Wilmington daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1872-1874, 1874-08-07
The Roundwood Ghost.

At last had an habitation Of my own, an |
imposing red brick structure, roomy enough |
to furnish homes for O full score OF demure |
little mortals like myself.
you will lose yourself in this great barn of
home, Madelon," said Aunt Jerusha, who
had accompanied me to Roundwood to be the
| ruling divinity of the menage.
1T would not be much loss to the world in
general if l should
"Humph l have no predictions for the
mistletoe boughs and the old oaken chests. l
want no such skeletons rising up to murder
my rest,
rowing it,
cat any rate have spoken my mind, and
not without reason. 1t is doubtful if you
have heard all that l have concerning your
new possessions"
Aunt Jerusha looked 80 solemn that very
| quickly asked:
What have you heardf"
'Roundwood has a ghost. You need not
| laugh--it may vet prove to be no laughing
matter. ! got the story from the servants.
| Every soul of them are convinced that the
house is haunted
"Tell me what they say
| 1T is really quite dreadful Mndelon. They
declare that Madame Belgrave can't rest very
| quietly in her grave but comes back to her
Old room night after night and walks the floor
until morning."
Has anybody seen herP''
mo; but all of them has heard her pacing
mp and down tine apartment"
not like the idea of being disturbed at all
hours OF the night by any such uncanny peo-
lple"
Nor l." dryy. "But who will do il? p
II will, was my answer, as caught u SUM-
bonnet from the wall and darted out into the
|, garden to escape Aunt Jerusha's very solemn
, visage while | rlminated upon the ways and
means.
However, the prim. old fashioned garden,
with its quaint angular walks and funny little
beds, from which the flowers lifted bright and
: smiling faces, as if in welcome, soon drove all
thoughts of the ghost from my head
wandered up and down the box bordered
9 paths, peeping into grape arbors and summer
houses, inhaling the balsamic odors in the air
and hugging to myself the delicious sense OF
: possession until grew quite jubilant. OF all
my pleasures that of proprietorship was the
/ keenest just then. And why, indeed, should
not a nice brick house with available grounds
be a Joy forever"
0 1 had reached the lower portion of the
grounds, and was looking around upon my
: domain with quite the air of une grande prin-
cesse, when my gaze suddenly encountered a
free and easy figure leaning over a wicket in
the hedge row. Starting at the vision, | rub
, bed my eyes, looked a second time and then
+ exclaimed, involuntarily: Lawrence Bel
) gravel!
Tho figure lifted it's hat and smiled a cheer
0 full good morning.
, Il am no spirit Miss Lane. Do, pray, try to
; look trihe less startled and dismayed."
8 My emotion was quite pardonable-and fol
Q this reason; to this man stood in the light OF
t a usurper-I had cheated him out of his in.
heritance. He had been nearer related toMa.
dame Begrave-- in fact, q sort of protege OF
hers--who she brought up with the understan.
ding that he was to inherit her coupon bonds
and bank stock some day. But, twelve months
prior to this time, there had been quarrel be-
tween the old lady and Lawrence, he had left
Roundwood in high dudgeon, and, to retaliate
Madame Belgrave had made a will leaving al
q her property to me.
!, The quarrel was never made up, and Mad
! ! ame died very suddenly in fit, which found
u her incapable Of expressing any last wishes she
might have had, so the will in my favor was
myself suddenly transformed from country
schoolma' am with one decent silk and two me
rinos, to a very rich woman with the means tC
supply her wardrobe indefinitely.
So you will comprehend that ii felt some
what dismayed on seeing that vision at the
"a gate, had abundant cause for it. However
"a | / mustered up courage, and went and shool
n hands with him quite cordially.
,r You did give mo quite start, Mr.. Bel
,t grave. and l might as well plead guilty t.
% "I am sorry" Then he stood looking at mt
ii euriously moment Il suppose that ough
to congratulate you Miss Is Lane on your recon
?. "If you can do so sincerely-not otherwise
a. He laughed. ."Then I'll keep my breath 70
other purposes.
,"shall you ever forgive me for having sup
planted your?
81 don't know, my great expections,' hav
turned out nearly as delusive AS those of poo
Pip. ought to hate you, Miss Lane, but
dont-quite."
Thanks for the margin, that saves me fror
utter condemnation
81 can't help thinking" he went on, reheo
lively, that Madgme Belgrave meant to re
store me to favor finally, and that only oppol
=. tunity was lacking. Proud and obstinate 4
she was, I'm sure she loved me"
"And so, on the strength OF that opinion
which may may not be correct-yon expec
me to to abdicate in your favor"
81 did not say soo' Again his eyes swept M
face curiously. rs it in your heart to be 5
generous!
I shook my head.
"Remember, I've tasted the cup of povert
and it is bitter to my palate, 1t seems de
lightful to be rid of the soil and anxiety atter
" dant on earning ones own living, don't thin
~ could take up the old burden again
or .I knew you would like lotos eating
"Who doesn't for that matter? Besides
has all the zeal of Il new sensation just now.
may tire of it--but that seems impossible"
Not to me-"
"Ap,opos of this inheritence of mine, II
tell you what am willing to do. Mr.. Belg1ay
I'll share it with yon.'
He opened wide his eyes. as If suspicious hi
ears had played him false.
60 "Are YOU seriousl"
- 81 never was more so.
"Ah, conscience has bugun to prick You o
ready"
There was slight pause and then he cait
with an amused smile; And so yon are an1
ions Roundwood should have Il master rs we
as mistressy
,'s "You know do not mean that" returne
y. blushing and speaking quite angrily. "Thi
ng inheritence more than meets my luxurious nc