The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
THE SECRET DOOR.
A Christmas Story Of Two Hundred
Years Ago.

Years Ago.
Knowle, in Kent, is an ancient manor
house. It stands knee-deep in rich gar
den and pasture lands, with hay6clds
and apple orchards stretching beyond,
and solemn oak woods which whisper
and shake their wise heads when the
winds blow, as though possessed Of
secrets which must not be spoken.
Very much asit looks to-day, it looked
two hundred and thirty 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
twisted chimneys in 1G45 just as this
year. The same dinnery fragrance filed
the air, for good cheer smells pretty
much alike in oil ages and the world
over. A few changes there may be-
thicker trees, beds of gay flowers which
were not known in that day and where
once the moat-a ditch.llke stream Of
green water covered with weeds and
scum-ran round the walls, is now a
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 and ways.
In the same nursery where modern
boys and girls eat, sleep and learn their
A, B, G to-day, two children lived
little Ralph Tresham and his sister
Henrietta. Quaint. old fashioned crea-
lures they would look to US now ; but,
in spite OF their formal dresses and
speech, they we're bright and merry snd
happy as any children you can find
among your acquaintances. Ralph's
name was pronounced "Rafe," and he
always called his sister "Hexie."
Christmas did not come to Knowie in
its usual bright shape in 1645. Gloom
and sadness and anxiety overshadowcd
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 whisper
ing 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 VII they
did so and Joyce, the old butler, hal
carried of the pudding with a face like a
funeral. So, after dinner, they crept
away to the nursery. and there, by the
window, begnn long whispering talk.
Hexie had something very exciting to
tell.
"Nurse thought I was asleep" she
said, "but I wasn't quite and when
they begun to talk I woke up. That
wasn't wrong, was it, Rafes couldn't
sleep when I couldn't, could II"
"I suppose ao:; but you needn't
have istened," said Rafe, whose no
tions about honor were very strict.
81 did pull the pillow over my ear,
but the words wouli get ill.," went on
Henrietta, piteously. "And it was so
interesting. Did you know that there
were such creatures as Bogies, Rafe }
Dorothy thinks that 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
q queer noise in the wall, and what else
could it bs3 It eats great deal, does
the Bogie. That's the reason nurse is
sure We have got one. 1t ate all the cold
sleeps head yesterday, and the day be-
fore half tho big pastry. No victual is
safe in the larde-, the Bogie has such a
big appetite, nurse says"
al remember about the sleeps
head" said Rafe, meditatively. cal.
most all Of. it was left, and looked to
see it come in cold; but when I asked,
Joyce said there was none. Cola
sleeps head is very good. Do you re-
member how much Humphrey used to
like it2"
"I don't remember exactly, it is 80
long ago" replied Hexie. "How long is
it, brother 3-since Humphrey went
away, 1 mean. Won't he ever come
"I asked Winifred once, but she only
said, God Knew thai nothing had
been heard Of him since the battle when
the king was taken. He might be dead,
or he might bo escaped into foreign
parts-and then she cried, oh, so hard,
Hexiel Poor Humphrey. l hope he
isn't dead. But, about the Bogie, how
curious it must be to meet one Oh, /
soy, let US go to the gallery now. and
see If we hear any strange noises there.
Will you2"
"Oh, Rate! I'm afraid. / don't quite
like
"But you can't bo afraid il I'm
there" said Rafe, valiant;y; "besides,
I'll put on Humphreys old sword
which he left behind. Then if the Bogie
comes--we shall zee 2"
Rafe spoke like O conquering hero,
He1ie thought; so, though she trem-
bled, she ma1e no further objection,
but stood by while he lifted down the
sword, helped to fasten its belt over his
shoulder, and followed along the pas
sage which led to the gallery. The
heavy sword clattered aud ratified "a it
dragged on the floor, and the sound was
echoed in ghostly way, which renewed
Hexie's ars.
"Rafe Rafe let us 60 back |" she
cried.
"Go back yourself if you are afraid, -
replied Ralph, stoutly; and as going back
alone through tho dim passage seemed
Just then worse than staying where she
was, He1ie stayed with her valiant
brother.
Very softly they unlatched the gallery
door, and stole in. It was long, lofty
apartment, paneled with cedar wood. to
which time had given beautiful light
brown color. The ceiling, OF the same
wood, was carved, here and there, with