Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-08-03
A Ghost Legend.

X Un0St Iegeuu'
 Sir Tristram Beresford, who died on the 16th of June, l701, presents but little more for notice himself than that he was one of the ancestors of the well-known British family of that name; but, through his wife we are introduced to one of the most strange ghost stories that have been recorded with strong appearance of authen- ticity This lady was educated with John second Earl of Tyrone, and when young they both disbelieyed the doctrine of fu- ture state. In order to establish the fact in the mind of the survivor, they agreed that if possible, the one that died first should return to inform the other. On the 14th of October, 1893, the earl died, and two or three days afterwards Lady Beresford was observed by her husband to appear at breakfast very pallid and care worn in appearance, and with black rib bon tied round her wrist. He inquired the cause of this, but she declined to give any explanations, merely inquiring anx- iously for the mail, and saying that she expected to hear of the death of the earl. Sir Tristram made light of her fears, and urged the imposs:bility of her knowing anything of the kind beforehand. She re- piled that nevertheless, she was satisfied that the earl had died on the Tuesday previous at four o'clock. A letter was shortly afterwards received, announcing this as a fact and on Sir Tristram's ex- pressing surprise at the extraordinary oc- curance, Lady Beresford informed him that she had learned in the same manner that she would before long present him with a son. This, too, was verified. Con tinuine to wear the black ribbon round her wrist, her husband died without being informed of the reason. She married again, still keeping the secret, and on her forty seventh birthday, which she thought her forty-eighth, clergyman congratu- lated her on theerr in that respect, which he had discovered whcrcupon she declar- cd that if Chat was her forty-seventh birth day, she had but few hours to live, and forthwith proceeded to settle his affairs To q female friend she then related the following story;
 During the night preceding the incident at breakfast above referred to, she woke sud : donly and found the Earl of Tyrone stand ing by her bedside She screamed and en- deayored, but in vain, to wake her husband On her asking the earl why he was there he rcplyed that he had died on the Tues day previous, that he had come to assure her of the existence of another world, and to tell her that she would bear son to Sir Tristram, would marry second time and have other children, and would die in the forty-seventh year of her age. Doubt ing the actuality of what prssed, she asked  him for proof that it was not dream or an illusion. He moved his hand and the curtains raised as by magic but this did not satisfy her; he pencilled his name in her pocket-book still she doubted. Then asking her to put out her hand, he laid his finger as cold as ice upon her wrist, which was immediately impressed with black mark beneath which the flesh seemed shrunk after which he vanished.
 She removed then the ribbon. showed the mark, and presently expired in the arms of her friend. The ribbon and the pocket-book with the earps name in it, were in existence at the beginning of the present century.
 Ii is to be observed that ghost stories in which the discoloration and shriyelling of the skin of the hand from the touch of spirits, are not rare. . Melancthon, Rich ard Baxter, Dr Henry Moor, Mrs. Grant, and others relate them. The circumstance of concealing the mark as Lady Beresford is said to have done, appears to be peculiar to her case.