Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-12-26
A NOBLE GHOST.
The Midnight Grasp of the Dead Lord
Tyrone's Hand on the Wrist of Lady
EereSford.
London Queen.

A'SlAdVll NsNSVA'
John, Earl of Tyrone, and Nicola
Hamilton, afterwards wife of Sir Iris
tram Beresford, were born in Ireland
in the reign of Charles II. They were
almost of the same age and were in
trusted to the care of the same person,
by whom they were educated in the
principles of deism. Their guardian
dying when they were still young, they
fell into different hands. The persons
ON whom the care of them now de-
yolved appear to have used every pos.
sible endeavor to eradicate the errone-
Gus principles which they had imbibed
and to persuade them to embrace re.
vealed religion in some form or other.
But these endeavorS were all i'll vain.
The arguments OF their friends We're i'll.
sufficient to convince, though they
served to stagger their former faith-or
rather their former skeptlcism. But,
though they were now separated from
each other, their friendship remained
unalterable, and they continued to re-
gard each other with a sincere and fra
ternal, or rather cousinly, affection.
After some years had elapsed and they
were both grown up they made u
solemn promise to each other that
whichever should die first would (if
permitted) appear to the other, in or
der to declare to him or her what re-
iigion was most acceptable to the SUI
preme Being. Miss Nicola was shortly
after married to Sir Tristram Beres-
ford, but no condition could alter their
friendship, and the families frequently
visited each other. During u visit to
the lady's brother-in law at Gill Hill,
near Dromore, in the year 1893, Sir
Tristram remarked when his lady came
down to breakfast that her complexion
was unusually pale and her counten-
ance bore evident marks of terror and
confusion. He inquired anxiously after
her health, but she assured him that she
was perfectly well. He repeated his
inquiries and begged to know if any
thing had disordered her. She replied:
mo, no; am as well rs usual." "Gou
have hurt your wrist; you have
sprained it?' asked he, observing
black ribbon hound round it. She re-
piled that She had not, but added, Let
me conjure you, my dear Tristram,
never more to inquire the cause of my
wearing this ribbon; you will never see
me henceforth without II. If 1t con
cerned you as a husband to know the
reason would not for moment con-
ceal it. | never in my life denied you
a request; but of this / must entreat
you To forgive my refusal and never
more urge me further on the subject"
Very well, my lady," said he, smiling;
"since you so earnestly desire me | will
inquire no further"
The conversation here ended Lady
Beresford inquired eagerly # the post
was come in. She was told 1t had not
arrived. In few moments she again
rang the bell and repeated her inquiries,
lis not the post yet Gomez" She was
again answered that it was not. "Do
you expect letters? ?" asked Sir Iris
tram, "that you are so anxious about
the arrival of the post?' 81 do" she
answered. 81 expect to hear Lord
Tyrone is dead; he died last Thursday
at 4 o'clock. ~ never in my life"
said Sir Tristram, believed you to be
superstitious; but you must have had
an idle dream which has thus alarmed
NOIs nv WIS IiiOilltlib oNl VAIN
opened the door and delivered q letter
sealed with black wax. at is as | sus-
pected-he is dead Sir Tristram
opened the letter. 1t was from Lord
Tyrone's steward and contained the
melancholy news that his master had
died on the preceding Saturday (Octo-
Der IA, 1893, at the hour which lady
Beresiord had specified.
After period of some months Lady
Beresford had a son. whose birth Sir
Tristram survived little more than
seven years. dying in l70l and after his
death his lady seldom went from home;
il fact, she visited no family but that of
gentleman in the neighborhood, named
Georges. With them she frequently
passed few hours. The rest Of her
time was entirely devoted to solitude,
and she appeared determined forever to
Danish all other society. The family
consisted of himself, his wife and one
son, who was about her own age To
this son who became Lieutenant Cen
eral Georges, OF kilbrew) after few
years she was married, Notwithstanding
the disparity of connection 50 unequal
in most respects. The event justified
the expectation Of every ore. Lady
Beresford was treated by her husband
with contempt, and even with cruelty;
while at the same time his whole con.
duct showed him to be the most aban-
doned lbertine, utterly destitute OF
every principle OF virtue and humanity.
To this her second husband Lady Beres-
ford brought two daughters, after which,
10 consequence Of the prohgacy Of his
conduct, she insisted on separation.
They parted for several years, when so
great was the contrition which he ex-
pressed for his former behavior, that,
overcome BY his persuasions and prom
Uses, she was induced to pardon ana once
more reside with him, and some time
after she became the mother of another
son. The very day month after the