Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-11-05

mansion at Holwych might somewhat
interfere with the bargain he hoped
. to effect. So he told her she was tri-
ed.
: Mr.. Brodgett, who was still at work
in his office, readily forgave the
Colone's untimely visit, and furnish
ed all needful information. The
!, "Mansion," as it was called, of Halwych
was untenanted; had been SO in effect,
for some little time-a couple of years
or so-the rent being high, very high,
(in fact, four hundred year, Seeing
that the land was limited to about a
Idozen acres, without shooting-for
! Mr.. Brodgett would not allude to the
right of shooting dabchicks in the
humble us sport-the rent was high.
, But, then, there were reasons; the
mansion was historical.
''Historlcal ?"
CONNECTED with one of the most
interesting periods of English history.
The Lord Chancellor Jeffreys, by some
writers styled the bloody is said to
have resided there
''The deuce he has" calculated the
T Colonel, thinking Of his nervous little
wife.
but, resumed Mr.. Brodgett, seeing
his. mistake, and with an indulgent
smile, ''this is not based on any record
ed facts. Holwych, you must know,
was formerly the assize town, and pos
i. si5ly his Lordship, when Judge on
this circuit, might have passed night
at the mansion. Then, Sir, the sim
gular beauty of the grounds
. "My good Sir, the terms are simply
absurd said the Colonel, decisively.
so I ventured to tell my principal"
replied Mr.. Brodgctt, laughing. "But
+ he is man who hates small transac-
tions-petty investments, you know.
Get me four hundred, Brodgett,' he
, wrote, or let the owls have it rent
t free By-the-by," continued the agent,
: looking among his papers, in letter,
| received this very day, he intimates a
, willingness TO sell, and that on terms
: that might suit you better than lease.
, Here it is. | am almost ashamed to
/ tell you, but he is eccentric: For the
| entire property-it is freehold, and
: the house in good repair-twelve hun
dred pounds
. The price is not exorbitant," own
ed the Colonel. wishing he might draw
| check on the spot.
: at is worth twice the moner, Sir y
5 growled Mr.. Brodgett. ..But | must
/; obey orders y
a An appointment was made for next
morning to inspect the mansion and
: grounds; and the Colonel was turning
to leave, whca it occurred to him to re-
! mark that ke understood the place
f had been recently occupied as school,
: School" said Mr.. Brodgett, as il
: amazed.
And is left in charge of the ushers.
, "Ushers: HIM. Ushers? Nothing
; of the sort, Sir, | assure you," said the
2 agent hastily.
, at is of no consequence. No doubt
| was mistaken" replied the Colonel
and, hurrying home, reported to his
{ delighted wife the happy issue of his
/ expedition. 1t was noon next day
when they drove up the grass-grown
sweep, and found Mr.. Brodgett await
, ing them at the open door of the man
sion. If the exterior were dark and
forbidding. it only formed the greater
contrast with the lofty, light, and
, spacious rooms thrown open to their
gratitied inspection. Those on the
| ground floor, garden side, were e,
2 SHlte-a noble dining room, drawing.
room, billiard and breakfast pom
, terminating in "a conservatory, ID ex.
| tending the promenade that might be
e made through the successive apart
ments to sixty or seventy yards. All
: the windows, save those of the dining.
room, opened to the ground, giving
3 access to the lawns and terraces al
ready described. There was much
c massive furniture, apparently bur
: little the worse for time, and as thil
was to be taken at . valuation, anC
: the house was in all respects ready t.
: be occupied, there was nothing to pre-
vent the Eldertons taking possession
t as soon as the legal transfer could b.
E accomplished. And SO zealously die
Mr.. Brodgett bestir himself ON theil
/. behalf, that very few days saw then
= fairly established, and already at work
: on their projected improvements. Tt
the Colonel's enjoyment there was in
deed one slight, very slight drawbacl
the fear that his wife, who had sc
t frankly avowed her dislike of house
in which anything unusual had occur,
/ ed, should become suddenly apprised
; of the alleged visit of the "bloody
Judge"-nay, his possible occupancy
+ of the very chamber they had selected
as their own.
, What followed it may be advisable
to give in the form of the diary, letters
and dispositions, in which this strange
story was originally recorded.
at was in May, 1885," Mrs. Elder
ton afterward wrote to friend in
: London ''that we took up our abode
| at pretty Holwych. Our house, the
Mansion though sombre enough out
} side, was the brightest, cheeriest
dwelling, heart could desire. The
sunshine never seemed to depart from
one or the other of its gay well win
5 dowed rooms, until it melted into
night. Cuthbert and | were in rap
lures with our purchase-busy as bees,
and little anticipating the strange
series of events of which, as you desire
it, | will endeavor to give some parti-
l culars.
We had been in possession about a
: month, during which nothing especial
occurred, except that two of our maids
gave warning, without-so far, as |
could perceive-any valid cause, and
; that Mrs. Ketteridge, the house
keeper, begged to be allowed to change
her room in the west winn for one