Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-01-14
THE HAUNTED TOWER.
BY WE'RE v. HUNT.


"And. Barny, do you tell me it's
hauniel:"
ShuTe as yer there it is, yer honor.
Hantcd in troath, and rs long as l re-
mlmber, and I'm cighty-two years of
age, the Lard between me and harm"
was spending fortnight's vacation
at the Pretty little village of Dunlecky,
on the west coast Of Clare, preparatory
to going up for my intermediate exam
ination in Trinity college. Dublin, popu-
larly known as the Little Co."
Dunlc ky is an out Of the way little
nook, built on the decline of bold pro.
montory, facing right out on the broad
Atlantic, whose mighty bill,ws had
broken for ages against its stern base.
The fisherfolk who formed almost the
entire population OF the hamlet, had up
held the Irish reputation for hospitality,
and the time had spent there shooting
and fishing had passed all too rapidly.
ne place, however, had not visited,
al &C alone. 1t was the ruins of a
once stately tower built on the ridge of
frowning prccipice about Q quarter of
mile from Dunlecky. Local tradition
had it that this tower was once occupied
by blood-thirsty pirate, named Byran
Lynn, and on his death. the place had
been taken possion Of by evil spirits,
who stayed in an immense cavern under.
meath the rock, during the day time, and
made night hideous within the old ruin.
when the shadows OF cven-tide had
fallen. The boldest fisherman would
not row his boat into that canvern, in the
noon-da light, for all the wealth of
India, and any man who would suggest
avisit to the ruins after sunset would bc
forthwith branded as a raging and
dangerous madman, Grcwsome tales OF
shricks and grOans, of blue lights, and
ghOstly shrouds that had been seen on
various occasions by belated village folk
had had too righteou, an effect upon the
nerves of men whose cheeks had never
blanc he'd when hcnven's artillery made
the echoes Of space rcsound, and tho
raging ocean had threatened instant
death.
1t wss after hearing one of these
anecdotes from old Barney MCGUIRE, the
patriarch of the little community, as We
sat together one evening IN the ''snug-
gerry" of the little inn that formed the
Club House. Saloon and Debating Hall,
Of Dunlccky.
"Wcll, Barney, Incver saw ghost in
my life, and really am anxious to see
one, l wonder if went up to Gin Cliff
some evening, would they treat Inc
decent" observed.
''Thrate We dacent is it, yer honorl
Shurc they'd make gridiron OF yer bones
toroast yer soul for their Masthcr."
"Well, Barney, all know is that !
won't leave Dunlecky until have gone
Though tiin CliI, and If see a ghost
there, it will be all the more 'divar-
sion,'" and rising went out to take a
look at the weather rs il felt desirou,
for pull, and to try my skill on some
Of those sea-birds that were fitting like
snow-fakcs around the cliffs. The
evening was all that could he desired.
The sea stretched away INTO the distance
without ripple apparent on its bosom,
like sheet of FURNISHED silver, and the
sky was tinted with red and gold by the
sun, that in two hours time would sink
calmly into Neptunc's bosom.
Soon the oars of my little skif wcrt
breaking through the yielding fluid, and
in about twenty minutes more l had
brought down five of the dcnizcns o
the rocks from their lofty cyrie. The timt
slipped by rapidly, and at length wher
the shadows warned me that it was tim,
to be pulling home, l disco, er d that
had quite distance to f.avel. A breeze
was also springing up. and thick darl
c.oud had formed on the horizon, Gradu