Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-31
NO. IL WELHAM SQUARE
CHAPTER I,

CHAPTER I.
We were sitting in the drawing room of
our house at Bayswater one evening after
dinner in high good humor. I had that
day been appointed to certain post at
the British Museum which would afford
me ample opportunity for the studies in
which l was most interested, and put me
in possession of what expected to find an
ample competence. We had been talking
over my prospects, and the only cloud
could discern upon the horizon was that
should nave to be at my post at an earlier
hour in the morning than was comfortably
compatible with the three-mile walk from
cur house to the Museum.
what pity" said my youngest sister,
Patricia, 'that we don't still live In the
dear old house in Welham square! You
could have got to the Museum from there
in five minutes"
was born after we left Welham
square, but Patricia was six years my
senior, and could remember her nursery
days there.
mot at ALL" said my father, very
abruptly; "the walk will do you all the
good in the wOrld.'
AS the old gentleman had been, to all
appearance, fast asleep for at least ten
minutes, l was rather surprised at the
energy with which he spoke. Looking up,
l saw my mother making anxious signals
TO Patricia, which she followed up by in
stantly changing the subject.
A few days atterward, as l descended
reluctantly into the bowels of the earth at
the Edgware Road Metropolitan Station,
on the way to my new work for the first
time, this episode REQUIRED to my mind,
and l began to speculate upon what might
be the reasons that made the mention Of
WQlharn III # a 81 nfgFl " ms r.
] determined to consult my eldest sister
Ellen on the subject, and from her and
some other sources L gradually accumu-
lated the facts which | will present here
IN the form of a continuous narrative.
No. IL Welham square has always been
the freehold property of my family. 1t
was built together with several adjoining
houses, about the beginning of the eigh-
teenth century, by the owner of a plot OF
land In which the houses stand. retired
attorney, who had two nephews. These
were Andrew Massey, my great-great-
great-grandfather, and his cousin, Ronald
Massey. Ronald, who was generally
thought to be his uncle's faVOrite and
probable heir. was an exceedingly tall and
powerful young man, with fOrbidding
aud melancholy expression of counte-
nance. As boy he was singularly back
ward, and his incapaeity for mental exer-
tl0n seemed to develop, as he grew up,
into something not far removed from
downright idiocy. His weakness Of mind
caused him to be remarkably subject to
the influence of those with whom he lived,
and IN particular his cousin Andrew, my
ancestor, was supposed to exercise over
I'M an influence almost amounting to
fascination, and TO be able 10 mold him to
all the purposes of an exceptionally
vigorous will. Shortly after the building
OF the houses In what is now Welham
square the uncle Ofthese young men died,
ana Andrew took possession of all his
property under the provisions, as he
asserted, OF viii, the existence of which
no one except Ronald had any sinterest in
disputing, and which no one except An
drew, the sole executor and deYisee,
ever saw. Shortly before his uncle's
death Ronald had become engaged TO a
young lady named Lettuce White, to
WhOm he was passionately attached, and
IL was generally supposed among the
helgh6ors that upon his accession to the
dNuncular wealth the marriage would
TAKE place. But when "A barely decent
interval had occurred since the old
Een'eman's obsequies, the fair Lettuce
Was led to the altar, not by the'impecuni-
OBS Ronald, but 10y his more fortunate
cousin Andrew. The newly married pair
LOOK up their residence in No. H., and
hOnaid came to live with them.
men IL was represented TO Andrew by
some ol his few intimate acquaintance
Ilat TINS arrangements was so singular az
utmost TO be thought improper, he curtly
EoNe Ihem To understand that Ronald's
mental condition WAS not such as 10 per-
ilII oil his only living relation allowing
IN 90 I'VE alone, and that he was com
Peheu by the merest considerations Of
AANAiAN Affection fulrg tho
young man into his own household. So
tie three lived on in the stately and some
WIZ saunt mansion, Andrew collecting
Nls rents with methOdical regularity, and
u.utf wise giving his neighb0rs but little
concern. As for Ronald, there soon came
w ne liytle doubt In any ones mind Of'his
C'lAFinAd imbeciiity. He appeared sal
eV.u' ana when he did, was for Inc most
Plr- silent, regarding his cousin and
,'Iuiet betrothed with an expression OF
,"e pfoiounuest submission. which at
lInes merged into a took Of wild and
n''Ul. human apprehension, "like a ter
'tH nfule BEAST as AZ was put by an
'H may VINO WAS one Of the few friends
OCCASIONALLY privileged 10 partake OF the
ti'0mV hospitality Of this uncomfortable
e'labl shmenJ Nothing more was ever
hno"n OF The condition IN which my ava
cestVr' MS wife, and his cousin lived, and
Wv WAS specially interested Wheu.
ooout SIX years after the marriage Ronald,
VINO mad not been seen Tor many mnnfhs,
Weo, ana WAS buried In a frugal man
ner.
b,eIore he dad been dead q year Andrew
ah9 Lettlce suddenly lett their house aud
.oyA zap their abode else where. and after
", W"nhe tenant was found for so. H..
iulIty years later, the lease OF the house
nAfing expired, Andrews SON. Who had
succeeded 70 his fathers property. came
" reside there, but not Tor loug. Heleit the
nuuse suddenly after few yeara aud "a
.ullur Went abroad that IL was haunted,
probably by the ghost of The unfortunate
i.ohaiu. From this time 80. n descended
ilelh iather 70 son, ihe adjoining Properly
pelhs i0ld piecemeal as the family ueces.
aiileb dictated. Occasionally tbs sue