The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-09-03
H WHITE LADY.
Her Machinations Against the
Young Heir of Beroldstein.

! My father had been clergyman in the
quiet little English parish where I was
born, and I, his only child, had reaped the
benefit of a careful education, which he
had given me during his spare hours.
When, q little after my twentieth birth
day, my father died, leaving his unfair
nished name as sole Inheritance for my
mother and myself, I began to realize the
value of his teaching, for it-aided by my
vigorous health and a fair spirit of deter
mination-must now keep the wolf from
the door.
My father had rich influential relatives,
but they were too much occupied with the
responsibilities which wealth brings to
take to heart the troubles of their poorer
kindred-though perhaps I am ungrateful
to say this, for it was through the inter-
vention of my uncle that I gained the po-
sition which assured to me at last the hap
piness of my life.
In Southern Prussia, in the Duchy of Be-
roldstein, the position of nursery govern
ess to two children was vacant-a most
desirable place, the children being the in
FAINT SON and daughter of the late Duk of
Beroldstein, who had died only six months
chosen applicant for this position. I felt
fairly confident with respect to my prof.
cheney, for at first my task would Be only
to have the supervision Of the noble chill
dren mi to teach them to speak my En-
glish tongue correctly; but 1 confess that I
the boat that was to take me to an unknown
country.
"Your brother need not be uneasy about
you've shall land safe enough on the other
side," said the CHEEKY Captain, standing
near me.
! smiled through my tears, for the tall,
frank-eyed young fellow who watched me
from the shore with such a look of anxious
regret on his face was not my brother.
As Charlie kissed me..he had never
pered, "Keep a good heart, Alice, my dar-
ling-we shall meet again when prospects
are brighter" I felt more hopeful than 1
had for months before, for his words
seemed to contain in them q certainty of
fulilment.
Charlie Kent and I had been lovers al
most from ~babyhood; ant, now that child
hood had long since passed, l can not say
that our feelings for each other had
changed, vet to intensity. We were both
very poor, but were content enough to
wait for better times.
Schloss Beroldstein proved to be a very
stately old mansion, a trife repellant in its
air of antiquity and isolation from the rest
of the world. A park extending many
miles lay before the castle, and from nv
ou ~ O6Sh L q q bCdubllu1 Nl6W
OF the Eifel mountains. The grounds at
ons time must have been laid out and
tended with royal care; but now the
statues were broken, the fountain out of re-
pair, and an air Of neglect pervaded the
avenues and ~shrubbery.
The Duchess lived in the s~trictest seclu-
sion on account of her recent bereavement,
her only concern being the welfare of her
children. My little charges were charm
ing-a twin brother and sister, and the
0rlU crrrufufno ohfI1r.on Nf fha fa-ns-
Roderic, the young heir to the dukedom,
was q truly beautiful child, rosy and
cherub-like, with a promise of intelligence
in his face which well beftted the high
rank to which he was born. Amalie, the
little girl. was a quieter, softer copy Of her
teddy attached to each other.
The children were rather more than a
year old when I arrived at Beroldstein-
certainly too young to derive much benefit
from my presence, ! Thoughts; but, as it
was customary in high families to have
the children learn foreign tongues from
the cradle, m conscience quieted itself.
Very little time elapsed before / found
myself the friend and confidant of Frau
Bremen, h~ousekeeper at the Castle.
me what I rather expected to hear, that
Schloss Beroldstein wal haunted.
SIT is quite the spot for a ghost to choose
for midnight wanderings," 1 remarked
and though secretly amused at the ole
woman's credulity, Z encouraged her by
my air of deep interest to tell me more Of
this spectral visitant.
1t was the w~ell-known story of a lady in
white appearing as the silent herald of 9
death in the family. Three years before
one dark, stormy night, the sentinel at thu
gates had seen the White Lady gliding
among the trees towards the Castle, ane
before morning the uncle of the late Dukt
was stricken dead with paralysis. Three
times the white apparition was seen durins
the week before his Highness Duke Al.
ner, no member of the Won Beroldsteir
family had ever been gathered to his
fathers without the assistance of the Whit
Lady. The mere mention of her nam
made every servant in the place shudder
and even the more enlightened members O
the household did not deny her evil in,
fuence. In fact, I had frequent occasion
after this to wonder at the amount o
approximation prevalent among even tn
higher class in this little corner of tn
world whittier fate had drifted me.
Some months later I was out in the parl
with the two children. 1t was mid-winter
n there was snow enough for sledging
the children, clothed from head to foot il
soft white fur and half buried in q pola
bear robe, were enjoying a ride in thei
swan-shaped sleigh in white and silver
with an arch of tinkling bells attached b.
fore, in the Russian fashion.
While q footman pushed the dainty littl
vehicle / walked on one side talking to tn
children and enjoying their babyish de
light at the glistening frost and snow.
Roderic was trimming over with lif
and excitement, and his restless littl
hands, mittened in fur. clutched at ever
low-hanging icicle and glittering twil
thereby letting in much of the cold breat
of winter On his more composed sister. A
we went briskly down the avenue a lad
richly dressed in black velvet and sab
met n stopped our little cavalcade.
wondered who this grdnde dame could b
who preferred q lonely waikiki the deserte
avenues to a drive in q luxurious ~carriag
with good company.
81 must pay my respects to the youn
Duke,n she said pleasantly.
She took Roderic's hand in hers an
looked at him long and intently, but N.
with the expression that his rosy cheel
and bright blue eyes ought to ha
awakened In tue face of q womar
Her look was more as IL she boz
che innocent little fellow malice, Al