, 1874-01-18
THEDUMBERDENE.
BYL

OF Life and spirit, fearless aud active, Was tno
last person to believe in anything approaching to
humbug. That is what l should have eaid in
those days, and I say it now to show you no"
ungenial was the soil which was yet destined to
produce good}y crop Of faith In that sad
year, 18-, Harry Bandeswyke and l. aged re-
spectirely Is and IT., matriculated together
Al College. Oxford. We ~ere great
friends and constant companions, Harry aud !,
and were different IN every way, as, great friends
generally are. He wns big fellow, six feet si1
without his shoes, brave, sweet-tempered, silent,
lazy: a man to sleep soundlY though Wapur-
eis Night to yawn and go to sleep again it he
cnanced to wake while the spiuts ruged around
him. was elight and e1cit,ble, with quick
temper and no lack Of wurds. Yet wo wero
sworn allies. -.-
He was heir to goody property in Wales,
which, however. he had never seon. It be-
loneed to distant cousins; and, besides tno old
castle and many acres ef mountain, there Was
fine old quarrel to keep up. With lamentable
want Of respect for the or1ginators OF the feud,
tho present possessor Of that great privilege
apncared inclined to stretch forth the hand OF
friendship to his heir. In point OF fact. he did
stretch out that hand at the time my story be-
gins, and invited Harry to spend the vacation
st the Dunberdene, for this was the extraordi-
nary name of an extraordinary place. Harry
was engaged to ne; but his answer to that
effect producing :ordial invitation to bring his
friend with MIN. ve at once resolved to 60.
It Was long journey in those days. and we
arrived late after tedious drive, for the Dum-
berdcuo was in tie widest part Of -, far in
among the mountains. The evening gloom was
deepening as 10 turned into the park, aud even
theu ne lad another three-quarters OF an hours
work before Us; for, after short run on level
ground, we bsgan to ascend another intermlna-
BILE mountain zigzag. At length, after short
pull more abrupt than any We had yet expert
enced, the carliage came to stop, aud I e1-
claimed with regret that it was too dark to SEQ
Tie house. We we're mistaken. 1t was only too
dark because wo were already in tho house. The
Carriage rolled forward once more through
short passage cut out OF the rock, and we found
ourselves in hall Of vast dimensions. lighted
by huge lamp in the centre, and bonhre OF
wood a. each end. That WAS our entrance into
tie Dumberdono. We both burst out laughing
with boyisb Cleo Ah could no havo fore5een
how endiy llpked with our future lives was much
that was very near us then, but Of which We lit
tie dreamed!
We wee most kindly received by Mr. and Mrs.
Dandcs"yke. and their only CHILD Gwen. sup
pose tho name of the latter was Gwendolln. but
neye, heard her ca1Ied anything. but Gwen:
She was tall. fair, and stately. 4 face calm and
self-poeseseed g,and with the beauty of pure
and truthful spirit portrayed IN each feature;
woman to trust in tho hour OF danger. Her
father was, with the exception OF Harry, tue
oyer-what7 4 crime? mystery!
problem? The mother was commonplace
enough; small, dark, active, and energetic;
managing everything and everybody, aud talk
ing enough tor husband, child. aud cousin. We
we're aIoue. The family retired to rest early,
leay1ne us alone. Mr. Bandeswyke apologizad
in fewer wolds than I should have thought pos
.ibIe. He was somewhat OF an invalid. He
hoped We should make ourselves quite at home
Lively work." sald ]. as the door closed; ~
mean to 90 mad, Harry; will youf"
'.Certalnly."
"It is queer old place. Fancy rumblng into
the ancestral hall in ones carriage. don't bali
like It, 1t ia producing 3 bad effect on my deli-
cate constitution. feel ghostly aa over ! an
already suffering from ghost OF the heart, ghost
IN " LIMBS bid gm91s d;e naefd ef IL my
gbostum.:, Harry"
.WelI2"
How do you feel in the abode Of your ances-
tors?"
No answer. 70 this was accustomed, and
ratified on as usual; walking reStlessly ABOUT tue
room. pec1ipg behind the till old-faslioned
screens, and looking into tue quaint cabinets:
Presently proposed that We should explore
the rooms near us.
.'No," said Harry, In voice which meant no.
He would have done It IN any other = house. put
this was to be his own come day. Then suG-
gested that We should 20 out aud smohe.
Harry 1ose and stalked to the door. We had
some difficulty in finding our way out In TACT.
we wanoel ed to the buffers room, and had to be
set right and to encounter sundry remonst5ances
from that individual. al old aud privileged sery-
ant. 1t WAS pitch-laik when we stood outside
the house, but presently the moon passed from
behind cloud, and We stepped forward to have
a look at the place. It was an enormous pile OF
building, very ancient, especially ono portion,
which, partially in rulnous state; stretched
away 10 far among trees, foliage. and mountains
that iu the pale moonlight We could not discern
where it ended. We both uttered an exclamation
OF astor1shmeut, and I turned to Harry with q
low btE, and congratulated him on hs nelTshlp
to this mass Of ghostlincas and ruin.
Don't be an ass" said Harry, Is he moved
towards the house, for st this moment tho moon
was again ,scured, and a driving rain set ln
We mud 20 20 out by side door, and though we
returned J the came, ne again lost our way,
and found ourselves. after much wandering, once
more IN tue great entrance. ball. knew that
our rooms we're not far of, and protesting an
accurate knowledge. I went on first with the
light. Harry fingered, and I looked bnck to see
yhy he did not follow me-. He Was standing
ut the entrance OF the paseage down which bad
turned, and WAS cropping about WITH hls r1Shs
hand, as if struck With sudden blindness
.sWbat il the matter 7" said 1. "Come on,
II cart find the handle Of the door" said he
still fumbling.
''Wlat door?"
"The door YOU shut"
II slut no door, There is no door," said !,
laughing but It just passed through ny mind,
though I did not remember it till afterWard,
that hrs voice dld SOUND mutlled. rs if door