Louisiana capitolian., 1881-10-11
THE old MANOR House.
by LADY DuFFUs HARDY.

no SHOW HOS tulCk upou Vuo DuAOp-
shire Hills. rolling down and spreading
over the valleys in one white wave Of
wintry ice; the old gray manor--a SOL
itary house, bewildering nest Of 60
bles and chimney stacks, standing
among the foothills, wrapped IN an at
mosphere of its own grayness--looked
gloomier than ever, staring with it's
hundred CLASSY eyes upon the desolate
scene without.
Curious stories were atl0at concern
inn tho ancient Observation-Disclosures and
legends cleaned from the waste of ages,
and generally believed in solemn faith.
One fact is certain, that no elder son
for four centuries has succeeded to the
property, the last direct heir who in
herited died in the year 1910 His life
had been scandal, tissue of petty
crimes and vices, beyond the reach of
law or Justice, crowned at last by sac.
rilege, the least pardonablo of oil sins !;
he had fled from the altar, pursued by
the priestly curse, and as he galloped
recklessly across the bills, his horse
stumbled over q tree-stump, and in the
morning he was found stiff and stark,
staring ut the blazing sun.
From time to time throughout these
centuries, shadowy horseman had been
seen galloping over the hills at sunset;
ut least, 80 said tradition, which was
firmly believed especially as q living
member of the present community has
"seen it with his own eyes" Since the
death of this Sir Hugh, as / have said
before, no direct heir had ever inheri-
ted the estate; it has lodged about be-
tween nephews and cousins.
The present possessor was d collateral
descendant, Col. HastaI, widower
! with an only daughter, q bright spark
ling blonde scarcely out Of her teens,
whose vivacious spirits lighted the
gloom that clung to the old mansion,
and could not even let the hidden echoes
be Mt rest. She and her father stood on
this special morning ut the west window
looking out on the white wilderness (;
he was wrapped up from head to foot,
and was pulling on his sealskin gloves.
A sound of bells broke on the frosty air
and sled, drawn by pair of splendid
high-stepping horses, drove up to the
entrance door.
''I am sorry to leave you alone, my
pet" said the colonel, "but / must go.
You see the business is important, and
don't suppose by any possibility can
return home before tomorrow evening.
Pm afraid you'll be very dull"
"Not at all papa. On the contrary,
shall quite enjoy rambling about this
queer old place. Who knows what
mystery may bring to light before you
come backs"
In another moment the bells were
iingling merrily, as the sled was driven
rapidly over the untrodden snow.
Colonel Hastar had only lately sue.
ceeded to the property, and Gerty had
only been IN the house about q fortnight
so there were plenty Of unexplored
hooks and corners, cubboards and cham
bers, which would afford occupation
for her leisure hours during the dreary
day. She started on her first rambling
expedition over that portion of the
house which had been least inhabited
| She peered into wloked-looking clos
cts, drew an old worm eaten box intt
the light, and rumaged over it's con
tents consisting of old dry as dust
parchments and papers, crumbling tt
decay, like the hand that traced then
centuries ago. She soon got tired o
this occupation, and found that ramb
ling over the ancient mansion was, af
ter all, dull, dreary work. So she stroll
ed into the corridor or picture gallery
and, foldingher arms behind her, march
ed up and down, reviewing her deat
ancestors with critical eye, some
times making her observations whicl
were not always of the most compli
mentary character, aloud. An impo
sing assembly they were, all in the pic
turesque attire in which they had sew
orally lived. 1t was strange to observ
| how the family likeness died away 70
generations, and then came out agall
| stronger than ever. This was particu
larly the case in the resemblance Of
very young and beautiful woman dress
ed in the costume of Charles I, to th
young lady who now regarded hei
They were the same gray eyes, cream
complexion, and even the contour G
face and figure were the same; it look
ed like Gerty Hastar in masquerade; il
looJ - aIa bol Iat Inu,p bop 1nnu nur