Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-02
0blo Statesman
A LEGEND OF LYMINGTON.

"wha. can a young lassie. what will young
What can a young lsssie do wi an auld man ?"
In spite of this assertion, many 'syoung
lassip," has been we'll content to marry an
''auld man." provided always there has
been plenty of tocher on the right side.
So it was that Samuel Baldwin, Knight,
and sojOurner in the parish of Lymington,
did, in the year of grace 1870, find young
the history TO their married lie in omi-
nous silence. Suffice it, that when Sir
Samuel died there was found a curious
paper, stating it to be his will and pleasure
that his body should be carried out to
Scratchells Bay and there sunk. "In or
DER" the document went on to say, ''that
my wife Joan may not be able to dance
upon my grave. which. in the bitterness of
her wrath. she has vowed to do"
In obedience to this singular command,
the worthy knights body was duly weigh
ed and left to rest under the shadow of the
Needles; while the young widow took en-
tire possession of the dead mans property,
no one disputing the will which she pro-
duced. .--..
Now the Lady Joan Baldwin looked
marvelously we'll in her weeds; and al
though it is said that it is of no use gliding
pure gold, everyday experience proves
there are exceptions to the rule; therefore,
fair as the widow was, the gliding derived
from the funds made her doubly fair, and
brought to her feet, the greedy. the needy,
the rich, the poor. Time went on and to
the disappointment of the gossiping world
Lady Joan seemed in no haste to change
her condition, but rather to aim at univer-
sal conquest. The ladies grew not only
scandalOus but wrathy, for SO equally were
Joan's favors distributed that every man
secretly considered himself the most fortu-
nate, and thus, there being no rejected
suitors, there were no deserters, and the
wrathful Indignation of the neglected sis
terhOod was the more eXcusable. Things
went on after this fashion until hunting
meeting came off. Lyndhurst was full Of
great noblemen. The Lady Joan was the
toast at many a wild carouse. The hunt
lasted for several days, and when the fes-
tivities were at height an event occurred
that put the place on the qui ciue.
At the close of long and successful day
in the forest, stranger rode home at the
widows bridle- hand.
''Some Lymington fellow" said the
Londoners.
''Some court roue," said the Lymington
folks.
Yet, though unknown to the lady's jeal-
GUS follower, the stranger was evidently
not only on good, but familiar terms, with
the widow; who, in place of remaining
the night at Lyndhurst, rode on to Lyming-
ton, escorted by the new arrival. Next
day there was rage and amazement in many
a heart. The Lymington church bells
Changed joyous wedding peal. The widow
had outwitted them.
Disappointed suitors let loose their
tongues and out of very spite, hunted up
the fact that the man who had out6one
them all and CARED off the prize, was an
old lover, to whom, before she was my
lady" Joan Armitsge had plighted her
troth, and who. they asserted, had remain
ed in the neighborhood disguised as for
ester, nothing 10th to wait for the knights
well-tochered widow. Nor was this all /;
darker stories were whispered, and at
last it was even limited that the
knight had met his death unfairly, and
that the settlement and will by which the
widow claimed her great wealth was forg-
cd by the mysterious lover. Joan heard of
these things, and only laughed. Il mar
ried for money once, can marry for love
this time.'' Yet in spite of the boasted
love, and the constant presence of the man
she had chosen, great change was visible;
the bright color faded out of her cheeks !;
her eyes grew sunken and dim her laugh
hushed; life and energy seemed to be fad
ing away. The bridegroom, too. was a
changed man; he became silent and NOR
Ose; scarcely left his wife's side; and watch
GU hC1 Wloh a pei WnlCu tllc iOOh-
ers on called Jealousy. Some said that
Lady Joan was conscience ismitten; some
said her.husband ill-treated her. Both re-
ports were as far from truth as such gene
rally are. 1t was only to chosen friend
that the unhappy m IN unbOsomed himself.
might after night" he said, Il wake
and find her plaee vacant. Night after
night have endeavored to remain awake,
that / might unravel the mystery, but in
uains I i'm hlu fol ,ba,
comes Joan is lying by my side;
and were it not that her face is pale and
haggard. and her feet cut and travel
stained, could believed that 1 had been
You have questioned the Lady Joan, of
course ?" said his friend.
Mot a word, Dick" l--E-
"Then why not watch herr"
sAy, that is it! l want you to help me.
Do you consent to lie in wait this very
night, and we will follow her!''
So it was arranged. Dick Berkeley was
waiting in the street, when, shortly after
the church tolled twelve, the house door
opened, and the Lady Joan. clad only in her
white night-dress, tripped down the steps.
Dick had always been an admirer of the
ladies, but he stood amazed, exceedingly,
as he caught sight of her beautiful face
lighted up with a CLEAN he had never seen
before; her long hair floating, Godivalike
in the wind her fair arms stretched over
head and her clasped hands wrung to-
gether in agony. There was something so
extraordinary in the circumstances attach
ing to the lady-something SO wild and
passionate in her attitude and expression
that Dicks heart was stricken, and al
though he hesitated tor a moment, he did
not lose sight of her. He had pledged his
word to follow her, and so he went, keep
i'm m nj hoh ind hnr cbn Il
the high street, and through the ill-paved
bye-lanes. leading to the so-called quay.
AS she approached, small boat, with one
bOatsman, glided up the river, and as it
grated against the steps, Lady Joan stepped
il.
"Quick. quick !" whispered her husband.
who had come up with Dick little while
before. Follow her to the 'devil!"
Dick shuddered but unfastened boat,
and they were soon in pursuit.
mot too near" said Dick, lying on his
oars; for the husband, beside himself with
Jealous fury, was gaining upon the little
boat. mot too near, i say, or they will
suspect us; they are making for the cas-
tle.o
He was wrong, however; they passed
Hurst Castle, and steered straight across
the Solent, rounded the Needles, and turn
ed into Scratchells Bay; here those who
followed saw a fearful sight.
The water was as smooth as glass. but
bright with a lurid, weird-like flame; and
upon it danced the Lady Joan, filing the
air with her shrieks, while all the time,
round and round, sliding, curteseying,
bounding, she performed her ghastly min
uet. -.'i
An hour, which seemed an age to the
lockers on, passed. Held by some strange
power, they still sat, watching with staring
eyes and curdling blood. until the white
figure was taken back into the boat and
rowed to shore again.
. Not one word passed between the friends :;
but next day Joan's husband set off on a
journey to London, where he meant to lay
the my ysterious case before eminent doctors,
both spiritual and physical, in the hope of