St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-31
A WHITE WRATH;
Or, the Castle specter.

ing lover is apt to do what would appea
absurd in ordinary eyes. There was a
legend that on a certain night of the
year white lady appeared at certain
old oak on the outskirts of the town.
and that he who dared to address her
might ask any wish and it would be
granted.
You will probably think that I, Mark
Yardley, was fool to place any faith
in such an old woman'S tale. but then
you were never hopelessly in love with
Alice Hunter, so you cannot under
stand my feelings. Whether was mad
or not, midnight found me on White
Lady's Night OH my way to the old oak
to ask favor of the wrath.
The tree was more than 200 years old.
and spread its branches protectingly
over the ruins of the castle where the
White Lady had loved and died. AS I
came full into view Of the tree my
breath stood still, for there in the
shadow stood wOman's figure.
1t wore some light garments. and was
wrapped and hidden so that | could not
see the face, and it moved little as
| came near, and, looking over its
shoulder, began to glide away, and I
knew that if gossips told the truth
must either win or lose.
sprang forward, grasped the flowing
robe and held it close; and whispered,
for indeed my heart beat so fast that nv
voice was gone:
MY lady, my lady! 1 have come
here tonight to ask you for gift, and
fear you not; for why should | fear!
And you who died for love will be kind
to a lover. May ask? Will you listen
lady?'
Then voice, soft as young birds
tWitter, answered:
"Speak"
Just Speak" nothing more. nor did
the face tvrn toward me.
81 love one dearly, lady," said, sand
what ask is her heart. Can you help
me?''
Again the whisper came fainter even
than before.
Her name? How can l tell unless I
know her name?"
1T is Alice Hunter" said, "and OH
she is more dear to me than my soul"
There was pause.
Then faint and slow the answer came:
BE bold; ask her for her heart and
she will give it to you, on the word of
the White Lady. Now go, leave me-"
| dropped the white robe.
The lady glided away, and I went
home as one might walk home in a
dream.
And the next day almost believed
that l had dreamed; almost, but not
quite.
For | had grown bolder, and that day
told Alice Hunter OF my love, and she
did not scott at it.
We were married.
When L had been happy husband
for month XyQ ratyrnn nH
where we had gone to spend our honey
moon, and gave a patty, to which we
invited all our old friends and neigh
bors.
In the course of the evening the
legend of the White Lady became a
topic with some, and while listening to
the conversation l observed my wife's
color change and finally saw her leave
the room.
Believing that she had become faint
with the heat. followed in a few mo-
ments and found her sitting on the
stairs, with a smile lighting up her
features.
Il feared you were Ill., said, sitting
down just above her.
mo-" she said, 81 am quite we'll.
am glad you followed me, for have
something to tell YOU"
And have something to tell you,"
said, bending over her. something
about the White Lady our friends are
discussing"
Indeed" she said, hanging down
head and toying with her fan. "Well,
tell me your story first and then [ will
tell you mine."
told her what had seen at the tree
and what the White Lady had prom
ised me, and then l asked her for her
story, which she told me in the follow
ing words:
''lt was on White Lady's Night" she
said, THAT went down to the old oak
to ask gift of the White Lady, and as
| stood waiting, half hoping, half fear
ing to see her, one came over the hill
and knew that it was you and tried to
run away and hide myself, but you
caught me by the dress and spoke to
me, so that | knew you believed me
none other than the White Lady.
And so first l learned that you loved
me, and, oh, feared that you should
see my face, but you did not, and you
let me go when you had your promise"
"And so L was no ghost seer after all,
l said, land the White Lady never
spoke to me. But what was it you
went to the old oak to ask of the fair
ghost that night, my Alice?"
Then she turned her soft eyes away
from me and hid her head upon my
bosom and whispered:
''That you should love me, Mark, for
already loved you well, and L could
not read your heart"
"Then God bless White Lady's
Night" said 1.
And she answered 'amen" as she
rose and took my arm to lead her back
to our friends.