Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-18

From The Peoples Masasine.
THE GHOST STORY WHICH CAME TRUE.

In tchich the Ghost is talked off,

7 Although the clock was only striking three
we drove away from Balauling station the sun
was already sinking and the cold Northern air
bad become 80 keen that ! heartily wished our
journey at an end though must own | rather
dreaded arriving at place Of destination. as
the prospect lay before Of being there received
by strangers. the parents Of my friend and school
fellow. Fanny Carrick. IL was two years since
Fanny and had parted in the hall Of Miss kram-
wells establishment for young ladies' at St.
Johns Wood, aud we had never met in the inter-
val. After several invitations Of Mrs. Carriok,
my mother had at length consented 10 my spend
ing a month in Scotland with my old schooiel-
low.
Why the unpropitious month Of December
should have been chosen for my visit ! cannot
tell. During the cold journey from London |
wished i, had been deferred till June but | re-
pented Of the wish before my stay was at an end
1t not the very moment ] saw Fanny standing on
the platform Of the little station at Ballauling,
smiling me a welcome before ] had time TO let
down the window or step out Of the train.
q" Is it a long drive to your houseY' asked
when we were packed in the carriage. | with my
feet resting a comfortable ioot-warmer Fanny
had the kind thought to bring ior me- and my
person euveoped in wraps Fanny sitting upright,
disdainful Of cold
Eight miles, she replied. in answer TO my
question q" John will take an hour and quar-
ter to drive home. thought you would find an
open carriage too cold, OF SNOWFALL can do it in
hlty-hve minutes, counting the hills and the
bridge
! Counting the bridge? ??
"Uh! a tiresome floating bridge across eTay.
We shall be on it directly
As Fanny spoke, the horses slackened their
speed. and the hollow sound Of their hoofs, as
they stepped on the wooden bridge, was heard
As the guide man who has the management
OF the clever contriVance was pleased to float as
over the river without waiting for more passengers,
a. he is sometimes wont 10 do, we were soon of
at gallop again.
This is Lagierait Inn, said Fanny pointing
to a neat looking house the left. " where the
Aberfedy coach stops. | must tell you something
about the country we pass through 1t, though
you must come here another time and investigate
at YOUR leisure. The beauty of our Scotch scene
ry quite rewards one for the trouble of looking at
thought so indeed when after driving few
miles along the banks Of the ray. the snowy peaks
of the Grampian mountains, towering up to the
sunlt clouds, burst upon our view. We were not
allowed TO Joy the sight long howevr for soon
the carriage took a turn to the right, and then an
other, and nearer hills shut out the more distant
mountains from gaze
The scenery through which we now passed was
as wild and romantic, IT not as grand an impos-
ing, as the land of Schehaliion and Ben Lawers-
} Here lay crags knolls, and mounds, confused
lv - giant rocks overhung the road, thJeatening
the traveller with destruction; sturdy pine trees
STOOD alone and solitary, making one wonder how
they took root, or lived the rocky heights |
was in a transe OF wonder aud delight, realizing,
for the first time in my life. Sir Walter Scous
descriptions Of Highland scenery. repeating the
lines be might have written for the very picture
we had lust seen, the ravine through which
were passing
"Ths wsstsr1 waves Of ebbng day
Kol'd DER the glen their iryel way;
Each purple peas, each hnty sire,
Was batted In food, of living fire
But no letting gcam nd g'oT
Within the dArs ra,inrs below,
where ,wined the path in h4doF hil.
hound many loe'y pyramid"
"The iockv sumn is sp, atd rent,
Form turfst, dome, or baidsment
Cr seemed fAu'astiealiy ct
Win cupola or minatet =
when Fanny reused me with " We have reached
the first lodge now. 1t is called the Weem lodge,
because it IS nearer that place than any other.
We are only halt, mile from the house now. 1
hope YOU are not very tired -
replied in the negative ard asked ii we were
now in Mr.. Carrick's grounds.
What are my fathers in the eye OF the law,
but my mothers by uherence She was an only
daughter. aud heircss TO her mothers estates-the
old place has descended TO an only daughte for
three generations. The charm is broken now.
7 As Fanny ceased speaking the carriage took
turn to the left, aud in a few minutes another in
the same direction. " Now We are in the long
avenue, ~ Fanny observed. II extends from the
house to what we cali the terrace-a dry walk on
the boundary of the wood. The avenue is more
than quarter of a mile longs you cannot Judge
of its length now, for YOU see we have entered it
near the middle There some curious old le-
gends about the avenue and the terrace, but |
must tell you them another time, for we shall be
at the house directly"
Pt-a-pat pit-a pat went my heart hearing
this for, | said before, rather dreaded meet
ing Mr. and Mrs Carfick 10 dissipate my ner-
vousness | peered out OF the carriage window to
try to look down the avenue, but by this time the
sun had ceased TO give his light to half OF the
world aud nothing was to be seen of the avenue
save the dim outline of the trees as we passed
them; the only consolation gained by my
sudden curiosity was bump against the side of
the carriage as it stopped before the ball door Of
--- castle which fattened my bonnet, and
made me feel very foolish and uncomfortable. |
have often wondered why one does have that PEE
culiar sensation OF mdurdise h0nte upon the oeca-
sion of any such slight accident but this spec
ulatlon has nothing to do with the tale have in
hand | will pursue it no fur,her. We had driven
up to the hall door, which we found already open,
and quite blocked up with Fannys younger broth
ers and sisters, who we're waiting 10 receive US.
"Wbere is mammal p cried Fanny, springing
from the carriage
Here ! am, dear Have YOU brought your
friendPn As these words were uttered, the speak
er, sweet, gentle looking lady, appeared in the
hall. motioning the children 70 make way for her
Fanny led me up to her, and the next moment
all my shyness and nervousness had vanished-l
even forgot the dapidated shape OF my bonnet
at her kind greeting.
Fanny will take you to your roonl,' she said,
presently. "Do not hurry 20 come down to din
ner have ordered it not TO be sent in till ring
You may like to rest little after your long jour
I ney."
, thanked my considerate hostess and followed
Fanny up stairs. This isyour room,N she said
as she threw open the door Of large, eomflrta-
bic chamber, which glowed with the cheerful light
Z of wood fire. "lt is front ROOM Fanny oou-
/ tinurd, al wish il were nearer mine; but mine
is quite the other side Of the house. You shall
= take peep at my saHetina sdacfOrum tomorrow,
Now | will leave yot,. as, according 10 memma's
suggestion you may like 10 rest after your jour
! ney.n
r "Oh | am not in the least tired" ! exclaimed.
81 shall be ready to go down stairs in less than a
quarter OF an hour
''If you really will, | will knock at your door
and show you the way to the dining room when
you are ready
Fanny was as good as her word and in about
half an hour we were seated at dinner in the spa
cious dining hall OF ------ castle. found after