Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-23
THE GHOST IN HOLLY LODGE
by MISS CATHERINE THOMAS.

"The old lady has taken Holly Lodge for three
years
A low whistle escaped from the lips Of a some
what "swell' specimen of the clerk variety, ON
this announcement.
"Rather be myself than you, in that case Charlie.
Although from nine to five is rather too much of a
good thing, when that thing is desk, still, there is
Icompensation to a certain degree"
"Not bird fellow shoot" went on Charlie,
"or hare or a rabbit; not a bit of hunting; not
la pack of hounds for miles round. Those Grim
shaws have done it-got round my mother, know
ing that she has daughters, and-sons, with meek
emphsis; sand now she is in foF that horrid old
rookery for three years! The Grimshaws have
just gone out, and made convenience Of the mat
ter"
"If were in your place, I'd soon do the business;
but Charlie you're muff-such dear, darling
pet!-yo could not think OF being naughty! No,
not you'll"
Now Charlie was good fellow in every sense Of
the word, but he had weakness. Who has not?
He admired his brother as "a town SWELL" as he
called him. and also for his personal appearance and
Sdseir .tdiye; jealous Of him, especially when the
last recommendation was considered; and Frank
could stimulate him to attempt anything by merely
saying he could do it.
| Charlie pulled his short pipe for some moments
in silence, the putting becoming more rapid as time
flew, until at last he seemed to have CLEAN of in
spiraton shed on him through the hazy clouds
which filed the room.
| 81 would not mind betting hamper of cham
pange that before six months over our heads we
are out of this unpleasant hole"
"Doue: dozen drunk oU the premises here or
there! How do you mean to effect the eject
mcnt?"
"That.remains to be seen. ! have not it hit off
yet; but if you could do it, why should not being
your senior by eighteen months"
| =
of humor in his brothers meaning but his face
confirmed what his lips uttered in singleness of
purpose He evidently believed in his superior age.
And then each went his way for n time-Char-
lie to the country to help move his "people' rs he
called his mother and sisters TO their new home.
Up the house, and down the house, and round the
house. he lotered and moved, and racked his brain
to think of something as knowing and sharp as
Frank would have thought Of to make the house
untenabe; but at his wits end, and there
seemed 10 be no weak point to assail. He thsmped
the walls for hiden passages in hopes of getting up
Il ghost but even there he was bafled There
was what is called a we-staircase--thaJ is spiral
with break to the succession of sharp-pointed
stairs encircling rail of bansters which wound up
three stories above ground, and down to n cellar
below, and as the kitchens and offices behind
in wing, over which were the servants rooms,
Charlie dwet on the horror of rats, but his sisters
did not mind the rats would 90 if Charlie would
only get terrier or a ferret; while his mother
hnted at n cear-door some day. So he had to let
the staircase, and the dangers to the household and
all his other arguments be, as they say but still
he haunted the house during the interval of moving
in After peering into garrets and getting himself
into state of dust and whitewash, which would
have Mortified his fastidious brother, he about
to give it up, and forfeit the champagne, when ac-
cijently kicking an iron bolt from the sky-light
which was lying on the floor, it started on its
travels and TO the amazement OF our hero, and gave
him a long chase before he regained it, in conse-
quence of the peculiar formation of the obnoxious
staircase that gave out echoes in its descent which
would have startled any nervous family into con-
vulsions. As he first rushed down to secure the
fastening, and painted up again TO replace it, the
mind of Charlie Dalton took in a new flash of in
spiraton. He stood midway and looked up and
then he looked down, and then he looked into all
the rooms to see If he were alone, to make sure
that his secret was secret STILL and then he went
away, whistling gently, medtating meanwhile
Suddenly he became reconced to the house. lie
told his mother he would give up the idea of hunt
ing, fishing and shooting, and take to literature
} and farming-that being in allusion 20 the few
acres called, grandiloquently, the domain, which
surrounded the house.
? At length an event occurred that disturbed the
serenity of the whole family, servants included
which became the talk of the neighborhood fol
days; and which finally effected domestic revolu
ton. II was between eleven and twelve-nearinl
the witching huuT-when all the servants wer,
asleep, and when the ladies nearly so. Charlie
declared he Yves dreaming of opening hamper o
wine, with Franks assistance, when he was awokt
by one of the most 'awful rows he ever hearC
in his life; and jumping up to find out the cause
met his mother her head an edifcc of white frills
and her person enclosed in crimson flannel dress
ing-gOwn. In second, one door opened, theI
another; and from each emerged q scared, ghostly
figure, in unrecognzabe attire.
"Dd you hear that?' 30, what was it?' Can
not imagine" "What can it be p
Perhaps Charlie himself was the most demon
, stative, though in quiet way He was awe
struck.
ave must look into this; but it is too cold fo
for you, mother. We will see about it,
So procession was formed, each holding
, candle, for fear of some being blown out From
the cellar TO the garret, and down again. they fol
lowed each other; but perfect tranquility reigneC
everywhere. "Nothing out of place" they all de-
clared So they went to bed, to think and trembe
for few could sleep; and then they got up Il
. whisper mysteriously and wonder and to consul
the elder Miss Grimshaw who was on q visit, an,
who declared that in their time nothing of the sor
ever occurred. And when Charlie looked sterl
and sad, and they asked him the cause, he said tina
as he rushed out to see what 1t was, a cold bias
passed him when the door opened; and when hi
o phenomenon, he looked sadly scornful, and ejacu
lated "Stuh' in hollow voice.
The next night, similar scene took place, an
= then the family resolved that some one should 81
up and watch for it. For some time it difiicu
to get volunteer for the. first watch; even Charlie
the household protector, declared he was not in
clined to meet a spirit alone.
"Anything that has flesh and blood in it al
ready for, and fatter myself equal to; but any
thing disembodied is beyond my range and my e,
perience.'
The uncarthIy noise was heard once more, nm
then every two or three nights it was repeated, NJ
til they feared to leave their beds but covered, au
covered their heads, and wondered Mrs. DaltO
looked pale and worn, and Lucy and Jane serol
and thoughtful. The house became funereal in
air and tone.
so, Charel do beg mama to try and let Il
place, and go somewhere else
- "No, indeed, Lucy. did what | could befo
we came; she would not listen to me. You wou
not back me them now we are in for it.
Al II, H., L,a,, sl,a 4 q