The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-01-03

married daughter, and of every son ~
Sandhurst or the University.
| think the liveliest OF the young girls
there, the quickest guesser OF chaiade
or conundrum, the deftest ct "post" or
"puss in the corner" the smartest CON-
pet,tor at forfeits, was my young cousin,
Blanche, the only child Of Sir Charles
and Lady Treherne; a delicate paie
slip of a girl, with fine eyes ana long
fair hair. but by no means so pretty as
several of the little rich-complexioned
West. of. England pixies who frolicked
around her. Blanche's health, as ! con-
iectured when first she put her thin
hand into that of "Cousln Talbot "a.
rev. was none OF the best; and | could
see by Lady T.eherne's half-anxious,
half. pratitied look, that she was sur
prised by the usual animation which
her daughter, usually languid and de.
served. displayed on the occasion OF
these Christmas sports.
Well, We weat 10 ed. My room WAS
known as the tapestry room. Its walls
were, indeed, covered with tapestry OF
great antiquity and ugliness, and the
bed was an imposing structure, calcu-
lated to impart to the intelligent Tor
eigner, should he ever gain admittance,
a proper appreciation of the maJts OF
sleep. A wood fire, clear, rudy, and
bright, burned on the ample ife.Htiiy'
where the massive ''dogs" or andirons
of parcel gilt steel were formed to repre-
sent the heraldic -cognizance OF the
Trelerres. | was tired, but rot dis
posed for sleep; so instead OF retit ng TO
rest, sat down before the fire. from
time to time tossing a fresh log into the
blaze. and medita,ing on many things,
on my life, past, present, and future, as
gazed on the glowing embers~Shich
seemed 10 have that strange fascination
for me that they have mad for thou
sands.
At last, the sullen sound of the great
clock on the turret above the stables
reminded me that il was very late, con
ventionally as well as actually, and that
| had better get some sleep while /
could; and then it was that, feeling for
my watch and missing that accustomed
pocket companion, recollected that
when We were at play downstairs, my
watch had been one OF the forfeited
pledges, late redeemed, and that it had
been lett lying on the marble mantel.
piece in the great drawing room, since
| had forgotten TO take it up when my
little pharmacies left us. 1T serves me
right" said cynically, with the remem-
biance Of Tol'emache's face foa'iDg be.
fore nay mental vision, "fer making
such a fool Of myself. Never mind!
I'll fetch IT," So / took up my candle
end sailed forth. The passage which
gave access to my room was called the
gothic gallery, probably because it was
narrow and dark, with hideous me-
d aval carvings in inches; ard stained
glass easements, through the tinted
panes of which the pure white snow
outside looked crimson, ochre-y ellowTor
OF a dusky green. This passage leads
into the wider and iotier one styled The
oaken gallery. where the family por
traits hang against the panelled walls;
and from this, The broad and elaborate
ly-caryed staircase of dark and polished
wood conducts to the entrance hall be-
low. I made nv way to the drawing
room, found my watch without diff
Guilty, the cepter of a heap of-tesn
gloves, crushed flowers, and the pink
or blue papers thst had been wrapped
around French bonbons, relics of the
juve nile ievelry. had nearly reached
my room again wren gust Of wind
caused by the sudden opening of door
extinguished my candle. Immediatel,
afterward l saw the faint glimmer of {
light slowly and steadily approaching
Nearer and nearer it came; and pres
emily l could distinguish a~feur'
clothed in white, or some light colo
that looked white in the uncertain
light, gliding with a noiseless tiea,
and a smooth evenness Of motion which
was of itself remarkable. | am. rope
as brave as my neighbors; and ma.
say, without Boosting, that | have no
been found licking when face to fac
with DANCER in a tangible shape; but
confess that cold shuddering chill.ral
through my limbs, and that my hear
bounded like startled horse, and thel
seemed to cease beating as | casgh
sight of this mysterious form silentl
and surely approaching me. The Blank
shire lady's story of vague alarms anon
the visitors on account Of strange ot
currences by night in that old house
the very scene, with its solemn stat
antique magnificence, for the maniiestf
ton Of supernatural phenome "a, r.
Cured to me with disagrcable emphasis
Idle words had thought them at tn
time when they were uttered; but MOI
felt anything rather than inclined
ridicule them. The apparition DIRE
nearer, and by an involuntary impul.
shrank back into doorway, as if I
allow it to pass. 1t did pass: and in
moment more | breathed more freel.
. and began to be heartily ashamed Of ~
] superstitious fancies.
/ Blanche! Yes, it was my youn
| cousin, Blanche Treherne. l reco
, nized her as she passed close by m
5 carrying her candle in hand that WI
) as steady as il it had been that Of
: statue. and. in truth, marb' g itself cou|