Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-27
GHOSTS Az GREYFRIARS.

1t is an honest ghost-that let me tell you. -
Hamlet.
Greyfriars was to be my home.
Grandma wished it, and papa consent
ed Grandma was the magnate of our
family-the proprietress of Greyfriars
and all its belongings and wealth.
She was my fathers stepmother only
the estate was hers in her own right.
with power to dispose Oft as she pleas.
ed. She knew little of me, having only
seen me dozen times, but she fanci-
ed similarity between my character
and her own, and moreover, had been
named after her; and when she express
ed wish that should visit her for an
indefinite period, my dear, anxious
father became impressed with the
belief that / should be her chosen
heress.
found Greyfriars lovely, pictur-
esque old place, but quiet and lonely.
1t stood on the summit of densely
wooded hill; not another dwelling with
in two miles walk, and the village still
further away. Our household was
small, consisting of grandma, myself,
three women servants and two men,
while in the lodge outside slept the
gardner and coachmnn.
The house was fine cd man sion,
very large-with great wide staircases
and roomy halls, and whole suits of
rooms shut up unoccupied, and an old
bell-tower, which popular superstition
declared was haunted.
This belfry on the roof was approach
ed from inside the house by means of
a narrow staircase ascending from the
top floor. 1t had open windows on
every side, and the trap-door that gave
entrance to it was furnished with
rusty lock and bolt; in the
centre a great bell hung silently-its
heavy coil of rope beside it. The
ghostly legend of the place was to the
effect that former owner of Grey
friars. being crazy, decoyed his promis-
ed bride into the lonely tower I'D there
imprisoned her. With the chan acteris-
tic and dreadful cunning of a mailman
he contrived to keep her concealed,
and no one appeared to suspect her
presence in such place. Months
wen. by; the bereaved lover mourned
for her rs one who sorrows without
hope-until, one dreary winter day, he
also disappeared, and none knew width
er. His habits being eccentric; this ex-
cited little remark; the servants sup
posed him absent on a sudden journey,
and held all things in readiness for his
return, until one night the great bell
rung out an alarm--but SO family,
feebly. slowly. it seemed as if dying
hand mad tolled it; the heightened SER
wants, unaware of any human presence
in the belfry, dared not answer-and
presently the bell hung silently once
more; but in the morning assistance
being summoned from the village, and
the belfry searched, an awful spectacle
presented itself; two corpses-one, so
decomposed that only by Ter clothing
could they recognize the long lost girl;
the other-that of her lover and murd
erer-scarcely cold, and stretched be-
meath the bell, with the rope still grasp
cd in his stiffened fingers.
After this the tower got the name of
being haunted, and gradually fell quite
into dlsuse Not servant would
have ventured even upon the top floor
of the Greyfriars; but had wandered
through belfry and all before heard
the sad tale. Never afterward though.
I have a horror of ghost stories and no
desire to test their veracity.
Grandma was very proud old lady,
obstinate, headstrong and self .willed. /
loved her dearly, but l had temper
too. One dark day we quarreled for
the first and last time.
had lived with her nearly six
months. One afternoon she sent for
me to her room, and received me
with a grave, stern face. She turned
aside as bent down to embrace her,
and pointed silently to chair. l sat
down, wondering; she laid her wax-like,
tremulous old hand upon folded
parchment tina. lay beside her.
Margaret" said she, "this is my
will, in which you ale named my
heiress. You have grown very dear to
me, child; dear as my own flesh and
blood, but fear you are going to grieve
me- What kept you out in the grounds
so late last night? And from whom
dld you receive the note you are car
rylng in your bosom?'
Oh the sharp old eyes Round and
black, and keen as "a hawks, they
seemed to look into ones very soul.
My color rose beneath them.
But l had nothing to be ashamed of.
Charles Wilton had been my promised
husband long before | came TO Grand
ma. | took the note from nv dress
and placed it in her hand.
you can read it yourself, Grand
ma" said quietly. And she did read
it aloud. 1t ran thus
Dearest Margaret Il want to see you. Your
father thinks it best | should not call at the
house without Mrs. Stauntons permission. VIII
you walk in the garden between eight and nine
this evening. | cannot come earlier. Fnndy
and faithfully YOURS CHARLEY.