New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-30
AT RIVINGTON HALL.

oUO
had succeeded TO the Rivngton Hall estate ana an
income of some thousands year. on the deatn Oh
distant relation. Harry and were school anH CO..,
Lace friends; and though of late years our paths in
life had widely dlverged, the OLD affectloh never
Numbered. We met rarely. but we Kept up more
constant correspondence than is usual even among
Our last meeting was on the occasion OF his mar
riage to charming girl, to whom ne naH Deeh long
attached: soon after which event he lett the -
Tnssars and went to live in Wales, near his wlfe's
family, till the death of his tar,away cousin, old
Luke Danvors. of Rivington Hall put nun IN pos pos
session of q fine estate and ample fortune. Old
Danyers died abroad, in some German town. where
he mad led life of absolute seclusion Tor several
years-nearly forty, think Harry came 10 Lon,
don on business connected with the succession, ana
snent most of his time at my chambers III the Ien-
pie His parting words 10 me %sre soau a. e had
made it habitable 1t had been smut up since tiio
late owner, man of eccentric habits retired some
what suddenly abroad and would probably re,
"n;Ie tn he mt i'm thorough repair before 1t could
6e equal to the modern ideas OF luxury OF even COM
fort. IN r. .,,.,uo;ost;o 1osc,n.
tions of the quaint beauty Of the old Hall and plans
tor its Immediate restoration months passed WIN
out my hearing anything of or from Harry Ian
barrister gaining inch by inch OF the steep upnii
path which leads to ease ana competency an 'nG
found time to wonder at Harrys silence ana at
length ] wrote, having, unexpectedly, week or
two of leisure, to propose passing my nohday VIII
him. addressed my letter to Rivngton Hall, and
the post brought me an answer In due course; Inc
tome OF Harry letter struck very ~
was "A affectionate as ever, but there was deep
anchOly pervading it, which was scarcely 70 De
accounted for even by the news which u contained
that Mrs Danvers was even now scarcely recoVereq
from n long and serious illness. 1t ended thus: l
shall be only too happy to see you old fellow, II yon
ran put up with indifferent accommodation anu
,Iuli company; and l hope you Will como as
soon IA Won can for the moment Helen is able to
travel we are going abroad Ihe letter was date a
grabbed to say would he with him ON the morrow
and started by the morning express o,oo. ~, :,
The autumn day was craving 10 o UipS fonnd
Harry waiting for me. i was quite shocked by the
change in my fIiend's appearance and manner IN
stead Of greeting We w Were ms meng at
Wrung nv hand with scarcely word, and only re-
piled by the shortest sentences to my inquiries
Ne drove about three miles out of the town. past
O lodge with fine old iron gates and long park,
wall within which at some distance coulu lust
discern the gables and chimneys OF large hahd-
That's It ? he said, pointing with his whip We
$50 saw by your letter. But why did yon not
carry ont youf plans for the restoration OF the
.Don't sneak of it he said sharply. And while
think of it, Burnley, l must beg you not to make
any ailusion to the Hall before Helen 1t upsets
"e WHY. what IS tho matter with I'll 1t looks
very tine old place, and surely you lived there Tor
Yes. we did, he answered gravely; and that is
why we both wish to forget that such place ex-
lists 1t killing Helen to remain mere; anu yet
the doctor says she must not be moved Deiore the
Has she been very ill asked passing over the
first part Of his speech 1 1nSusn n'n''S
'O.Verv: as nearly dead as possible with nervous
fever. doubt il you would know her again.
While we were talking he hal driven on, down
steep lane to the left and through little village
nesting in hollow among WopHs sn any is ne~SboS
hood We stopped at the porch of a long low house
by the roadside; a groom took the reins from my
friend ana the servant who came to the coor
nshered ms through low side-passage into cheer.
ful room, bright with fire and lamp-light, ana
amply though simply furnished. lady rose 1ron
/ could scarcely refrain from exclaiming aloud 80
great and melancholy was the change III Helen
Danvers The fair ySong c bav Ton ad be-
come o PALE grave nervous woman, startled by
the slightest sound with heavy eyes that hileo
with tears without any apparent reason ana Dear
INC every mark of having received serious shock.
both bodily and mental. She welcomed me WIN
friendly kindness; ana as we ea 10 fbe HELEN Dam
yers whom / had last seen on her wcdding -horn
ing. We separated early for the night, ana liafry
carried his wife upstairs and returned 70 me WIN
hurried apology for leaving me to my SOLITARY cigar
as he said Helen too nervous to be lett alone.
The next morning was bright ana rnosty; am did
after break fast. at which II cal Mrs. DanVerS dld
not appear Harry proposed to me to accompany
him to the house of a friend, who had invited us
RiyinSton Hall. and By daylight l could see that
the house was very large and handsome one III inc
Tudor style, with terraces. stone-Inuioneu 0rlei
windows and QuaIntly-t twisted chimneys. inc
shutters were closed; the avenue between Two
rows of magnificent old beeches was grass grown.
and the lodge unnhabited III snort she "lo y.
place bore unnstakable signs OF being lett 10 30 10
ruin unheeded.
I could not resist observing to Harry that 1T
seemed pity to abandon SO fine a place. Ills reply
Would to Heaven that not one accused stone re-
manned upon another he said vehenehtly' luG
entail prevents my pulling 1t down. or IL "ou'u
sWby what ais the piacei Is it hauntedr
asked Iaughiney, knowing that Harry was as free
non childish superstition as WIZ hs Earnest answer
III you had seen what we have seen inside those
hateful halls You would never be the same man
again. know / am m ); anu aS 10, IiS'o"' pun
gill it has nearly if not quite. killed her. .,d
Ny curiosity was now thoroughly aroused; ana
WITH perhaps less Of tact and good taste tlam
ought to have shown. piled him with QUESTIONS
o all OF which he gave vague ond unwi .nS ~
Wers. Somehow the subject was renewed a., az
rryp eDS % ssa he was sG with
me Most ardent desire to see the apparitlon which
~ .S to have seen fwGe by
!ears OF tho supernatural, expressed O. decided
p ph0 1, .nas should like to see the ghost TiS
was It's fortunate possessor.
Detween Us, think, we pushed matters TOO far:
nd r AZ ast Harry said in tone Of deep annoy
nttge for yourselves whether am the fool you both
AXE me for. We will ell pass an evening in the
lieL room at the old Hail. and shall be curious 10
zee how you like it,
.Mr Easton and l eagerly took up the challenge.
was arranged that, the next dag but one being
Ine last OF the month. on which aiOne-so Harry
.Su ,Is-tne spectral appearances we're visible, We
snouid meet at Kings Lea, and proceed together TO
we hali Danyers agreeing to tell his wife that we
we're engaged to dine and sleep at EastOn's:
We must b at the Hall before 10 O'clock he
aid. That is the only time at which ything lie
ocen.'
On our vav home wc ca1led at the coftape of an
old man who WAS formerly gardener at RiyInRton
dail. for the keys Of the house. ,-