Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-06


sacked and conflscated at the Reformation
The most modern part was that In front of
which now stood, and which had been
erected in the reign of James L
There was something very striking both in
the appearance and the situation Of the
house. It stood, as I have said, close to the
village street; and yet the dou BILE gates, and
the great walled quadrangle, to say nothing
of the tall elm trees, seemed to shut 1t off
completely from the outer world. The river
ran so close to its northern walls that there
was hardly room to pass between the house
and the edge Of the stream. Here, on the
south side, where had met my host and bis
niece the broad walk on which we stood was
the only level piece Of ground. Immediately
beyond 1t the park land rose steeply toward
the sky line.
A house at once beautiful and romantic,
thought, and unmistakably house with
history. could imagine that in the dark
days of winter it wore ghostly aspect, as
It rose amid the skeleton branches Of the
elms from the edge Of the sluggish stream
that swept past its walls. But to-day 1t had
a pleasant appearance enough for the sun
was shining upon its richly tinted brick
work, and upon the mullionei windows en-
riched with numberless heraldic devices in
stained glass.
HDo you admire the house!" said Daisy,
with smile that had something in 1t Of the
pride Of ownership.
@Indeed do" I responded "But Is not
the situation, 80 close to the village on one
hand and to the river on the river, rather
peculiara"
u thought so myself, at first" interposed
Mauleverer, "but find that we are as COM
pletely secluded here as II no village at all
existed; and as to the river, you know there
is no house so dry as one that stands on the
banks Of stream But come. Daisy, we
must not keep Mr.. Fenton standing here.
Let us show him something more than the
outside Of the house"
We entered, through quaint stone porch,
| a large hall with immense open fireplace
low paneled roof Of carved oak, and COL
umns Of the same wood supporting ths CELL
ing. There were doors leading from this
hall In almost every direction. The apart
ment itself was furnished in style which
corresponded with the architecture. There
were heavily carved Jacobean chairs and
tables a lounge or two, some magnificent
black oak cabinets, and an antique clock
which would have created a furore If it
could have been seen at Christy's An i'm
mense staircase, up which 1t would have
been an easy matter to drive the traditional
coach-and -four, led from the hall to the
drawing room floor. The walls Of the stair
case were hung with splendid tapestry.
From the gallery to which the stairs gave
access was conducted by my host into the
drawing room, an apartment which corre-
sponded In size with the great hall below
At either end Of 1t were smaller rooms, one
fitted as q boudoir and the other as q H.
brary; while beyond these again werc suites
Of spacious bed rooms, many with rudely
carved walls Of paneled oak, and others
hung like the staircase with venerable tapes
/ could not refrain from giving audible
expression to the admiration with which I
saw the noble dimensions of all the apart
ments and the fine taste with which they
were furnished
sYes," said Mauleverer, ait all does
/ credit to the people who have made a ram
shackle old house habitable in a wonder
fully short space Of time When I saw it
three months ago, nobody would have sup
posed that it could ever again be made f1t to
live In. Yet we find it comfortable enough
now-do we not, Daisyl"
@Oh, it is a charming place." she an
swered "But you know, uncle, have
already told you that for some things-such
as brightness and life and society-I pre-
ferred the Grand hotel at Scarborough"
EYES, my dear, know you are always
throwing Scarborough in my teeth. Never
mind; we shall see it again some day."
Ihad tried to catch Daisys eye while her
uncle was speaking, but she would not look
at me-"
"You have something here, at any rate"
said, (which you can't get at the Grand
hotel"
aWhat is thatl" asked Maueverer.
"A haunted room-Miss Stancliffe told me
Of it. suppose you have not seen tue ghost
yeti"
aYou do not believe in such nonsensel"
said the millionaire.
IF did should not like to acknowledge
it in the present day." replied
Nobody has seen it yet" said Daisy, with
an air Of mock solemnity; "but we all believe
in tall but my uncle and DR.. Branksome
And do you know that, if you are not afraid,
you are to sleep in the haunted chamberi
1t is the best bedroom in the whole house"
Afraid should have been q poor crea-
ture, indeed, II, in the presence Of the girl
loved, and as I stood in the full sunshine,
which was streaming through the painted
windows from the cheerful day outside.
had for an instant admitted the thought Of
fear to my heart
"Oh, nothing could be better than that"
cried, with laugh; II shall be able to id.
vestigate genuine case Of ghost seeing for
myself. 1t is not often man has that priv
ilege"
"And very seldom that be has it under
such exceptional circumstances
turned with a sudden start; for it was
Branksome who had spoken. He had Joined
us unperceived as we stood chattering in the
gallery at the head Of the great staircase.
He shook hands with me in a friendly fash.
ion, and then, continuing his speech, said;
"You will not only sleep in the haunted
room to-night-that is, If you are not afraid
but in one which, I am told, nobody has
ventured to sleep in for more than CEN
tury"
"So much the better. I ought to have
story to tell tomorrow"
"Yes," said Daisy. I'VE shall think very
poorly Of your imagination il you cannot
make our nerves tingle at breakfast time
With the horrors you have to relate"
"And may I see the torture chamber9" l
asked, resolved to keep up the jest.
HOh, certainly" said Mauleverer Even
his usually equable temperament, which was
pervaded at most times by a mild melan-
choly, seemed to have caught the spirit Of
the joke. But, with his accustomed kind
ness. he added, "Perhaps you may not like the
room when you have seen it. Idon't know
that it is altogether kind to ask you to sleep
in tit may be damp, or disagreeable in
other ways, you know; so If you would
prefer another"
"But, my dear Mr.. Mauleverer, there is
no other room in the house which I shall
prefer to this. shall like 1t, I am sure,
above all things"
And having said this, started Off with
the rest of the merry little party to look at
my destined dormitory. The room. discov
cred, did not lie on the same floor as the
drawing room, on which most Of the sleeping
chambers were to be found. We passed along
a corridor from which a number Of bedrooms
opened, until we came to heavy oaken door,
black with age, which barred one end of the
passage On opening this we found our
selves on landing in another staircase
worm-eaten and silent, which descended into
black depths below Us, and wound its way
above our heads for several flights. Up this
staircase we went, still gayly. More than
once we found an oaken door like tina; by
which we had come upon the stair, but in
every case the door was heavily barred and
padlocked. Some faint perception Of the fact
that the haunted chamber had other dead.