The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-06-13
THE WHITE LADY.

were, had the courage to meet her-for
the story went that any one who dared 10
meet her aud tospeax to her should have
what they aske though IL you meet her
and were afraid to speak, some great harm
would con,e--something worse than death
itself-inaduess or the palsy, or blindness,
may hap. dYa eta
Long ago, before any living mans
grandsire was born. they said the White
Lady was fair woman and,no wraith-a
fair, meek woman, whom king loved,
aud toe hall was the place where she
dweit; and she wore jewels and fine gar
tnents, aud servants waited on her, aud
the king came often TO the feast and to
praise and kiss her.
And sometimes he would sehd mes
sage before he came, and bid her meet
him under great oak that stood AT the
hall gate; aud she always did US he bid
her.
Aud one night message was sent and
she went, as was her wont, to meet him
but M she stood under the Tree watching
foi him, one who had beguiled her TO The
spot with false message; snote her with
\ an arrow and she dropped down dead.
A Jealous woman had hired The muir
aerer. II was said, and some say tie jealous
woman became queen.
The lady died. and the hall was leit
alDne and tnouldered iEto ruin; but ever
/ -. -. ..;..t,t n, ti... k...ar nm fhp an.
niversary Of the day on which she went
for the last time TO meet tue king, the
lady. all In white, walks-so the legend
says-thrice around the tree.
And the nights called in our neigh
borhood .white Lady's Night for no
other reason; and Thomas Martingaie,
going home late from the "Crown and
Scepter,, once saw the lady under the
tree--so he sai,l--at least the old folks told
the story to the ysung, and We were bound
10 believe IL.
Now, upon White Lady's Night, l.
Mark Yardley, sat alone, wondering and
thinking. A
wanted something thatI knew not
/ how 10 win.
II was not gold, nor silver. and house
and lands aud the wherewithal TO live !
hoped to win with my own strong arms;
but what longed for seemed to dill be-
yond my reach. ~
Try as might,I never could make
sure Of IL.
II was a woman's heart.
I loved Alice Hunter rs no man ever
loved woman before, but she smiled one
day and frowned the .iext; and then, too,
she was above me, and desyised me, very
likely.
How could tell her what I felt that
she might make mock Of me? Yet i'll
never told her. all my chances were gone.
This White Lady's night, thinking OF
tile story my grandmother often told me
besides the winter fire, went mad, rs
lovers do sometimes, and said TO MYSELF
II will 20 Tonight 10 the old oak, and Il
the White Lady walks, will seize her
robe aud ask her 10 give me the wish OF
my heart-if die for H.
one must do something. Those that
are IN love ask old hugs totell their for
tunes, aud take the setting of leaves IN a
teacup for prophecy. 1 knew one who
said 10 himself: "Ifthe bird flying yon-
derlIrIts on tlieapple boughs, my love
win lie happy; but. ifit flies To the hedge,
ali viii 20 wrong;' aud when the little
tlnng folded lis wings among the apple
blossoms was glad all night.
| Oh, yes, lovers are mad at times. !
must have been, then, when Topped my
wIniow aud dropped from IL on the grass,
and took my way toward the ruined hall
aud the old oak on White Lady's toask
my happiness ofthe White Lady; but did
IL.
oh, how well remember. The moon
shone overhead, round and white, and all
ww still. The lights went out In thecot-
,aves IN the hollow, and the trees stood
black against the bright sky.
And down upon the night fell, one after
the other, twelve strokes from the church
clock, aud / knew that IL was midnight,
aud the hour Tor the White Lady TO walk,
aud made all the speed | could, lest she
should come aud 90 and l none the better
for her.
Al last stood before the hall, and saw
the tree with iis great branches spread
Ing far and wide-at tree that was more
than two hundred years old, they said
and strangely aud solemnly through the
empty windows Of tie hall:the moon wa'
shining, aud looked aud held my breath
for there, under the great tree, stood ~
deed woman's figure.
IL were some light garments, and wa
wrapped and hidden 40 that could mol
see ils face. and II moved lit.lea as came
near, aud, looking over itsshoulder, be.
gan 10 glide away; aud knew that !