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

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Gt certainly was this evening. Stories were
told hv the boys. listened to by their father,
and smiled at by their mother and different sub
jects discussed, till at length the long avenue was
touched upon, whereat | reminded Fanny Of her
promise to tell me the traditions respecting IT,
q" You had better not hear them tonight Miss
Lynn, said Charlie, the youngest Of the " boys
Nonsense" cried Fanny " Don't believe
him, Bessie, but get him to tell you the story.
lie knows chapter aud verse Of it,"
"Ah!" returned Charlie, bcaving feigned
sigh, and assuming look Of dismal horror
" You must MT ask for il tonight. ltwould spoil
my nights rest-it would indeed-and yours too
Miss Lynn
a. can answer for its doing mine no HARM I
said. " Please 20 on
At your bidding / obey. Miss Lynn fearless Of
consequences" returned Charlie. shaking his
head. =" But cup OF tea first, Fan, to strength
en- me for the task"
Charlie drank his tea and then began.
81 BE prepared, O my audience, to hear tale
Of ruth and terror, the very remembrance of which
barrows me with fear and wonder Tradition
says, or at least
Oli books NJ lore
In times Of yort-
say that It says, that every Hallowmas and new
years Eve, when churchyard5 yawn, and graves ,
you know the rest. Miss Lynn-wel at that
very particular and terrible period of time which
no philosopher has been able TO determine whcth-
er it be night day-at that particular and terri
/ BILE time, ! say, two shadowy spectres Of two un-
fortunate lovers are to be walking the ter
race at the end Of the avenue. They only to
be seen at the end of the avenue, but they may be
heard trampng up and down, to the melancholy
sound Of the clankng OF chains the whole length
Of it, in front OF the house, If one has ears
I sharp enough
lis that all - | asked.
=" Is not that enough, Miss Lynn"
thought there was something real | repli-
ed
- see YOU are incredulous.n returned Charlie.
But, CHARLIE pot in Fanny, you have left
out the best part Of the whole tradition The
people here say that il any one is brave enough
10 venture to the terrace at twelve o'clock on All
haow's Eve, she will there see her future husband
j DO they not, mamma "
81 believe they do" replied Mrs Carrick
d" But this idea is taken from real occurrence in
the times of the wars between the Orangemen and
the .Jacobiies. At that time daughter of the
owner cf this castle was beloved by a certain
ble follower Of Prince William of Orange. As
her father, for political reasons forbade the mar
rage she used TO meet her lover in the long ave-
nue. He lost bis life in the battle of the Boyne
and his lady love died some years after, of grief
it was said. Hence the origin OF the legend.
But think YOU are wrong in allowing the charm
I to exist but me night ia the year. When | was
Young the future husband at the trysting-place
eUery night
But, mamma, YOU don't believe it is true do
YOU p asked Fanny with an earnestness at which
| could not help smiling.
Dear child returned Mrs Carrick - think
the idea is 80 foolish that 1t scarcely ought to be
spoken Of
When the clock struck ten Mrs. Carrick insist
ed on my retiring to my room. She said | need
ed rest which truly did. So after had wished
her goodnight, Fanny accompanied me up stairs
Leaving the drawing-room 10y side door, we
went up a staircase different from that we had as
cenied on my arrival This caused us to pass
Fanny's room, which she pointed out to me.
Suppose we make an excursion 10 the end of
the avenue one night" said Fanny, she placed
the candle on my toilct-table " But You know
we must 90 alone. Bessie
ave will go II YOU like--but not tonight, I'm
so sleepy The fact that now the excitement
Of the journey was passing of, | felt the fatigue
1t had been % me, and was thoroughly exhausted
"Of course. not tonight. Poor child How
tired YOU look! Can help you in any wayy
No thanks. Goodnight
Goodnight. Schla'e wohl und traume suss,
as the old Fraulein used to say at Miss Kram-
wells"
Having given me this benediction Fanny left
the ioom, and | was soon in bed and asleeep.
SECOND EPISODE,
In Which the ghost appears.
! had been asleep about two hours when | sud
D uenlN AWOkes I knew ulfetLll lhht 1 hAu Dtth
disturbed by some noise, for | could recall no
dream aud knew that should not have awoke
from the sound sleep into which had fallen, with
out cause.
Moreover instead OF gradually coming to my
senses in a drowsy interval as one generally does,
was to use familiar expression, wide awake,
with my senses the alert and my nerves
more acute than usual. The fire had burned so
low that the almost in darkness. at
must have heen log of wood falling out OF the
CRATE that woke me- thought; and shutting my
eyes, determined to 60 to sleep again. But /
had sooner taken this resolution, than | was
startled by hearing the sound OF footsteps under
my window. As listened, Charles story of the
ghosts rushed into my mind.
However incredulous one may be, certain sounds
and sights have strange effect on one sometimes.
These footsteps, which were evidently caused
by more than one pair OF feet and exactly CORE
sponded with the tramp Charlie had described,
terrified me and for some moments lay in cold
persplration, unable TO move. ! argued with my
self aud so0thed myself with assurances that it
was only the gardener game-keepers, and at
last summoned courage to put forth my hand to
light a candle. That done, sat up aud listened
attentvely.
The originators of the tramp had stopped in
front of my window, and we're holding convcr-
sation such persisted in calling it, though their
language sounded to me nothing short of unearth-
ly groans and Kisses.
Who could these wanderers be!
! | determined TO discover, aud with that intent,
stepped out of bed and went up to the window.
As did so the conversation ceased and the foot
steps were again heard, though now they were re-
treating. felt that il would see these nocturn-
al visitors no time was TO be lost so, cXtinguisb-
ing my candle, and at the same time taking care
to have match ready To re-lght it, drew aside
the blind and peered into the darkness without.
Not quite darkness, however; for as pressed my
forehead against the window pane, light flashed
before my eyes. and revealed two tall, guant fig
ures, dressed in tightly fitting black garments,
Just as they we're about to enter the long avenue.
They looked terribly tall and ghastly in the pale
light of the moon, which now shone brightly, and
made the long avenue look longer than ever, the
old trees appear groesqne aud gigantic, and
chilled me TO my very heart
should have dropped the window-blind and
taken refuge under the bed clothes II | could have
done so, but the scene before me was too fascin-
aling | watched on The light which had sur
prsed me when put out my candle accompanied
the figures they in fact carried IT, but as they
were going from me it did not serve to show N,
more than the outline OF their forms
After proceeding some yards, they suddenly
stopped aud began TO perform what seemed to mt
to be very dance OF death. One spectsr held
the light which he moved about rapidly near th,
ground. while the other followed his companioni
example in performing all kinds OF antics, some'