Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-20


orchards stretching beyond, and solemn oak
woods which whisper and shake their wise
heads when the winds blow, as though pos
seased of secrets which must not be spoken.
Very much as II looks to-day II looked two
hundred aud thirty years ago, when Charles
the First was king Of England. That was
the Charles who had his head cut off, YOU
may remember Blue Christmas smokes
curled from the twisted chimneys in 1915
lust as now. The same dinncry fragrance
filed the air, for good cheer smells pretty
much alike in all ages and the world over.
few changes there may be-thicker trees,
beds of gay flowers which were not known
in that day, and where once the moat--a
ditchlike stream of green water, covered
with weeds and scum--ran round the walls
is now trinity cut border of verdant turf.
But these changes are improvements, and in
all important respects the house keeps its old
look, undisturbed by modern times aud ways.
In the same nursery where modern boys
and girls eat, sleep and learn their A, Il,
to-day. two children lived--little Ralph
Tresham and his sister Henrietta. Quaint,
old-fashioned creatures they would look TO us
now: but in spite OF their formal dresses
and speech, they were bright and merry and
happy as any children you can find among
your acquaintances Ralph's name was pro-
nounced Rafe," and he always called his
sister IIexie."
Christmas did not come to knowle in its
usual blight shape in 1915. Gloom and
sadness and anxiety overshadowed the
house and though the little ones did not
understand what the cause of the anxiety
was, they felt something wrong and went
about quietly whispering TO each other in
corners, instead of whooping and laughing,
as had been their wont. They had eaten
their Christmas beef, and toasted the king
as usual, but their mother cried when they
did so and joyce, the old butler, had car.
ried OFF the pudding with face like fu-
neral. So, after dinner they crept away TO
the nursery, aud there, 10y the window, be-
gun long whispering talk. lIexie had
something very exciting TO tell.
Nurse thought | was asleep" she said,
but | wasn't quite; and when they begun
TO talk woke up. That wasn't wrong, was
it, Rafe couldn't sleep when | couldn't,
could ?"
suppose not; but you needn't have lis
tened" said Rafe, whose notions about honor
were very strict.
al did pun the pillow over my ear but
the words would get ill., went on Henrietta,
piteouslv. "And it was so interesting.
| Did YOU know that there were such creatures
as Bogies Rafe : Dorothy thinks we have
got one in our house, and that its hole is in
the great gallery, because once when she
was there busting the armor, she heard a
queer noise in the wall, and what else could
il be ? 1t eats a great deal, does the Boge
That's the reason nurse is sure we have got
one. 1t ate all the cold sleeps head yester-
.I / 4 a,.1 k. 1ax kafnra half tba htu aetr
No victual is safe in the arder, the Bogie
has such big appetite, nurse says"
81 remember about the sleeps head
said Rafe, meditatively. Almost all of it
was left, and | looked to see it come
in cold but when | asked Joyce said
there was none. Cold sleeps head is very
good. DO you remember how much
Humphrey used to like it 2"
81 don't remember exactly, it is so long
ago" replied lIexie. How long is it
brother Y--since Humphrey went away,
mean. Won't he ever come back p
81 asked Winifred once, but she only
said, God knew that nothing had beer
heard of him since the battle when the kinl
was taken. lie might he dead, or he might
be escaped into foreign parts-and ther
she cried, oh, so hard, llexie Poor Hum
phrey hope he isn't dead. But, abou
the Boyle, how curious it must be 10 NEE
one Oh say, let us 90 TO the gallery
now, aud see if we hear any strange noise
there. VIII you?"
"Oh, Rafe I'm afraid. | don't quit
like"
But YOU can't be afraid if I'm there,
said Rafe, valiantly; "besides, III put OF
, Humphreys old sword which he left be
hind. Then ii the Bogie comes-we shal
see ?"
Rafe spoke like a conquering hero Hexi
thought; so, though she trembled, she mad
no further objection, but stood by while h
lifted down the sword, helped to fasten it
belt over his shoulder and followed alonI
the passage which led to the gallery. Tn
heavy sword clattered aud ratified as
! dragged on the floor, and the sound wa
echoed in a ghostly way which renewe
! Hexie's fears
"Rafe Rafe let US go back " sh
cried.
go back yourself if you are afraid" r.
piled Ralph stoutly land as going bac
alone through the dim passage seemed jus
then worse than staying where she wa
D llexie stayed with her valiant brother.
Very softly they unlatched the CALLER
$ door, and stole in. 1t was long, lott
I .l..l ..tfL
b apaiilnen., Pans''u Mi'n ,;e'I Heua, NE i
which tlihe ma @ glreh oea".''ul lls'
4 brown Color ino oe'1nS' VI 'ie ,a''e VII WI
n was carved heie a',u 'he'e' "''i ,r snlsl' ..'
4 coats ol arms, anu o'neI uetiues' tne'e ~i
n niue iurnituIe' QUE 'al o"oi'le', a i1m nis
I backed ehaiis' i anu sonle po'.la''s mansll
on the walls ing SUI, no. ye. qu,yo -
poured a s'reaiIl Oh reu % llgn. aciosS .ns p 7,
ished moor, ieaEing .he -" eo,ne's anu y
empty spaces lor,n'uaoly uusN' lns vI
IS dren had sei1o'h oeeii u, .he BaheIy AZ VI
d hour' ana IL 'ooheu 10 ,'ein "ll''o'e NAe
r, strange place. not at an as IL uiu az noo
II DAY wheh lhey came 10 Jump up ana uoN
II the shppery hoo' anu P'ay n,us'sn',1e' I 1''
e, III ,he CORNERS "h'0" "o" see'''" ~ "''
d ana dismal, ro
y Even haie ie't .ne a'nerehoe, a"u sp'
& cred IN splte OF MS Doid neart anu the
E. sword lald by ms slde' iimidiy they we
l. forward, hnshihg their footsteps ana pee
d ing furtlvely into the shadows sudden
II iiexle stopped WIN niue scream
k Close TO Them stood large SUI. ,, OF arIho
A. larger and taller than a man ne emp