The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-05-28

perstition. A few were alarmed, and
some Rolf Vernon and Laurance Ores
ham-were instantly in for the novel
sport Of the thing.
"Of course we'll pay Lady Sicily a
visit! Is there man with gallantry SO
deficient as to refuse audience to the fair
seer, who doubtless broke hearts ruth
lessly hundreds OF years ago.
Mr.. Gresham laughed at Rolls boyish
enthusiasm.
"Agreed, Mr.. Vernon, chat we all in
quire our fate at the lovely ghostess'
hand! But, first for the romance-the
legend of Blue Court Hall.
1t was curious party that gathered
round the roaring fire in the immense
hall that night-for with the storm and
damp had come chilly cold-to listen to
the tragic story of the love and hate OF
centuries ago that had been enacted
within the same walls where they sat.
And this was the way the legend went
not read from the old yellow parch-
ment, but related in Mr.: Grey's inimit-
ible way from memory,
Nearly three centuries before great,
rich, powerful English family had built
this grand old pile in true baronial style,
and set up their hearthstone with all the
pomp and circumstance that immense
wealth permits and naughty blue blood
demands.
For more than three generations the
Elfncourts, father and son, ruled the
house; and fortune, peace, plenty, happi-
ness, and gayety reigned supreme-nn-
til, between two brothers, there arose q
fury of jealousy and hate, caused by a
beautiful young cousin who, coming to
visit the Elfncourts, had fascinated the
two young men with her remarkable
beauty and witchery of grace, until it
seemed to them a matter of life and
death who should win Lady Sicily Fair
fax for his bride.
She played with them both; she
played fast and loose with them, now
maddening them by her influence, now
leading them to the heights of hope by
her sweet graciousness; and then, in a
very recklessness of consequences, be-
trothed herself to them both, with in
functions Of strictest secrecy to each to
keep their secret.
For while her demure sweetness sue
ceeded in completely preventing the
slightest suspicion of her treachery to
either brother, both of whom knew him
SET the favored one: and so perfectly
did Lady Sicily play her part that both
Lord Darrell, the elder brother, and
Rupert, the younger, began to repent of
their hot-neaded jealous anger, and
actually began to plan how to conciliate
the other when the inevitable news of
the betrothal must be announced
OF the two brothers rupert was the
handsomer; he was tall, well-built, with
the true English blonde curling hair
that matched his fair face; while Lord
Darrell was darker, graver, and not SO
given to the admiration of women and
the love of their society
Of the two, Rupert was the one mere
likely to win woman's heart, Will
Lord Darrell was heir to the great wealth
of the Elfncourts; of the Rupert was
the more open, a SUMMER disposition,
frank and noble, less given to deceit and
suspicion-and it was this fair-haired
lover, who, with Lady Sicily's passionate
kisses on his lips, never doubling her
truth, never dreaming of her depravity
and treachery, voluntarily offered to
leave his love with his brother while he
travelled across the ocean to bring for his
bfide-elect treasures she told MIN she
must have.
And while he was gone Lady Sicily
was married to Lord Darrel-her husband
all unconscious of the treachery to which
he was II party.
There was revelry, mirth and music
and Lady Sicily reioiced in her heart
that she had played her cards so we'll
that she was to be the mistress Of all the
grandeur and splendor, of the trusty SER
wants and retainers of the aristocratic old
family.
Guests thronged the magnificent halls
guests who had travelled far and would
stay long. Flags were flying, pleasure
boats were floating on the lake, flowers
were blooming-everyth was fair as
youth, health, happiness, and sunshine
could make Lady Sicily's wedding-day.
And then, when the evenings gay en-
tcrtainment Was over, and laughing
bridesmaids had escorted the fair bride
to her chamber and left her alone-then
the curse of Elfncourt fell, for, hay
ing secretly and Unexpectedly arrived in
a swift sailing vessel, Rupert, the deceiv-
ed, the betrayed, had hidden himself in
the bridal-chamber to meet face to face
the terrified girl. The interview was
short; passionate words, bitter recrimi.
nations, invectives of despairing love
and raging fury passed between them,
and then Rupert, maddened by her
beauty that was forever lost to him by
her treaehery and insulting deceit, took
her fair young life, and left her stretched
in her own blood on the floor of her
chamber.
And then, insane with rage, he waited
like a madman--waited until Lord OAR
rel came to his bride, to find her warm
in her own life-stream, to be sprung
upon by Rupert and thrust through the
heart by the same rapier that had slain
Lady Sicily. And then the turned its
trnsty edge through hia own breast, and!
the three lay there-a CHASTITY trio
until the morning revealed the horrors
Of the bridai.chamber.
Directly afterwards the castle was
abandoned by the family on whom the
shadow had fallen too horribly for con-
tinuance there, and for years and years
it stood silent, grim and deserted, while
superstitious villagers declared that the
spirits Of Lord Darrell, and Rupert, and
the beautiful wicked lady haunted the
castle. 49,
Be that as it may, the legend goes on
TO say that on every twenty-first Of Sep
tember, the anniversary of Lady Sicily's
ill-starred wedding and death, she revis-
it's the bridal chamber, and to all who
are brave enough to seek her alone, when
The turret bell chimes twelve, she will
entreat them to assist in the