The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-24
The Westmorely Spectre
BY .our =. WILLIAMS, 4. D.

The Westm0rely Spectre.
Iaa7g lad gn1qos-AlcJa p ~ 20
BY JOHN B. WILLIAMS, n D.
n.-d afd T3FiB--- l5issiis to
7 IA year or two ago, four gentlemen were
seated around table in one OF our fashion
able cafes in the city Of Paris Three Of
these gentlemen we're sciors Of the French
nobility, the fourth was an English lord
aAre you superstitious, my Lord, asked
the MARQUIS de- N "A of the Englishman-
aWhy do you ask me that question r. re-
turned Lord Blsckston. Boa aso.ai l''9l'sst
ado ron believe that the dead ever re
turn to the earth r. said the French Mar;
ii do.n returned the Englishman.
OK what do YOU believe that man dead
and hi; lied can leave his tomb, and return
to the place where he last lived f''aRl7i' p 1
Is sThat has often occurred replied the
,Englishman, inl accents OF conviction that
startled the MARQUIS. A. q, aassff sk sseff 1
The three Frenchmen gazed curiously at
Lord Blackston. ~
isYes, that has often happened repeated
tbe iatter x / do not saw their bodies re-
turn, bat their spirits come baek to settle
affairs which sudden death has left in sus-
pense.nf9 y sia9i1igyi lai.2ti.rts
: I The Frenchman smiled. ~ bsI'is =
g. You laugh at this statement said
Lord Blackston. iassa q iests saisi -
sWeIl you must confess it is q very.
strange one for q gentleman fyour standing
to make .f..s af..fil -,I.f.4 /. AZ u (. Il.
81 viii give yon an example Of the truth
of my statement said the Englishman !;
II, myself, have witnessed such an occur
renee" ssis,t,, k.sff
"You have seen a spirit walk the earth,
NV lord en sfEd llQEIeqrlq gFtE M
sYes. 1t occurred in the little village Of
Westmorely, In the county of S1ssex.n 4
q" And you were there i''a sairssf sie -
asaIt is ia Westmore;y that my country
seatis situated, and il was there that the
apparition appeared 'lg iHstas xl.'il -
And you saw it Z" a''iI4i
81 did-butI will tell you the story,
and you can judge. for yourselves as to its
So saying. they all drew theirs chajf 10
the table, and lord Blackstoh' felatcd u
following incident Of his life:
The Manor House Of Westmoreiy is an
old historic dwelling. It was often be-
sieged in the Middle Ages James II. slept
| there, and Il IS even said that the Pretender
| found refuge within its walls, y - I.
The last proprietor of the Manor House
was an uncle Of mine, Lord Galway, who,
although married, had no children. He
lived very quiet, retired life, and he and
| Lady Galway looked more like simple
country people than members of the Eng
| ilish aristocracy.ris ~ 3ldse 3dilsni1rs aflt
Lord Galway's nearest heir at law was
another nephew, a very Idisipated young
fellow, who lived in France, having been
compelled by his creditors to leave Eag-
land. His conduct in the French metrop-
oils was scandslous, so much so that his
numerous escapades were often mentioned
in the public journals. ,.,i l.,-,,s,ss.ff
One day Lady Galway read aloud to her
husband some episode more scandalous than
usual, from a French newspaper, n
The old gentleman, afflicted with govt at
the time, jumped up from the armchair in
which he had been seated, and exclaimed
| with great yehemence: = - ,,r.g,ise
"That scoundrel of nephew, Ralph,
shall never have a farthing of my fortune
l shall choose for my heir my other nephew,
Lord Blackston."
One morning Ford Galway was found
dead in his bed One physician mentioned
that he had died of apoplexy; another as
cribed his death to aneurismo of the aorta,
and third to something else. Whatever
the cause of his death might be, it was GER
tain that he was dead, and Lord Galway was
buried with due honors tsss. =
After the funeral, the lawyer who had
witnessed Lord Galway's will searched
everywhere for it, but without success. Still
it was certain that will had been made.
All search, however, proved in vain. 81 No
will could be found, and my cousin Ralph
arrived from Paris to take possession Of his
inheritance as heir.at-aw. To ~ ~
Ihad gone to Westtnorely, and was there
when Ralph arrived. InoI ID t.ssH saf
He greeted me very coldly, and said :A,3ns
"Public rumor mentions youas my uncle's
heir; but imagine you will not accuse me
Of destroying the win. I have Just arrived
from France, and you were here before
men
"Iaecuse you of nothing, i replied, in
the same cold tons that he used. . II shall
leave here to-moTowp Ts4,efra ~ - -
ordered my valet to pack my trunks
and after having taken supper in my chgm-
ben I went to bed, having decided that !
would take the train for London ttsqz
Thad been in bed about an lour, and Aas
just falling asleep, when i heard a slight
noise which caused me to reopen my eyes
At the same time bright Light Invaded my
chamber, which proceeded = from neither
lamp nor candle.
= The door opened noiselcssiy,o and man
entered uttered a cry of amazement and
terror s-r ~ rlftgih assii 10. sass-.
twas Lord Galway, or rather hisspirit
TEs dead map's face was lividly pale, he
was wrapt in his winding sheet, and walked
with slow and measured steps, ~
Hewalked up to my bedside, his face
beaming with affection as he gazed on me,
while smile moved his bioo6less lips In
spite Of his kindly demeanor, was struck
dumb with terror, and my hair absolutely
stood on end. gal b1gtrf. - y glsf
The spectre then made sign for me to
| follow him; some neutrality-suspicious. pow
er compelled me to obey. II, ir.iu
Irose up and followed him., clothed only
: The doors opened Of e themselves before
him, and the mysterious light accompanied
\ US. -. /
HeIsd me to the door Of the room oceu-
| pied by Sir Ralph, and this like the Others
few open at his lGppfoach. Suddenly, Sir
Ralph, who was asleep, awoke with q start.
He perceived the phantom, and uttering q
| terrible cry, fell upon his knees, ~ = "a
| sol pardon pardonp he murmured !