The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-12-01


1t was just one O'Clock on the morn
ing of the third of May-it wanted a
few minutes to high water, and then the
tide would turn, and we all know that
at tide-turning many soul that has
been waiting is called away.
We'll, rs said, it was just one O'Clock,
and all the household were a-bcd except
ing the Squire, who was still sitting
over his sack-posset, and the old nurse
who watched at my lady's bedside.
Suddenly a low cry was heard, and
1t pierced through the house and woke
many of the sleepers; but only one or
two had courage enough to rise up and
see what IL was, and among these was
my Aunt Bridget.
" Is she opened the door that led on
to the grand gallery, she saw u white
figure gliding down the great staircase,
with its eyes staring in wild horror,
wringing its hands, and moaning
piteously. If it had not been that she
was lying on her death-bed, my aunt
would have said that it was my lady
herself; but she had heard of the spirits
OF departing people visiting those they
desired to see at the last moment, and
so great was her fear ut the sight that
she tainted away, as did the maid who
had accompanied her; but little foot
page, who had more courage and more
curiosity, followed the figure, and saw
it enter the dining-room. The Squire,
he said, started up; and the figure,
slowly raising lis hand and pointing one
finger at him, said, Murderer And
the Squire fell back in his chair, and
hid his face in his hands. The little
foot-page saw no more, for, overcome
with fright, he fed to his room and
buried himself beneath the bedclothes.
"When my aunt came to herself,
being woman of some nerve, despite
the sudden terror that came over her,
she determined to go to my lady's room,
and there she found my lady, as she eX-
pected, stretched on the bed quite dead.
The nurse was asleep, SO of course did
not know how long she had been dead !;
but my aunt knew that she must have
died just as the tide turned, and that
would be just at the time the white
figure glided down the staircase.
"Do you think it was my lady's ghost,
granny" said Meg.
"How should [ know. l only tell
the tale rs it was told to me, aud it's not
for the like Of me to settle about such
things. I don't either believe or dis
believe in ghosts, and tlIat'a the best
aud hope never to zoe ono; 5Gr arrri 1'ti
not say but what others iIayo."
"I'm sure hope shan't," said Meg
u should die with fright"
"My aunt didn't" replied the old
woman, "and sec no cause that you
should. Not that L think you'll ever
sec one"
"Aud what become Of the SQuire?"
asked Meg.
"After my lady's death nc never felt
comfortable at the Hall, 50 all the fine
things were sold, and the house was shut
up, and he went abroad, and | heard he
wandered from place TO place until he
died. It seemed rs if he could find 10
rest"
"Do you think, granny" said Meg,
lowering her voice, "that he had any
thing 20 do with the child's death or
with Geronimo's!"
"Many thought So" returned the
old woman; "stiii nothing could be
made of it. But one thing has alway:
been clear to my mind: my dythouaht
so, and that was the cause of the piteous
moaning Of the figure that my auntsa
glide down the old staircase"