Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-11-14
s,,. Brett smiled.

strange things have happehe" ~ '"N H,'S~
although its haunted by uotliag worse than sad
memories. When was in my prime, il was
different place. Master Adelbe'i is the last
and youngest Of three as noble boys as ever
made en- Old place glad"
"And Whist has bscomo Of the others p
"The eldest is dead" Mrs. Bret answered
in whisper He lies in = bloody grave
stricken down by the hand Of lis own brother.
10 sudden Fl, of psssion-Poor Mr.. Hugh
he fed the couutry to escape from justice, and
died 10 France. I, nearly killed my mistress,
ambush there's her bell now aud must
go"
And with hurried alden, the old house
keerer hurried away.
So this VA, the history Of " rsson Grange.
Marian Ashley shuddered as she sat a'oue by
the f.e, fsncyine the cry of a murdered man
in every sgh Of The wind, and seeing the tiut-
ter Of ghostly garments 10 the Gar end Of the
huge room.
Yet, as the day, went by, the old erange as
sumed home-hke look to her. Mrs. More
ton was al gentle sweetness. aud Aldeberts
cfyalric Kindness endeared him iueNpressibly
to the solitary girl. She began to feel that
Sic h,d found refuge. Blu, was not des-
tined 20 endure for long.
She was sitting At her window one moon
Hgh, night in July, after the family hal re-
tired to rest, when something white aud spec
trail gnied across the luminous space on the
hwn-the figure Of tall man not unlike
Aldrbcrt Moreton.
She starts up with slight scream, md
buried her facein the dnreries in the window
The ghost 4" she sa,red. almost inandi-
by: the ghost p
Nor did he rest until sc hal taken refuge
10 Ms. Moreton's room.
The Old LADY listened to her tale in trem-
bling silence.
MY dear" said she, "you are mistaken.
TIE twel!ers Of another world are never ol-
lluod TO come back to haunt this. You were
asleep-you dreamed uncousciourly"
Dear Mrs. More,oo." persisted Marian.
" was as wide awake "a am now. tell
you saw it with MY open eyes. It was tall
aud white and Oh, how shosily y
She sbuuderet as she spoke Mrs. Moreton
soolhed explained. coaSed but in vain. Ma
riAn would no, even 20 back to her own room
alone. 80 complete had been the shock.
q viii 60 with you, my dear" said The old
lady At length
She arose, threw on light flannel dressing
gown, aud opened the door of her apartment
As tley stepped out iuto rho wide ball, Mari
AN uttered piercing cry There. ful before
them stood the .host
Mrs. Moretpn drew Madsn back into the
room. shut aud locked the door, aud sank
trembling on the sofa, cs,pins both her hands
before her eyes.
did not tell you?" falie'ed Marian.
% How can you explain this?"
Ms Moreton had no word Of answer. she
could ouly ro-k herself backward and fr-
ward moaning like one in mortal puio.
You must not 90 from this room tonight,
cLad, said she " Lie down upon my bed
and try to rest
Toward morning Marian awohc from a
brief, feycred sumber, aud found herself
alonc; aud when she next met Mrs. Moretou
it was At the breakfast table.
Aldebert entered the room later. lie was
pale aud strangely asitated, aud his mother
looked wistfully up in his face as be entered.
lie nodded slightly.
" At last" he added.
"Thauk God " Mrs Moreton rnurmured.
And Marian noticed that neither mother
nor son ate morse Of the breakfast so
temptingy laid out.
Marian went 70 Mrs More;on, IS AIDE
bert had withdrawn. and falteriugly impaired
to Der her resolve 70 leave Morieon Grange.
Their kindness bad made it very pleasant
to her, aud she had been treated more an
equal than slsried dependent: bu. The
shock her nervous system had las, night re-
ceiyed rendered il impossible FOR her 20 re-
main longer.
Mrs. Morton lislened 10 silence.
"Aliebert," she ssid 70 her son, who had
just entered. Miss Ashley is going to leave
u.s."
TO leave us Aud nhen?"
Iuyoluuiarily. Manaus heart leaped up,
as ste saw tie sudden aush on bis psO fore
lead
She saw tho gho.t las, night" said Mrs.
Moreton, speaking words With an Effort.
She will never zee It agsin. said Alder
bert Moretou. sadly. Mshan he had
never called her Marian before, ard the word
sounded strangely saeet in ber ears" viii
you corne with me p
He led Ler to TIE darkened apartment in
the disused portion Of the old Grange where
upou a csuofied couch cofpss lay, robed IN
the garments Of the gravel
There is the ghost you say. Marian,
he said.
Who IS IT." she al;erei.
Sly brother Hugh, who has long dwell
concealed within these walls, ,ha; witnessed bis
crime aud bis daily atonemen. Of remorse, aud
who is q. length set free BY the great pardoner