The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-10-27
GHOSTS AT GREYFRIARS.

ma was the magnate of our family-the
|proprietress of Greyfriars and all its be-
longings and wealth.
She was my fathers stepmother only
the estate was in her own right, with
power to dispose of it as she pleased. She
knew little of me, having only seen me a
dozen times, but she fancied similarity
between my character and her own, and,
moreover, I had been named after her;
and when she expressed wish that
should visit her for an indefinite period,
my dear. anxious father became impress
ed with the belief that I should be her
chosen heiress.
found Greyfrairs lovely, pictures
que old place, but quiet and lonely. 1t
stood on the summit of densely wood
ed hill; not another dwelling within two
miles walk, and the village still further
away. Our household was small, con-
sisting of grandma, myself, three woman
servants and two men, while in the
lodge outside slept the gardner and coach
man.
The house was fine old mansion, very
large-with great wide staircases and
roomy halls, and whole suits of rooms
shut up unoccupied, and an old bell tow
er, 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 il was furnished with rusty lock and
bolt; in the center a great bell
hung silently-its heavy coil of rope rot
ting beside it. The ghostly legend OF
the place was to the effect that former
owner of Greyfriars, being crazy, decoy-
ed his promised bride into the lonely
tower and there imprisoned her. With
the characteristic and dreadful cunning
of madman he contrived to keep her
concealed, and no one appeared to sus-
pect her presence in such q place.
Months went by; the bereaved lover
| mourned for her as one who sorrows with
out hope-until, one deary winter day,
he also disappeared, and none knew
whittier. His habits being eccentric,
this excited little remark; the servants
supposed him absent on a sudden Jour.
ney, 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 had
| tolled it; the frlghted servants, unaware
of any human presence in the bclfry,
dared not answer and presently the
bell hung silently once more; but in the
morning assistance being summoned
from the village, and the belfry search
ed, an awful spectacle presented itself;
two corpses-one, so decomposed that
only by the clothing could they recog-
nize the long lost girl; the other-that of
her lover and murderer scarcely cold,
and stretched beneath the bell, with the
rope still grasped in his stiffened fin
gers.
After this the tower got the name of
being haunted, and gradually fell quite
into disuse. Not servant would have
ventured even upon the top floor of the
Greyfrairs: but I had wandered through
belfry and ell before ever heard the sad
tale. Never afterward though. l have
a horror of ghost stories and no desire to
test their veracity.
Grandma was a very proud old lady,
obstira ate, headstrong and self willed. ]
loved her dearly, but had temper too.
One dark day we quarreled for the first
and the last time.
| had lived with her nearly six months.
One afternoon she sent for me to hel
: room, and received me with a grave,
stern face. She turned aside as / bent
down to embrace her, and pointed to q
chair. l sat down, wondering; she laid
her wax-like, tremulous old hand upon
a folded parchment that lay beside her.
Margaret, said she, "this is my will
in which you are named my heiress. You
have grown very dear to me, child; deal
: as my own flesh and blood, bat 1 feal
you are going to greive me. What kept
you out in the grounds so late last night
And from whom did you receive the note
You are carrying in your bosom?"
Oh the sharp old eyes! Round and
black, and keen as hawks, they seem
ed to look into ones very soul. My col
or rose beneath them.
But l had nothing to be ashamed of
T Charles Wilton had been my promised
husband long before come to grandma
| took the note from my dress and plac
ed it in her hand.
"You can read it yourself, Grandma,
| said quietly. And she did read it aloud
+, 1t ran thus:
J. DEAREST MARGARET-T want TO see YOU
/ Your father thinks it best l should not cal
!, at the house without Mrs. Staunton's per
mission. VIII you walk in the garden be
= tween eight and nine this evening. | can
IS not come earlier. Fondly and faithfully yours
Is CHARLEY.
: Grandma sat silent, holding the not,
5 in her hand and seemingly lost in thought
/ | took it from her gently.
e "There is no treason there, grandma,
. l said. She looked up with start,
n "Maragret, said she, "you are good
Ii honest girl. will make you rich VIC
1 man! Give up this foolish love affair. Yo
cannot marry young Wilton. [ mus
ay choose your husband myself.
Tt GIVE up Charley! stared at her i
-. m utter incredulity. Give up my heart
Fk as true love Tor the sake of money! 1 laugh
- Ell allld ar tha