The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-05-03
CLEVELAND, TENN, MAY 3, 1877

step / now distinctly heard cross the
rOOmy ] waited with beating heart.
The fire-light Etill dimly illuminated
the room, and, to my horror, a dark
something" crossed it, then the flicker
ing flame died out, and was left in the
darkness with my unknown visitant.
At this moment the Castle clock struck
twO-a deep sigh echoed through the
room. | remember no mOre-I suppose
tainted
Next morning my pale looks attracted
universal attention. But | complained
of violent headache, to which | at
tributed them.
"Well, well, Kate" said Sir Guy,
GIVE news for you that will bring
back the color to your cheek. Gerald
will be here tomorrow"
This was news indeed Your grand
father, who was then in the Guards,
had not expected to get leave for
another three weeks at least.
soon forgot the vision (for so per-
sisted in calling it to myself of the
previous night, in dreams of a far diff
ferent order; and when, that night, l
retired to bed, sleep quickly fell on my
weary tNCHs anu NOhC llOl ullll
the bright morning sun flung his rays
on the newly awakened world.
But the day passed and no Gerald ar
rived. Vainly waited and watched,
longing to hear the sounds of his
horses hOofs ringing up the avenue;
and when the Castle clock struck
eleven, more disappointed and vexed
than | cared to acknowledge, | slowly
took my departure to my weird cham
Der in the west wing.
1t looked more repellant and gloomy
than usual, thought, and felt as if un-
seen beings were lurking about.
started at the sound of my own foot
steps, and when | crossed the room to
get into bed, hardly dared to look up
behind me.
But slept; for | remember rOusing
to a sense of existence by loud thud
that shook the whole room, and the
same low, shivering sigh | had heard
three nights before was repeated close
to my ear. The heavy fOotstep crossed
the room, and distinctly, at the foot Of
my bed, the figure of a monk wrapped
in long, dark robe, with hood drawn
closely over its head, shaped itself
slowly out of the darkness.
could not discern the features of the
apparit!on, but the glittering of the
snake-like eyes was plainly to be dis
tinguished. gazed as if fascinated on
the awful being before me. l cannot
say feared it, but my heart felt chill,
and the marrow in my bones frozen
with awe; and sense of deep, mex
plicable mystery took hold of me, as
saw it raise its white hand, and beckon
to me to follow it.
The eyes of the fearful being seemed
to exercise strange influence over me
and raised myself in bed AS if to obey
its bidding. At that moment the sigh
was repeated and heard faint voice
whisper close to my ear in tones that
curdled my blood, ''Heed him nOt!"
But the influence of those eyes was
too strong for me, | could not resist,
and quitting my bed | followed my
ghostly conductor across the room,
feeling had no will but his.
The room seemed changed and was
lit up by strange glare. Over the
niche in the wall hung a large crucifix,
veiled in black, and beneath it stood an
altar, on which burned many lighted
tapers; and to the left of it a small door
in the oaken wainscoting stood open.
Through it and down narrow stair
case | followed my guide.
Presently we stood together on the
edge of the moat beneath the oriel win
dow. The snow fell fast, and the wind
whistled bitterly around us, but l felt it
not.
What awful power had this fearful
being obtained over me that l followed
him whittier he would through storm
and snowP
felt spell-bound, without an atom of
my boasted power of will to resist his
behests.
At length we arrived at the angle of
the west wing, where the old draw
bridge had once stood; and there my
guide, turning suddenly towards me
and throwing back his hood, struck at
me with shining weapon he held in
his hand.
Thereupon the spell that had held
me seemed broken, and, with wild
cry, fell to the earth insensible.
When / recovered consciousness, Ger
aid was bending over me. He raised
me in his arms, wrapped his travelling
cloak round me, and carried me into
the Castle.
Then for many days, lay sick unto
death. The strain on my nerves, and |
the exposure to the cold had been too |
much for me, and it was months before |
my wonted strength returned.
For long time Gerald and | avoided |
all conversation relative to my strange |
adventure; but curiosity to know how |
it was he had arrived Just in time to |
save me, overcame my dislike to talk on |
the subject. Your Grandfather told me |
that when mile or so only from the |
Castle he had suddenly became imbued |
with a certainty that ! was in some |
deadly peril, and in need of him; that |
this feeling had quickly increased; and |
that as he entered the avenue voice |
had whispered to him, "Haste! haste!"
He then galloped to the door, and as |
he dismounted he had distinctly heard |
the same voice whisper, "Help her
the moat!" and some unknown inilu- |
ence had then impelled him to rush to
the spot, where he found me in
sensible on the ground.
Now, children, do you wonder be-
lieve in ghosts9"
We were all silent for while, and |
then Alice said, "Is there no legend re-
lating to this monk, grandma p"
eyes, child she replied; ''your
grandfather told me that too, after
wards. The legend is vague, but tradi-
tion says that the young widow of one
pf thn Hyp I 81 n a ,I
In the moat by her confessor, monk of
the Dominican order. Since the west
wing has been burned down, Gayton
Castle has been free from spiritual visi-
tants. And now, grandchildren, see, 1t
is past the witching hour of midnight,
and so let us off to bed"