New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-30
THE DUKES HOUSE.

THE DUKES HOUSE.
was born in an old chartered and very PIC
turesque town IN western county, TISoc n Which
had mot been occupied for many Long year;
and like other buildings letC to decay, IL nao the
reputation of being haunted: tOe I see1 ana
heard sometimes by those who were near the
Mace at dusk and after dark but II was never
looked into The uneducated were 700 super
stitiOus and frightened; the Oetter Siass MeLJ
too busy or too indolent; and we had no ruIai
notice in those days to trace out the causes, ~
Vas n great pity for such fine EnGaDethah
structure to fail to runs remenlOeI - aS q
strong and beautiful mansion, WlCh ItS laW1s
there are DAYS 10 a year. This | doubted when
child, and often got the nurse-gnIl 10 wan ,,t
round the house. to count them WIN me; puC
we never attained our oDlect; lot II inc gu sun
got overloaded, she would be sure 10 see seq
Ghost at some gloomy window, ana rush OH
leaving me- terrified, to follow. The ola resi-
dents had died out, the title having become eA1
tinet; and around it were sprung up minis anu anu
factories, which prevented the arlstocracy rom
living In it. The mill-Owners, too, preferred
being further away from their eountlng-n9uscs
and smoky chimneys. Besides, IL must nave
been a very rich man who could put IL I'D I uec3-
raflve repair and keep up such an estaDIish-
ment. In those days our merchant princes were
content with very modest dwellings, such as
MANY a middlc-class man nowadays Wo9iu
deem it derogatOry to live IN. am wlllhg Oh q
slow and sure age; VIC are now living ID l0sV
"'i Rnt to nv story. had attained an age when
Ghosts or hobgoblins and such-Gke rubbish dld
not terrify or trouble me-. was lnaIIIeo
man. the father of several children, Wnen
cousin came to visit us, who was highly de-
LIGHTED with our pretty town; ana KNOWING heE
TO be very clever with her pencil, asked her 10
naint me one OF two of the scenes In the ne'Gh-
borhood This she willingly consented 10 90,
and we sailed forth to fix on what should De
= her first picture. She thought the view rom
the Dukes HOuse-as 1t was callen-W0ulu ne ne
the hest told her she dared not trust herset
in tbers for IL had been unnhabited for the
last century, aud was haunted. She lauRheu,
and said she did not believe III ghoStsi she was
not so much frightened at the dead IN sOLtaIy
nlaces. as at the living; and her curiosity Delng
ppTciteA she wanted to explore the old building
So whilst she went for her easel ana mateIlals,
cot the KEYS from an old man who lived III
the old courtyard of the ducal residence;
We walked through the rooms, admHlng
their old grandeur, the lofty marble columns,
stend;n0 on marble hearths each side OF the
ireniaces. supporting the grOined ceilings, with
coats of arms and other devices carved IN
walls snelled mouldy, but was in wonderful
state of preservation, and no worse than When
how twenty years before, / had pltied the
ladies who worked so hard to cover their rough
stone walls. My cousin selected room toT
her firstssketch: and AS was leaving, ADVISED
her to lock the door after me, TO guard agali1sC
intrusiOn: but she objected to this, saying she
never locked herself in any room Tor fear Oh
sudden illness but il wOuld lock the door on
tire outside and call for her as came from the
hank. she would be much happier To Know she
was secure from interruption. AFTER some nest
tation. consented to do this, and WIN the Key
I'm my pocket, went to business
IL was lust closing time, and was locking up
the strong-room, when the manager drew my
attention to O matter which involved pro-
tracted search of papers, search however,
thonohfg having been driven from my head
Inv this unwonted piece of business, reached
home. and as mechanically took out my latch
key and went into the house, sun IN Iev aver ~
was met by my wife, who asked why was SO
Iate for dinner, and where Mary was.
MAR pi exclaimed; Il forgot all about
herr and catching my hat OIL the peg again,
rushed out, speeding as last as cOluo 20 nD-
crate her, and bitterly lamentlng my folly tor
n was 1uite dark when l got there, and
had no light; but felt out the keyhole, I'M
locked the door, and tramped loudly up Ihe
stairs called her, but received no reply, TO,
ing INTO the room in which / had left her,
eazed into the recesses, and found her huddlec
~ Mary S my poor dear child" I exclaimed
Gwill YOU ever forgive mcTp
Hush, hush for PHYS sake, hush p she sale
In WY Ta,Sd I'D you not answer me when called
youf" / replied. >, NJ, 1Lo,
I'll did not hear you mnth now Oh' L n"F'
seen such fearful sghtsF
felt her whole frame Iquiver, and then, as
vas assisting her to rise, she fell ON me In D.;
faintine Git. had no light, not even t9see y
INV noeket. and no one was within call. "a
LENGTH Thought of the water she had Tor ne
work IT might revive her II could flnd IT,
laid her down gently and cropping aDOug TO
fhe water, sprinkled her face, which had TIL
effect of bringing her round. oo, -
Hurriedly rising, she exciaimea Opi con
away Take me out of this holnd place
began to rally her about the ebsurdlty o
her. fears, land her telling me in the m0rnlnl
she was not superstitiOus.
But she interrupted me by saying: ha!
seen no ghost. We are i'm a den OF hOrrl
thieves and murderersi l saw two bodie
DRAGGED up stairs stripped of everything, wit
inst d sheet round them. Oh. come out or tn
Mace. or we shall be the next. Even now the
pesv have heard as, and.they will murder u.s.
II asked her If she had not got drOwsy willis
eating FOR me IN the gloom OF the afternoon
for n WAS NOYember-and dreamed It,
Oh. mop she repliedi II did not dream
ardlhorror struck Jas u was when tine rntian
descended the stars AGAIN. 1 crspt Aiently q
- re II / could end out anything and, 0
horror, / shall never forget the aghtl Do Il
,cust confess felt little creepy and Re1
,o,,s INIT YVES myself again in q momen
Feelin9 her trembling, ana rearing ahoEns
s,s,l,n n heran descending the stairs with ne
s"tes 4 iiehf from below shot up TO Us. ~
elfnhad me conyulstvely, but was Eeass4 =
ksaring nv wifeis voice calling out; Eranf
Maryf Where are yonS.
Hara. y Z said; all right"
afndeed.n she replied, = i think it al Wron
"a give rse saeki 3 fright" ~. 4,