Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-03-27
A GHOST STORY.
III.
TcoNTrNuEp.1 |

]
me no loss Of time in waiting for them. On
getting to the house, however, found that
they had not been heard Of, and, ON inquir-
ing at the station, IL was stated that a case
similar to the one descriI,ed had passed
through and gone on to Leicester, where II
probably still was. II being Friday, and
past the hour Of the post, there was no possi-
bility of getting letter to Leicester before
Monday morning, as the luggage office would
DO closed there ON Sunday consequently I
pictures before tho succeeding Tuesday or
"Wednesday. The loss of three days would
pe serious one therefore, to avoid II,
suggested to my host that should leave i'm
mediately to transact some business In South
Staiiordshire, as should be Obliged TO at
tend To 1t before my return 10 town, and IL
could See about il in the vacant intervals
tpIs thrown upon my hands IL would be
visit to his house was concluded. This ar
rangement meeting with his ready
assent, l fastened to tho Ather-
stone station on the Trent Valley rail
way. BY reference to Bradshaw l found
that my route lay through Lichfield, where
was to change carriages to S., in Stafford
shire. ] was just i'm time for the train that
would put me down at Lichfield at 8 in the
evening, and train was announced to start
from Lichfield for S. at $40, answering,
as concluded, to the train in which ] was
about to travel. therefore saw no reason
TO doubt but that l should get to my iourn-
ey,s end the same night but on my arriving
at Lichfield saw my plans entirely frus-
trated. The train arrived punctually and /
got out, intending to wait on the platform for
the arrival of the carriages for the other line.
l found, however, though the two lines
crossed at Lichtield, they did not conmuni-
cate with each other, the Lichtield station on
the Trent Valley line being on one side of the
town and the Lchfield station on the South
Statiordshire line on the other. also found
that there was not time to get to the other
station so as to catch the train the same even
ing indeed, the train had just that moment
passed ON a lower level beneath my feet and
to get TO the other side of the town, where II
would stop Tor two minutes only, was out of
the question. There was, therefore, nothing
for 1t but to put up at the Swan hotel for the
night. have an especial dislike to passing
an evening at hotol in a country town. Din
ner at such places / never take, as ] had
rather go without than have such as ! am
likely to get Books are never to be had the
country newspapers do not interest me. The
Tunes have spolt through on my journey.
The society am likely to meet have few
ideas in common with myself Under such
circumstances i usually resort TO meat tea
To while away the time, and when that is
over occupy myself i'm writing.
This was the first time had been IN Lich-
field, and while waiting for the tea it occur
red TO me how, on two occasions within the
past six months, l had been on the point of
coming to that very place, at one time TO ex-
ecute a small commission for an old acquain-
tance, resident there and another to get the
materials for picture proposed faintiDgof
an incident in the early life of DR.. johnson.
L should have come on each of these occa-
sions had not other arrangements diverted
my purpose and caused me TO postpone the
journey indefinitely The thought however,
would occur 10 me Z" How strange Here
am at Lichficld, by no intention of my own,
though have twice tried to get here and
been balkedn When 1 had done tea |
thought might as well write to an acquain-
tance had known some years previously
and who lived in the Cathedral-close, asking
him To come and pass an hour or two with
me. Accordingly rang for the waitress and
asked
I" Does Mr.. Lutte live in Lichfeld?"
I" Yes, SIR"
Cathedral-close ~
" Yes, sir"
Scan l send a note to him 20
Yes, sir"
| wrote the note, saying where was and
asking if he would come for am hour or two
and talk over old matters. The note was
taken; in about twenty minutes person of
gentiemanly appearance, and what might be
termed the advanced middle age, entered the
room with my note in his hand, saying that
! had sent him letter, he presumed, by
mistake, rs he did not know my name
Seeing instantly that he was not the person
intended TO write to- ] apologized, and
asked whether there was not another Mr..
Lutte living in Lichiield.
'sCertainly," / reioined, "my friend must
have given me his right address, for had
written to him on other occasions here. He
was a fair young man he succeeded to an
estate in consequence of his uncle having
been killed while hunting with the Quorn
hounds, and he married about two years
since lady of the name of Fairbairn.'
The stranger very composedly replied !:
"You are speaking of Mr.. Clyne; he did
live in the Cathodral-close, but he has now
gone away"
The stranger was right, and in my surprise
/ exclaimed:
"Oh, dear! to be sure, that is the name I;
what could have made me address you in
stead? i really beg your pardon my writ
ing to you and unconsciously guessing your
name is one of the most extraordinary and
unaccountable things i ever did. Pray par
don me-"
He continued very quietly:
"There is no need of apology; 1t happens
that you are the very person most wished
TO see. You are painter and want you to
paint portrait Of my daughter. Can you
come to my house Immediately for the pur-
pose?"
was rather surprised at finding myself
known to him, and the turn matters had
taken was SO entirely unexpected ! did not
at the moment feel inclined to undertake the
business therefore explained how was
situated, stating that had only the next day
and Monday at my disposal. He, however,
pressed me so earnestly that arranged to do
what could Tor hltn III those TWO days ana
having put up my baggage and arranged
other matters accompanied him to his house
During the walk home he scarcely spoke a
word, but his taciturnity seemed only con-
tinuance of his quiet compOsure at the inn.
On our arrival, he introduced me to his
daughter Maria and then left the room.
Maria Lutte was fair and do
cidedly handsome girl of about fiji
teen; her manner was, however, IN
advance of her years and evinced that self.
possession and, in the favorable sense OF the
Term, that uouauiness that is only seen at
such am early age i'm girls that have been left
motherless or from other causes thrown
much Oh their own resources.
She had evidently not been informed
of the purpose ofmy coming, and only knew
that ] was TO stay there for the night; she
that she might give the requisite directions
When she returned, she told me that l
should not see her father again that evening,
the state of his health having obliged him to
retire for the night; but she hoped that ]
should be able to see him some time ON the
morrow. In the meantime, she hoped /
would make myself quite at home and call
for anything j wanted. She herself was
sitting in the drawing-room, but perhaps
should like to smoke and take something II
SO, there was a fire in the hOusekeepcrs S
room, and she would come and sit with me,
as she expected the medical attendant every
minute, and probably he would stay TO
suloke and take something. As the little
lady seemed to recommend this course,
readily complied. / did not smoke or tax,
ANYTHING hut sat down by the fire, when she