refused to see
him. It was something fresh to hear Mrs. Jarvis
speak with so much affability to her husband, but
recent events had softened her wonderfully, and
though still precise and unbending in most things, she
was more genial and good tempered at home. Her
daughters no longer feared her as they used to do, and
rejoiced when her back was turned for a few hours
and her husband had ceased to regardhis home as the
lastplace on earth where a man might spend a cora-
fortable hour or two after his day's work was over.
i
'Oh, it does not signify much,' the lawyer said,
only I think you would find Stone a grest bore if you
encouraged him here. 11l take care he does not Come
again.'
take good care,' he said to himself, when he
was alone. Such a thing must never happen again;
there's no knowing what might come of it.'
He resolved to go over to Eillford an] interview his

client there as soon as he could find time; but business
had accumulated while he was away; real business,
and some of great importance, and he was kept in
town. He sent down about Mrs. Churchill's house.
Indeed, the ladies made a pilgrimage over and saw
what was going on, and expressed themselves satisfied.
They did not encounter Mr. Stone, or indeed, anyone
they knew much in town; but they made a pilgrimage
to the ferry house to see Barney Grubb and his mother,
and gladdened the old lady's heart by the pAsent of a
nice warm shawl, to say nothing of kind words and
Interest in her welfare, which go as far as more sub-
etantial gifts when they are rightly applied.
You have made quite a pretty place of this, Barney,'
Mrs. Churchill said, as si e looked around the little
cottage, and remarked the neatness of everything
about it. The trouble you came through has turned
out for your good alter all.'
Yes, ma'am,' Barney replied, with a smile, and a
gentle touch on his mother's shoulder. It has given
me the old lady here. I should never have made a
home for her but for what came out on that trial.

And how does the ferry get on, Barney?'
Well. I've hardly taken a soul across since the new
year,' Barney replied with a smile; business was won-
derful
Till what, Barney?'
___

Barney hesitated a moment, and then looked
'-wards the cottage door, where Madge and Norah were
talking to his mother.
I don't think I ought to speak of it to you,
ma'am,' he said; 'and yet if it came to the young
ladies' ears, especially Miss Madge, it might do
mischief.'

'What might do mischief, and to whom?' she
asked, drawing a little farther away from the door.
They are busy talking; they will not hear. What is
It?,

There's a report going about that the wood's
haunted, ma'am,' said Barney, in a low voice. 'That
poor Frank Hatherleigh-'
Ah, don't say any more,' she said, with a little
shiver, 'it's too horrible; and yet, as you say, if the
girls heard such a thing suddenly. What is said? Who
says It?'
They say he has been seen ma'am; I have had it
from two different people, and not drunken men or
anything of that sort, but men with their wits about
them, and no cowards either.'
'lt is all some mistake, of course,' Mrs. Churchill
said, feeling a cold chill nevertheless at the notion,
but such reports are very disagreeable. I hope the
girls will not hear it. Tell me exactly what has been
seen or fancied.'

_
Only just Mr. Frank himself, ma'am,' Barney
replied; Farmer Todd, from the other side of the
wood yonder, was one of the two; and John Simmons,
the rector's servant, was the other. They both knew
Mr. llatherleigh very well, and both saw him at the
same place, standing by the old hole, looking down
into it.'

I don't like to hear such things, Barney. I hope
they will not get reported about Hillford ; it will be
very disagreeable.'
I don't think it's very much talked about as yet,
ma'am, but it is spoken of, and it has stopped the
people from coming to the place. I have been OW
often enough, both in the day and at night, but I have
seen nothing.'
You surely did not expect to see anything, Barney?'

I don't know, ma'am-. If I did i should not be
afraid of poor Mr. Hatherleigh. Maybe he could tell
me something; or, if it wasn't s ghost--'
Be sure It is not that, Barney. It is someone mas-
querading to frighten people.'
Whatever it is, ma'am, I think it would help me
to what I have sworn to do. I shall never rest till I
have seen it, if it is there, and got from it what I
want to know.' _ _

•
Does your mother know of this, Barney?'
'ln a general way, yes, ma'am. She doesn't know
that I go over there of a night to try and find out.
Poor old soul, sh,'d be frightened out of her -,its if she
did. I don't tell her everything I do.'
Mrs. Churchill was a little troubled at what Barney
had told her. She had no belief in the ghost theory,
but she knew what an effect the matter would have
upon her romantic, sensitive Madge, if it reached her
ears, as it was sure to do, and she hoped tirtt it was
not a matter of gossip in Hillford. She was rather
silent on the road home, and her daughters thought
she was fatigued, and did not question her much.
They were all of them rather silent and depressed. It
was the first visit they had paid Hillford since their
return from Biarritz, and so much had happened since
they left the place. Helen had gone, and thoir cousin
Cuthbert, and Fernbank looked very lonely and dreary
in its half-repaired condition.
'I wish we had never come,' Norah said. It wolf('
have been better to have stayed away till the house
was quite ready. It will never seem quite the same
again to me, I am sure.'
We shan't feel so dismal in the summer, when the
roses corns out,' her mother said—an unlucky speech,
as it turned out, for it had been in the summer,
amongst the roses, that Frank had made love to Madge,
and the tears came into the girl's gentle eyes as she
heard it. _ .

--'Everything looks retched now,' Norah said. It
Is almost time to go back, thank goodness, and here
come the other girls in a cab. Good gracious! What
can have happened to them ? Phyllis looks as if she
had had a fit or something.'
The Misses Jarvis had accompanied tliem to Hill-
ford, and had made one or two calls on their own
account, promising to join them again at Fern bank
for lunch. They had been a Icng time coming, and
now appeared in considerable trouble, as it seemed.
Phyllis was pale and agitated, trembling all over, so
that she could scarcely walk; and Henrietta looked as
If she had been crying too, and her hand shook BO that
she could hardly pay and dismiss the driver.
My dear child, whatever is the matter?' Mrs.
Churchill asked, supporting Phyllis into the morning
room, and summoning Mary, who had come to set the
house in order, and she was very proud of the trust
reposed in her by her mistress.
'Phyllis has been ill,' her sister said. Please don't
ask her any questions, Mrs. Churchill. She is
hysteri. al still, and says such frightful things.'
I won't ask anything, my dear, till you are able
to tell me all about it,' the lady said kindly. Norah,
make Hettie drink a glass of wine, while I attend to
Phyllis. They will be all right presently. They have
been frightened, I think.'

I was frightened, but it waq only because Phyllis
was ill,' Henrietta said, recovering her wits by an
effort, and trying with all her might to appear quite at
ease. She has these terrible nervous fits now and
then, but I thought they were quite gone. Papa will
be so grieved when he hears of it.'
And mamma, too, I should think,' Mrs. Churchill
replied, looking curiously at Phyllis, and wondering
what could have caused her ilnees. The girl was
evidently more than half insensible, and it seemed to
her from terror, and her sharp ears had caught a word
or two that had fallen from her lips.

'Let me go. I must go. He is calling me.'
And then Ehe had struggled for a moment, and
then seemed to wake to a cor s ;iousness of where she
was and who was with her, and had ceased speaking,
and shut her eyes.
Can you tell me nothing about it ?' Mrs. Churchill
asked of the younger Miss Jarvis? Where was she
taken ill?'

In the street,' Henrietta said, with almost a sob.
'I thought I should never get her into the cab. She
was like it before we went to Dieppe, but she was
better afterwards.'
She burst into tears as she spoke, and they under-
stood how great the strain on her nerves must have
been. She did not tell Mrs Churchill exactly all that
had happened. She did not like to splak of it, and,
besides, her mother did not know what she and her
father did about poor Phyllis's nervous attacks. If
Mrs. Churchill were told, it would be sure to reach
the cars of her mother. She need know nothing when
they returned to Campsie House, except that Phyllis
had had one of her old attacks, and was faint.
What had haply ned was this :—The two girls
were walking down the principal street of Hillford in
a leisurely sort of way, looking ab-ut them and into
the shop windows, as girls will, speculating on the
prices of things, and chatting to one another about
the various events that had happ-ned in the few
months they had known their father's ward.
They were speaking of Helen, and their father's
notion that she had been eecoyed away, when Phyllis
stopped suddenly, with ths words on her tonguo,
as it were, and turned abruptly away from her
sister.
'Papa is sure to be right,' Henrietta said. 'We shall
find it out some day Why, Phyllis, where are you
going 2'
For Phyllis had turned away from her side, and
was walking at an incressingly-rapid pace along the
street. She had spoken to no one, nor had anyone
made any sign to her that her sister could see, and
she had to walk very briskly to come up to her.
Phyllis!' she cried, do stop. Where are you
going P
There was no answer, and she had come up to
her sister by this time, and could see her face. If
Phyllis heard her speak she gave no sign that she did.
She was very pale, and there was a far away look in
her eyes that was wild and strange. She was walk-
ing straight on, with the wript look of one who has
an object in view that must be attained, no mattter
what obstacle stands in the way. _ _

Phyllis!' her sister said ags;n. ; and she turned and
spoke this time.
'Don't sop me! Don't speak to me! lan called!
I must go!'
_

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tbeirSconrtienmenemtai
trip,
oa nnade sbhaec
kg u,
de sesserd,, wha t h
she
said,ti satyrianngg e
erhan d
on meant.he
r
sis,teyro'suadrm. 'No
onlknowre phiyslcliasfirienrgliyeodu..'
never stopping,
but.rather quickening her pace, if anything. You
cannot hear. The voice is for me for me! and lam
going straight to -'
'She faltered for a moment, and the rapt look died
out of her eyes.
Come,' her sister said, catching hold of her firmly,
and turning her back; 'we must go home.'
'No no!' and there was a slight struggle on the part
of Phyllis to get her arm away from her sister's.
Is here. He is calling me. I told you I must go
whenever be did. You cannot stop me.
Henrietta was at her wits' end. Where was her
sister going to. There had been nothing to indicate
that she was attracted by anyone or anything. A
moment before she started off in that random fashion
she had been talking quiet'y and rationally. it
seemed as if she had gone mad all in a moment. 'I
must tell someone,' she said tate.;:elf, looking mum,'
_

tor aid. I canhot controrher. Oh ! what will ptifi
say?'
And, even as the thought passed through her mind,
the strange light died out of Phyllis's eyes, and she
stopped, trembling and faint, and clung to her sister.
Take me home,' she gasped; take me away, or I
shall die!'
She would have fallen, but for her sister's support
and the aid of a man who sprang out of a shop close
by, and half led, half carried, her to a chair. But for
this good Samaritan, there would have been a little
mob and great commotion. As it was, all there was
for the people to see was a young lady, not very well,
being, helped into a cab, and another, rather
frightened, getting in after hcr, and then the vehicle
being driven away at a rapid rate towards Fernbank.
The untoward incident drove all thoughts of the
ghost out of Mrs. Churchill's head; but the report she
had heard from Barney was so far true that the two
persons who had stated that they had seen Frank
Hatherleigh had spoken the simpL, truth. They had
seen what they believed to be the apparition of the
?nurdmed man, and they were credible, honest folks,
both of them, whose every word might be believed as
gospel.
Mary, at Fembank, had been full of the story, to
tell her mistress N% hen she came home; but she had
not had the opportunity; they had stayed out so long,
and then Miss Jarvis had come back ill. But it would
keep. It must be true. She had had it from Barney
Grubb direct. Barney had told her a good many
things since she had come back from France. It was
odd that she had not found out before she went what
nice, resp2ctable man the ferryman was, and how
very superior an old lady his mother had turned out
to be. Handsome, too, Barney was, though, until
that dreadful trial, no one had seemed to know much
what he was like. Barney had not seen the ghost, but
be believed it to be quiet possible that there was a
ghost to be seen; and Mary believed so too, as a
matter .1 course.

(To be continued.)