New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-03

which the story took when related by Laura, the
i'm Ignatiyc, and by Jack. the matier-oi-fact
ThJnk. however of thu pride of the Membngs at
Til proof IncOnrovcrtible of their family ghost.
Wher was there, anywhere in England, mouse
with such gnOst ~ complete ~ all ITS parts so
provided wIth machinery, material gear, ana supr-
natural assistants WIS II not great hlnOr 10
them that their ghost aid not appear unattended
but was provided with a boly-guMrd. or spirit
ward of three dancing Sllclct0nsg Was there any
other ghos at whose budding bells would ring ana
drums would beatl II was Ike a royal progress
Josiah Mcmhling's spirit WAS welcomed, az n nm
self would have wished, Ike Lord Mayor on Lord
Mayors day. Did ever man hear tell Of any other
gnost who could command so TO speak, aprlNat9
orchestra of his own f. play music ut MS coming
Inc mere telling of the tory became iearlul JOY
to Laura and To the faithful jack 1t was Or 40
ful experience to have undergone; but. like ship
wreck on a dcserl island. once worried through. 1t
became grand and splendid distinction. L1uraS
sisters cnyied her: Laura's brothers envied her
The Squire was proud of her; the story
brought the greatest credit to the family;
Laura might have adopted the motto OF Queen
Elizabeth. DIR femHd tach.
She became an extremely interesting person, and
began 10 cultivate the sadness which belongs, some
how, 10 all persons privileged to hold communica-
ton with the outer word; She 3at IN shadowy cor
! long and dark room called the library. VIII re she
| told her story with clasped hands, while the llght
| of tine fire Redeemed her pae cheek and showed up
! the luminous depths OF her large SOIL eyes, H,r
auditors gathered round her catching 0re IA essy
at her words, and looking over th ir shoulders on
the chance of the spectre behind them But he never
! came. My neat-grlndfathcr,' said Laura, VIII
! nev,r, am persuaded, leave the room in which he
! has chosen to dwell Let Us have no fear. Indeed
| she added smiling sadly, why should we lear
! He who restored the fortunes of the h0uSc and IL
! good enough to watch over 1t after his passing
! away, can hardly be feared. He may hear no
doubt he does hear, all that is said and done in the
Hail. therefore let us always speak Of him with the
! reverence and awe which he deserves.
they came from all parts of the country to hear
! II g story. Laura obliged TO be at home
| every afternoon. Jack was not allowed 10
leave her chair, in order 70 be ready to cOrrObo-
| rate any statement. He shOne "a the lesser
| light. not being permitted to tell the story HIM:
self because he was not a good raconieur, an
| because Il certain sterity of imagination forbade
those Developments OF facts which are necessary IN
perfect ghos story. But he could put in a word
| 10y way of proof, aud was immensely useful as the
Witness ghost, like miracle, requires the teS-
| timony Of two or more credible persons.
Il shall never, s1id Laura. never again bear to
hear he least frivolous or scofing alu ION to the
appearance OF Spirits Inc subject Will ALWAYS Do
associated IN my mind with a manifestation which
was truly awful.
Il cannot under5t md, now, now lived through
it, Indeed | must have died with terror had It not
been for the inyiucbc fOrtitude Of jack, VINO, will
say In his presence, behaved with perfect courage
and reverence throughout. What reassured me tr5t
and convinced me that no harm was Intended, was
tine celestial music which preceded the most awe-n
spring sight, the last scene of all
What was 1t like, the muslcF whispered young
lady.
Not the least ike waltz tune said Laura.
You might /, well call a recltatvc from Handel
waltz tuue better, IN fact, because llandeP5 music
is the work of man. VIII 'reas thls-oh! TINS, mat
we neard-whose work was it 2 She lifted hands
and eyes, and remained sient.i ccstatlc contem-
pla ion of the ceiling. My dear she continued AT
ter an interval, during which tho gentlemen Thought
they were in church and look into tn II hats, 1t
is impossible to describe that music. 1t fol- upon
The SOU liGe some u terance OF Power; we were
awcd not terrified by it.
1T was something like a musical box said
Jack.
np
was uneful, but no human voice could reproduce
the tune the haruOnIcs were TOO subtle and too
profound for human ART the ms ruments may have
been i'll form like our own, but OF sweetness, OF
force, which could never, never nope TO convey 10
your Imagination
rObOratIOn TO man beside ann.
WAS there any slnglugP asked another lady.
ON If they had sung ahymu-wnaJ an addition 10
our choir il would have beenP
I heard no words Laura sighed. That is,
could dIsti nguish none. But il seemed to me as IT,
far otf-On! Tar, lar away there was q choIT Oh
voices upraised in harmony - ,.
One fellow grooming JACK began, DuG was
instantly checked as Laura wont on.
he music preceded the Dance OF Death Laura
stopped and treubled- not ming more terrible could
be conceived A. tho skeletons danced, pointing
Their long bOny hngirs at u.s. tteY seemed 10 warn
us oi the I'll sht of lime. Their aspect vas not Tor
bidding, nor were tnelr gestures angry.
Could interrupted Laura hastily could such
a page mt. sucn Il spiritual AppIrluon, nave Sug-
gested the "Danse Macaore" to llolocln and the
Like a hornppe, said Jack Never saw such
Lively lot: uouDc-shutie heel-and-toe, waik-round'
all cUmplet'.
How long ala tue dance CONTINUE "ohcU u 'i''-
Ne tooN no count of time replied Laura L do
not suppose tina rs the CLOCKS went we were In the
room for ten minutes YET what we saw must nave
taken about q day aud half at least How long,
Jack do YOU think the bells were rngIngF
Jack sh ok his head, and said he Thought they
Then continued Laura, there were the sIghings
and the sobOng, the cold winds, the beating OF tGc
drums the playing Ol The music before the IeIHp'
dance Hour aticr hour passed away we were raw
Ishct out % ourselves, were lost IN wonder and
awe wc felt no hunger; on, pulses stopped ana
tne beating OF our hearts. We were WlluOut ana
fear were not, Jack
.Onite' replied Jack was never more COM
pose III my me-
other visitor. We heard that You saw the spirit OF
your Ancestor hmself.'
Laura sank her voice 10 n whisper.
You heard arght,' she said solcmnly. The man
ifesta,ions ended with no less an appearance than
that OF my rcycred Ances himself, the Re'torer
of the HOuse-cYcu the Second Founder she spoke
AZ Ii Juius CesIr himself or even King Alfred had
been the first ul the MemblngS.
Iow-hOS did ne appear gasped her audience.
He vas dressed in long Dir ssIng gown, such rs
he usually wore in his lifetime
And yet murIuured a triumphant spiritu-
alst, one of the audience, they, say
that clothes have 10 ghosts. Absurd! Matter,
ms has been proved over and over AGAIN, can always
be represented vIslbly by spirits. Pray 20 on Miss
Meu.bllng nave never during al MY lIl'fNllSd-
lions met with more interesting experience than
this OF yours. 1t will cunfOUnd every septic
Dressed in his long gown Laura resumed. ne
moved slowly, almost painfully, across The room
lie appeared suffering from the debility OF extreme
old age -' - -,
Quite so-quite SO Z The spirtualist rubbed his
hands havc always maintained that they an
nrar ms they left the world. older and no young
or Pray go on.
: As he moved be turned his face toward us and
smled. You saw him smile, Jack, as plainly as
did = ....:-,..
waggrd his head, and saw ms beard wObblc but
o...it h.nn.tlN CIV illI aAM him sLnIln.-