Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-10
A NIGHT OF HORROR.

childhood a Highland nurse was wont 10
hold us entTHnCrd, when on long win
ter's evenings we gathered round the
fire, craving for stories, one especially
has remained deeply impressed on my
mind, though, alas. trCaChcrDus memory
fails To recall The names of those con
cerned or Of the castle wherein the scene
was enacted II may he, however. that
some one who reads this page may rccOl-
lect both, and he able TO supply these
missing links.
The castle which was so miuUtely de
scribed. and 50 vividiy realized was an
old baronial fortress whose massive gray
walls many feet in thickness. harmon
ize,i we'll with the wcathcr-worn rocks
around and the prccipirous ,rags which
frownpd in the background. Many
quaint turrrt crowned the angles OF the
Castellated towers and from inches in
the battlcments armed Clausman had in
times of siege poured molten lead on the
heads of their as>u.laut~.
Though successive general ions had con
vertcd the upper stories To the uscs-o Of
basement, with heavy doors and rusty
iron grated windows without glass, were
still more gloomy than many modern
prisons. and though now only used Is
household offices. suggested that in days
of old fcudal tyranny they might well
have served as dungeons for many Il
luckless captive taken in tribal foray.
The most spacious Of these dismal cells
which served as HILL of fCaStng for the
clanSmcn. was par ly hewn from the
solid rock, a. was sisu the great haronial
kitchen, So that in truth the castle
seemed but a part Of the solid rock on
which it waS 81 securely founded. Nor
was it always easy to shake off something
of an eCre impression, even in the dwell
ing rooms on the upper fl"orS with their
antiquatcd, CumfortIcos furniture aud
grim portraits uf hyE"nc generations.
Such home could only he ch"cry IN the
bright sunshine and when ringing with
the laughter of Joyous young voices: but
at the time of which ! speak the old
house was left well nigh as dcS"latc aS
the deserted nest from which the iuli-
fiedged brood have flown.
Well nigh half a century had passed
since the day when the late owner OF
these broad lands brought home lhg
COmely bride who had ever since hlird
her place 50 well IN the hearts "i 'h'
people. Sons and daughters grew up
oA'NAAa 'AiNiAA' '''''' 't''
echoed their childish Glce. But n the
years rolled on, one hy one t"rs""k the
old roof-trec-the sons To seek their for
tunes in foreign lands, whlle OF the
daughters some were marred-some
were dead.
Then came day of bitter woe, when
the lord of the castle mo longer SO
strong Of hand a. of yore1 was thrown by
hAr-A hTJ1lUlt
only TO close his eyes in death.
Long years had passed oy since theh'
and still his widow dweiIed alone III the
gloomy castle, wisely ruling over all lne
interests Of her first born son, who Stlli
continued to hold hlgh once IN the ser
vice Of his country beyond the seas Tier
one mainstay in any unusual dlfhcuitS
was brother, known 10 all the country
side as The Colonel, brave oid "!lcef
who, after many years "i active service
had now returned to END MS da!H IN
peace on small property WI'hih uiS
tance OF about SIX miles.
Her household consisted for the most
part of old and tried rctainerS, III" most
recent importation, at the time To which
| now refer, being butler twh"m the
cOachman and other old servants con
sidered quite newcomer because he HAD
only been at the castle seven years and
a lady's maid who had been engaged but
a few months previously, ON the death OF
the valued companion Of half n lifetime.
This woman was personally good look
ing, and came armed with the highest
recommendations as 10 character ana
skill in millinery, and was also described
rs tender nurse in sickness NeNerthe-
less, her new mistress could not conquer
n natural instinct of dStrust, against
which she fought in vain, telling herself
how unreasonable and unjust was such
unfounded prejudice against person oI
such well certified excellence. But 50
reSolutely did she strive TO overcome this
Unsympathetic feeling that no outward
sign ever betrayed its existence. for a
kinder mistress never lived, and besides
the conduct OF the woman was IRE
prOaChable. So no ripple on the calm sur
face of domestic life betrayed that any
manner of evil lay hidden III its depths.
Summer had slipped away, and with 1t
the glory OF golden gorsc which hghted
up the barren m0orland with ITS cleaning
gold. Now autumn had Kissed the hills,
clothing them III fragrant purple; a
CHEEKY party "f friends had assembled at
tne castle 10 WITNESS IHe NlllaEt : StspiiA.
and enjoy some days sport in pursuit "t
the moor fowl, and for awhile all was
stir and movement. But when tn" guests
had all dispersed, the SilNcry haired
hostess was more than usually conscious
Of sense Of Loneliness, as she sat by
herself in spacious room wainscoted
with dark Old OAK lwhoSe color told how
many successive generations had come
and gone since those Parent oaks were
fellcd9 Musing "T 1i-n1 days long
gone. and Of loving faces and voices far
away, she still sat on in the deepening
twilight. Then opening the !attlced case
nent (and thereby startling flock OF
jackdawS form their roost in the ivy GOV
cred turret she looked ont 10 the cloudy
night, and watched the play Of dim moon
light on the pale mists and on the gloomy
morass which lay outSpread beyond the
castle.
Many time the same outlook had
soothed ler and whispered peace, but
tonight she only felt its eeriness- Earlier
than was her wont she retired TO her
InnpSrripI hp0r rlamlpT-l SDulh her room,