The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-25
THE SECRET DOOR.
A ChriSInaS STORY OF Two Hun.
ured Years Age.

Kuowle, in Kent, is an ancient manor
house. Il stands knee.deep in rich gar
den and pasture lands, with hay.felds
aud apple Orchards stretching beyond,
and solemn oak woods which whisper and
shake their wise heads when the wind
blows, as though possessed Of secrets
which must not be spoken. II ia a real
place. ....
Very much as it looks to-day it looked
two hundred years ago, when Charles the
First was King OF England. That was the
Charles who had hiS head cut of, you
may remember. Blue Christmas smokes
curled from the chimneys III lG4j, just as
they will this year il the world lasts u
mouth longer. The same dinnery fra
GRANGE filled the air, for good cheer
smells pretty much alike IN all ages the
world over. A few changes there may be
thicker trees, bets of gay lowers,
which were not known in those days;
and where once the moat-a ditCh-like
stream Of green water covered with
weeds and scum-rRn round the walls; is
now u trinity cut border OF verdant turf.
But these changes are improvements,
aad in all important respects the house
keeps its old look, undisturbed by mod
ern times and ways.
In the same nursery where modern
boys and Rirla eat, sleep aud learn their
A. B. C. to-day, two children lived-little
Ralph Treshau aud his sister Henrietta,
Quaintold fashioned creatures they would
look to us now; but, in spite Of their for
NAL dresses and speech, they were bright
and merry happy a. any children you can
find among your acquaintances. Ralphs
name was pronounced "Rate," and he
always called his sister "He1le."
Christmas did not come TO Knowle in
itS usual bright shape in 1915. Gloom
and sadness and anxiety ovsrshadowed
the house; and though the little ones did
not understand what the cause OF the
anxiety was, they felt somsthing wrong,
and went about quietly whispering TO
each other in corners, Instead Of whOOp.
ing and laughing, ~ had been thatr wont.
They had eaten their Christmas beef, and
toasted the King in lhimbleful Of wine,
as usual, but their mother cried when
they did so; aud Joyce, the old butler, had
q funeral. So, aiteP dinner, they crept
away to the lnurSeries And there, by the
window began Il long Whispering talk,
Hexle had something very exciting TO
tell.
"NRrse thought I was asleCp," she said,
'bnt | wasn't quite; and when they began
10 talk | woke up. That wasn't wrong
was it Raie? | couldn't sleep when I
couldn't, could l%
"lsuppose. not; but you needn't have
listened, " said Rafe, whose notions about
honor we're very strict.
II did pull The pillow over my ears, but
the words Wonld yet 10, went on Henriet'
tG,piteouSly. "And it was so interesting.
Did you know thStthere were such crea'
lures as Bogies, Rate? Dorothy thinks
We hare got one in our house, and that It's
hole is IN tile great gallery, hecanse once
when she was there busting the arn1or,
she heard queer noise in the wall, and
what else could II .be?' II eals u great
dea, doeS the Bogie. That's the reason
nurse Is sure we have got one. 1t ate all
the cold sheep's.head yesterday. and the
day before half the big pasty. No yicinal
j safe in the larder, The BOgie has such u
big appetite, nurse says" :.
u remember about the shespA.head,"
said RSfe, meditativeIy. "Almost all Of
II As left, and hoped to see it come in
cold, but when asked, Joyce said there
was none. Cold Sleeps heads very good.
Do, you remember how much Humphrey
Hsed to like liz"
Idon't remember exactly, 1t Is so long
ago." replied Hexie. "HOw long is il,
brother Humphrey went away, |
mean. Won't he ever come back"
u asked Irineped once, but she only
said, God knew that nothing had been
heard OF him SINGS the battle when the
King VIZ, taken. He might be dead, or
be might be escaped into foreign parts
and then she cried, Oh, so hard, Hexte,
Poor Humphrey hope he isn't dead,
But about the Bogie, how curious 1t must
be TO meet one! Oh, | say, letuSgo to the
gallery now, and see Il We hear any
strange noises there. viii you2"
,%Oh Rafe ! Pm afraid. don't quite
like -
"sut you can't BIO afraid il I'm there
sad Rate. valian.ly; "besides, I'll put on
Humphreys old sword which he left be.
alnt: Thenifthe BOgie cOmes-we shall
,Raie spoke like conquering hero,
hs1ie thought 80, though she trembed.
sae made no further objection, but stood
e!Shlle he lifted down The sword, helped
@isstea Its belt over his shoulder and