Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-08-25

LII u u6us6ly WOSueu pOrLlOu OF EdHV
Tennessee, there stands an old mansion
known in the neighborhood as Forest
Home Manor.
In this old house, many years ago, there
lived gentleman and his only child,
boy ten years of age. Col. King had come
to the Manor when his little boy was two
years old, and repairing the house, which
he had inherited from his grandfa ther, he
furnished it handsomely, and being pos
sessed Of great wealth, gratified every
whim for luxury and comfort. He was
cold, hard man, and allowed of no friend
ships, 80 that he became exceedingly
unpopular with the planters of the
county.
About the time our story opens, Earl,
the son of Col King, came home from
hunting excursion, and found his father
seated upon the front balcony of the
Manor. 1t was just after dark, and as
father and son were sitting alone in the
moonlight, the latter relating his success
in his days sport, Col. King suddenly
arose, and exclaimed aloud
"My wife on my wife Yes, tits
she p
Earl started up eagerly, and gazing in
the direction in which his father was
looking, saw female form, clad in white,
pass slowly down the gravel walk, and
disappear in the dark forest.
Father, what Is p" came from the
lips Of the frightened boy but no answer
was returned, and Selling the hand of his
son, Col King to,tered into the house.
Weeks, months, years, rolled by, but
the mystery of the phantom remained
unrevealed.
Col. King had become colder and hard
er than before. Daily he taught his son
from such books as he deemed most expe-
dent for him, and the youth became de-
voted to his studies. Frequently, since
the first night they had beheld the phan-
tom, it had again appeared to them; but
to Earls earnest entreaties az to what
and who it was, his father would return
no answer.
Returning from a deer hunt in the
mountains, seven years after the COM
mencement of this story, Earl was told by
the old butler that his father had died the
night previous, end gave him letter, to
deliver to Earl upon his return from the
hunt.
Turning to the window he opened the
letter, and there, in the presence of the
dead, read:
FOREST HOME MANOR, September IS
"MY BELOVED SON: / am on the brink
OF the grave. Let me now exhume the
past and tell you that my life has been
aimless. Years ago | won the love of a
young girl, pure and gentle, but beneath
me in station, and secretly married her.
Ny grandfather threatened to disinherit
me if | did not give her up, and as l was
his heir, yielded, and deserving the only
woman had ever loved, l went abroad.
Returning two years after, l found that
my deserted wife had borne Us a child,
and at the instigation of my grandfather
l had the -yourself-stolen from its
mother, and brought you with me to this
place. Shortly afterward your grand
father died, leaving me all his property,
and with haste l went in search of your
dear mother. But, alas in the quiet
New England village where she had lived
she was no more, but sleeping in the
ohuroh-yard, having died, stranger tolC
me, of a broken heart.
"You remember, now seven years ago
when you were but ten years OF age
when phantom form appeared to u
while we were scented upon the from
balcony Well, that was your deaf
mothers form, and day and night it ha
haunted me ever since, frequently appear
>
entreaties to tell you who it was I woul
make no answer, for could not tell yo
of my shame.
"Now l am dying! 1 have lett 20
heir to all my vast property, 50 use it TO
your good Leuve Forest Home IA 500
as you place me beneath the sod, and G
to Europe and there shake off the shadoy
that has clouded your young lie Go
ever bless and keep you, my boy, and pal
don my sin toward your angel mother,
the dying prayer OF your affectionste
FATHER.
The family servants and two or thrt
planters accompanied Earl to the buril
of his father.
Two days after he left for Europ
leaving the servants in charge of ii
homestead.
Ten years passed, and excepting 8 sem
yearly letter from Earl King to the blu
Ter of Forest Home, nothing had bee
heard OF him, until one evening a ia
bearded stranger rode up TO the doorwa
and throwing his bridle-rein to a servan
inquired for old Henderson the butler.
"Here l am, SIR" said that worthy,
he came from the house. "Who is it yo
wish to see?"
"Ahl Henderson, l see you do not r
member me. am Earl King" answere
the stranger, extending his hand.
''May the Lord be praised. Master Eau
to return you safe home again !" and Il
butler firmly grasped his young master
hand.
A week went by, and Earl had beoon
domesticated in bis old home. Seated
the came spot on the balcony where, seve
teen years before, bis father and himse
had first seen the phantom, shadow fe
between him and the moonlight. Almo
paraly zed, he sat and gazed upon d
same form that he had seen long yea
before, and v atched it as it slowly disa
peared down the avenue.
II will pursue this form, and see if Il
dead can commune with the living" l
said and springing to bis feet, he "a
rapidly down the avenue in pursuit. of Il
phantom. His rapid steps soon brougl
him up with the form, which shran
away trembling, as if to avoid him.
"My mother, OH my mother are yo
living or dead Z" said Earl, as he claspe
the thin hands of the phantom.
"My son, am living, though suppose
TO be dead. 1 came here years ago to /
near your father, and TO watch over 70,
without being known, and had moe
funeral in my native village, to deceiv
my friends and make them believe | W,
dead Your father has passed away, an
have watched by his grave during yo,
long years of absence. Miles from here
live, in "a small hut in the mounts in
Tell me You love your mother. though 81
is beneath you in station
Thoroughly overcome, it was some m
ments before Earl could reply; and the
slssping his mother TO his heart, b Q r
Piled: