Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-15
THE BRANDON GHOST.

uttiot VILLA Duuu1e'- "a MS eDunQle, WheI
unwrapped, proved to be a something sof
and round, and highly ornamented witt
embroidery something with marvellous
ly short waist and marvellously ricl
lace cap; in short, luxuriously apparelled
baby. A very important baby il was, for
fromlloye of H. Chauncey had relinguished
his noble old homestead, with the prestige
which centuries Of possession confers upon
family, had ceased to bsfhe leading man
in his county, and had become stranger in
land which, however dear to its sons. could
be to him but place of exile. He had
abandoned all the advantages Of ancestry,
and come where he must stand or fall on
his own merits; and Chauncey was humbly
conscious that he had few merits beyond an
honest, genial nature, and capacity for
answering affection, which in its paternal
development had made him an alien. An
only son, we doubt not that Chauncey gave
up his ancestral domain with keen pang,
but he gave it up. heartily, and made the
best OF it. iHelhad ordained that his life
should be clipped and narrowed TO evade a
curse upon his child and make her existence
a benediction. Ohauncey Brandon, was in
fact, running away froma ghest-a ghost
never expected to sees
Mrs Chauncey Brandon was'an easy-go-
ing little body, not capable, like her hGls-
band Of any emotion that reached the hero
&c, but feeling herself much more convera-
ant than he with the.ways of ghosts. Not
that these airy something's had ever waken-
ed herewith footballs, startled her by appear
ingwhitely in the night,or stood between her
and the sunlight; hut she had theories con-
corning them which she asserted as facts.
~. In leaving home Chauncey had not de-
nuded himself of wealth. He had left his
aged parents and his eldest sister in the old
home; the other girls had flown like Young
birds to their own nest-building, and the
property. had been sufficient. to portion all,
and give the departing son enough TO main
tain him in gentlemanty style.
Somehow feel better, safer, in this
country Chauncey remarked TO his wife.
81 don't see why, my dear, p replied Mrs.
Y. b., oracularlyJ spiritual presences are
not subject to the same laws of melton as
letter US. Space, like time, is nothing TO
them" Mrs. c.. b.. accepted the family
ghost as fact, and made various assertions
concerning the laws and lawlessness of its
being. ...rl5-1 s.r 900 5000
--o-" AT all eyents,n said Chauncey, 81 shall
build our new home as unlike the old
one as possible" --- 81. 50. IL I'D
= Il don't care how you build.n said ma
dame, "but you must know, Chauncey,
that the keen vision of spiritual eyes wal
not be deceived by architectural difFeren-
ces." -,-'-r $50. .. 900 81 ~
Z SI,ll have our house beside river: YOU
EnnW ha " Of
THAT only concerns witches and fairy
SPELLS" returned his wife. "Water has no
power over spirits, Chauncey."
They talked of their dismal heirloom
coolly enough; they were used TO their
family ghost; it was known all over the
west of England, and like the family man
sion, portraits and tombstones, had served
to augment the family responsibility. More
over, just at this period it was not per
sonal matter with this couple, for the Bran
don ghost was keeping an engagement that
might last indefinitely. O. J %. A1H..a
Chauncey Brandon built himself heuse
as large as Noah's ark and mch more orna-
mental; like Noah also, he planted vine
yard, but he did not drink the wine thereof.
for he considered villainous and high-priced
decoctions of dried apples and old pr1nes,
called port and champagne, much more
gentlemanly drinks. '.Home-maden was
good enough for common folk, but not for
Chauncey Brandon. . ia..si-.-- a.r-'e
=, The new house was on the Hudson. 1t
had lighthouses, lighthouses, in; truth, so
great was the owners passion for building
that he created little village on his estate.
he kept dogs and horses, as an Englishrnan
should do; made friends, and extended to
them his hospitality; people liked him well;
he was passably happy, and if a spasln OF
fear for the future. or the misery of home
sickness came to him, he gave no sign.
Margaret Brandon, the embroidered and
lace-capped bundle that the Brandons
brought with them, grew apace, and other
bundles had no hesitation in intEuding
themselves upon the domestic circle; they
came and made the circle wider, and formed
part of it. .f..z ,a.-.....a, ..s o. 44t
The old home over the sea, with what
ever joys and sorrows were attached to it,
was scurely mentioned in Chauncey's
household. The English nurse ruled over
the rising generation of the Brandons, and
when strangers commended. her faithful
ness, Chauneey would reply, les, most
valuable woman; she knows, how to held
her tongue" Yet he set no undue value
on reticenee, and was well pleased that his
wife,s nicely Worded platitudes flowed on
each day like the soft ripple of stream
Time passed and Margaret Brandon was
fifteen-a plump, red-cheeked, English
looking girl, who could ride her dozen miles.
walk over hill and dale, and eat her dinner
without mincing, and who eschewed pickles
and slate pencils. Margaret was neither in
telleetual nor romantic; she learned what
lessons she must, had never read the 44na-
JiaR Nights, nor anybody's MythOloqy, was
ignorant of the tales of chivalry, and had
been carefully kept from her mothers
ghostly lore.
She knew nothing Of the unseen, except
what she had learned from her PRAYER
book.
Margaret was at her piano one evening,
rafting off merry waltzes with small regard
to time, the family sitting chatting around
all but the nursery Juveniles, already
tucked in bed in good old English fashion.
The night being warm, the bay-window
was open, and the wind waved the lace cur
tain softly to and fro. Margaret PLAYED
with her face turned toward this window.
Presently her fingers moved more slowly,
then ceased to press the keys. She rose,
her eyes fellon the window, and walked
through it into the open. air. After time
she came back through the door. -
Where did you go, Margaret ?" asked her
neither, inditterently, conversation having
TAGGED. -
s'on- the, terrace" said Margaret, again
sitting down at the piano. She played more
mOurnful music now-MOore's Farewell,
Farewell to Thee, Araby's Daughter"
sLivelier, livelier, girl!'' cried her father,
who would never let the child be otherwise
than gay. But Margaret wandered off into
a simple, sad old lovelong-
''Merrier, merrier, Madge!" said Chalm-
cey.
!" It's bed time, father,n said Margaret,
and went away. 80 -
Next morning. Margaret and her brother
were playing Backgammon Presently Mar
garet began looking into the hall and played
very badly.
''How stupid You are, Mag, shouted Mas
ter Brandon. 1888
Margaret rose and went quietly from the
room; she was gone ten minutes, then re-
turned to resume her game.
81 thought you went Off In a huff" said
the boy.
"Oh, no." said Margaret, and played very
" 'H41..ss u y ~ - ss