The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-15

family, and under my own PeiSohai o
walton. can safely affirm to be true.
MANY have been the writers on warnings,
"prescntiments," &C.; and TO the readers
OF The Night-side of NatureE or OF ,.1
still venerable "Mysteries of udoipno, lin
am well aware that the following facts WIZ
appear very tame and unexciting. Dus, %
they are facts, have no hesitation ~ o,ioi-
inc them to the public, believing una, eNen
those who sheer at ghost stories VIII nave
some reliance on, and interest," I'D, WHAT Is
s;,,,Io ,rntb / have omitted nothing in
,ha Go,,owipg story but the real names of
Tho partics concerned.
A few years ago, in the north Of Eng
land, near the little village of C, there
resided widow lady aud her two daugh-
tiers. Their income being moderate, they
had chosen their present abode on account
of its distance from any fashionable and
consequently expensive place. The house
itself was certainly anything but roman
tic or "ghostly- looking" one. 1t stood on
a hill, surrounded by few dark fir-trees,
and was principally remarkable for its I'M
presuming yet comfortable appearance. 1t
was a square Misunderstanding abode, of
modern date, with pretty flower garden
looking, it must be confessed, rather bleak
at the time of which | write (Which was
the beginning of December-and small
greenhouse and stables adjoining. The
country round was barren-looking, and the
house standing on high ground, with very
few trees TO protect it, the wind in general
struck cold and cutting, and was very apt
| to give toothache, rheumatism, and various
other unromantic ailments to those strong
minded individuals who pretend never to
care about the weather, and who think 1t
necessary TO 90 out every day for their
+" constitutional" The interior of the
house certainly belied the appearance OF
the exterior, as Mrs. Egerton and her
daughters had managed, like the generality
of women, to surround themselves with
various little home comforts and feminine
luxurics, which it is my firm belief would
make a comfortable and cheerful abode OF
barn or log-hut.
The drawing-room of Eastwood Grange,
although not a large one, was comfortably
and prettily furnished. Sofas made to lie
on, and chairs made to sit on a nice warm
carpet OF rich crimson the walls papered
with a light paper, ornamented with lew
wcll-chosen watcr-color drawings; plenty
of books and work lying about; and last,
but not least, a bright blazing fire, the cur.
tains drawn, and the pet cat " Putin " re-
clining at full stretch on the hearth-rug
formed q tout ensemble which on a cold De-
cember evening was most inviting. The
occupants of the room now deserve some
description. Mrs. Egerton, middle-aged
but still handsome woman, with blonde
hair, yet untouched by the hand of Time,
ripping across her forehead, bright, intel
ligcnt gray eyes, high, aristocratic (but
not beqky) nose, and a mouth which always
appeared to have a smile lurking in the cor
ners, was sitting in q large armchair close
to the fire, busily working at some warm
clothing for the children Of the poor cot
tagers, while her daughters, Amy and
Georgana, aged eighteen and twenty, two
bright and thoroughly Engiish-looking girls,
were sitting near her, engaged, the one in
drawing, the other in reading aloud. Mrs.
Egerton had married early, and her hus-
band, captain in the Indian army, died OF
the effects of yellow fever on his return
VOYAGE to Join his wife and young children
in their English home, about fifteen years
from the time this story begins. His widow
then, with her four children, two sons and
two daughters, went to reside at their pre-
sent abode, Mrs. Egerton wisely thinking
itbetterto choose aquiet situation for their
residence than to remain i'll London, Strl-
wing to keep up an appearance III the
"great world " on an income Whlch was
only sufficient to enable her to place her
sons Mt college and to live comfortable,
happy, although perhaps not what is termed
q gay life, with her two daughters.
Alexander, the eldest son, had followed
the profession of his father, and was now
with his regiment in India, while William,
the Younger, was in London, studying for
the law.
They were sitting, as I before said, one
evening, happy in the anticipation OF
spending q merry Christmas with some
friends in the neighborhood, and talking
with delight of the balls and other amuse-
mentsin store for them, when they were
startled by the door in the hall, or front
door (Which was exactly opposite the
drawing-room,) flying suddenly open, and
by hearing the distinct tread Of mans
footsteps crossing the passage. The two
girls looked at their mother, their faces
blanched with terror, as they knew no
friend would call at their house so late at
night.
"Oh! don't you know whose steps those
are p. said Mrs. Egerton.
eyes, mamma ~ cried both the girls;
"of course, dear Williams. 1t struck us
directly we heard them. He cannot surely
have come so suddenly to surprise u.s."
eve will soon see," said Mrs. Egerton,
taking the light and opening the door.
No one was in the hall the door, it is
true was wide open, and the cold Decem-
Der air struck with chill, like the chill of
death, upon the hearts of the frightened
women. The housemaid at the same time
came running down the stairs saying that
she, as well as the other servant, had dis
tinctly heard the door fly open and the
footsteps cross the hall; and thinking hoy
like they were to "Mr. Williams" she had
come down to see whether he really had
arrived 50 unexpectedly.
"But, mamma" said Amy, "perhaps he
may be hiding in one of the rooms, be-
cause, you know, we did not open the
drawingro room door directly we heard the
footsteps, as we were so startled"
cit is hardly likely, DEAR" said Mrs.
Egerton, "that William would brighten us
so; besides, you know, in his last letter he
said we must not expect him for the next
three weeks, as he could not be spared
until day or SO before Christmas day !;
however, we will look"
She then led the way into the dining
room, from thence into the library, and all
the bedrooms, looking even behind the
curtains, and in every conceivable or in
conceivable place where a human being
could be concealed. Still, no one was to
be found; and giving up the fruitlesS
search, with heavy hearts they returned to