The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-12-20

burning more brightly than ever in the
windows of the old place; and many
shepherd passing after dark was scared ont
Of his wits by the awful shr;eks that echoed
through the deserted house. OF course,
the story about the ghosts, and the sudden
departure Of the guests from the Grange,
made great sensation in all the villages
round and kept everybody tongue waggiag
for months. In town, too, all the guests
were questioned over and over again by
their friends, who constantly got up special
dinner parties to hear all about the ghosts
from the lips Of one who had really been
in haunted house. But, while all The
visitors to Walsham declared that they
never had passed such terrible timein all
their lives, and would lot enter the old
house again for worlds, there were great
many friends who lamented bitterly that
they and their husbands had not been in
vi ed.
Vol, Christmas tide was fast coming
round again; and one day who should turn
up but Terriers brother Jack, young
lieutenant, on leave for Christmas, from
his Majesty ship Tackler, lately employed
off the south coast endeavoring to put
down the smuggling going on there to such
an enormous extent. So Master Jack was
full of anecdotes of hair-bread:h escapes,
and adventures with smugglers both on
land and sea.
"Ah, Jack" said Mrs. Terriers. athat
south coast is dreadful place. y
And then sle told him all about the
ghosts of Walsham Grange. But instead
of laughing, as Mrs. Terriers half ex pected,
thu young fellow took a great interest in
the story, got them to tell it again, and
~, .,,sko cd am hy niofy
banging the table, and shouting, " by
George I've got it Hurrah Look
here, old fellow You take the place from
Brufton, and we'll go down together and
I'll warrant I'll clear the old house of its
ghosts in less than week
Now, Terriers couldn't find a country
house that suited him anything like as well
as the old Grange, and really hankered
after it so much that he had been on the
point of proposing to make fresh attempt
to GUST the ghosts. So, seeing how much
in earnest his brother was, he sprang at
the idea. Brufton was delighted. He, too
had been long contemplating another visit
to the Grange, bat did not like to ask Fer
riers to help him again. Well, the end of
it was they all three .ssttled to go down
together. The ladies, however, much to
Jacks amusement. wou d not hear of their
going alone. If their husbands went, they
must go, too.
rWell.' said Jack, sail the better; and
better still if you will give anothe party,
Just as you di last year. But there's one
thing YOU must leave to me. You must lei
me provide the servants. Perhaps they
won't wait very well at table, but you
mustn't mind that. And they'll be rather
fond of rum. However, directly the ghosts
are laid I'll send them away, and you can
get your own domesties down. Of course,
the ladies can bring maid or two down
with them; but don't take too many; and
above all things, don't let it be known that
/ sent the servants"
Jack started off at once to engage the
attic ndants. and send them to the Grange.
And most extraordinary lot they seemed,
exciting general attention on their way TO
the coach.
Well, when the guests arrived at the
Grange a few days later, they found half-a-
dozen strapping damsels and as many men
servants ready to obey them. Their method
of waiting at table was decidedly psculiar,
and created great deal of merriment. The
first two or three nights were passed away
without any ghostly visitation, and every
body felt almost disappointed but one
evening q door was heard to bang in the
disused wing, then another, then another.
Everyone rushed out of the drawing room,
and saw to their establishment all the serv-
ants, instead of being transfxed with ter
ror, rushing wildly one after the other
maids and men-into the haunted wing
Then Jack, who was the first to disappear,
came running back.
s It's all right, says he, ''we've got him. /"
SCOT whom" scream the guests.
'sWhy, the ghosts" laughs jack. 'sor one
of them, at any rate. Here he is; look at
him !" and just then up comes aparty of
the servants, bringing with them the ghost.
certainly an awful-looking rufian, white
with rage and modification at his discovery
He refused positively to say who he was,
and how he came there loudly regretting
that his pistol had missed fire. Then a
happy thought struck Jack.
ssTie him up tight to the balusters. Then
come along to Mrs Ross's room !" and
there, sure enough, the panel by the fire.
place stood open just as she had described
it.
Follow me, lads" cries Jack, snatching
lantern from one of the men, and Jump
| ing through the panel. Terriers and Bruf-
ton were after him like lightning, followed
by the servants They found themselves
in narrow passag running inside the walls
of several rooms, and leading to winding
staircase. After desceE ding cautiously for
soae way, they see light at the foot of the
stairs.
"Hullol JIM" cries voice, shave you
woke 'em up bitP"
cay ay!" says Jack, bounding down
the stairs, "that have and you, too,
Brackenbury !" snd before the man has
| time to recover himself Jack has thrown
himto the ground and snatched his pistols
from his belt. Some eight or ten men, sit
ting round fire, are as quickly plnioned
by Jacks followers There was but very
little resistance made, for they all seemed
quite dazed at Jacks sudden onslaught.
On examination, they find they are in an
old cellar well stocked with casks of spirits,
wines, silks, satins, and all kinds of excisa-
bic goods. Then Brufton and Terriers
understood why Jack was so anxious to
know about the ghosts, tor they proved to
be gang of the most notorious smugglers
on the south coast Several women ap-
peared on the scene, bewailing the capture
of their husbands and Brufton called
Ferriers's attention to. an old-fashioned
cradle, that no doubt played part in the
mock tragedy that Mrs Ross had beheld
Indeed, ultimately Brackeubury confessed
they had slammed ghosts to keep the house
empty and some ancient dresses they
found in chest enabled them to act part
of an old legend connected with the house.
while subterraneous passage leading from
the cellar to wood at the back Of the
Grange, the entrance being completely hid
den by thick ivy, afforded them means of
coming and going unobserved. Jack got
his promotion for capturing the smugglers ;
and the servants, who, it is perhaps need
lessto say, were some of the Tackler's crew,
got well rewarded. 4ts
But, after all, Brackenbury and his gang
got off scot-free at the Assizes, for it could
not be proved that they had struggled these
particular goods, nor even that the goods
were smuggled. And neither Brufton nor
Terriers made any charge against them,
feeling kind of sympathy with their wild
life; but the secret door was bricked up,
and good care was taken that never again
should they play the Ghost at Walsham
Grange London News. Christmas Number.
III