Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-08-29


friend, Lieutenant Wymark, rose to re-
ply.
"At rs orr q eDial host looks 20 years
younger, and his Wit is az sparkling AZ
the best wine his cellars contain, both
Of which we have this night psrtaken
OF freely. Here's to ano her Christ mas
gathering-sy, and twenty more of
them, at which Squire Helstead may pre-
sidep
"My friends" Jack exclaimed suddenly,
"are you aware that our company il com
posed of the unlucky number of 1877 If
the witches oracle is to be believed,
the same persons can never cit down
together at a similar gathering, and
the one who leaves the table first or last
will be in the spirit land ere we can meet
again"
AND God forbid II may be you, my
boy" the squire said with emotion, the
thought just crossing him that his scG
was shortly bound for active service.
have no wish to dispsrage the choice of
your superiors, but ! think thsy might
have chosen another, who was not the
only son OF his father"
"And he was widower," chimel In
Lieutenant Wymark, merrily. away
make CON pact, one and all of US, to
meet 9 captain Jack at banquet in this
same r oom upon the very hrst Christmas
evehe , gain spends in England.
ut snail DO So" declared the squire,
"Ay, be 40 years hence in the body or
the spirit. Every Christmas the ban
quet shall be spread in anticipation OF
my sous return. Gentlemep, do ye ali
agree"
We dol'
"rheu all stand up, and with clasped
hands repeat after me what / shall say"
The entire com any at once rose up,
aud having formed circle by elasping
one anOihers hands the old squire con
tiDued:
Eve hereby solemly swear to meet
again either IN the spirit or ia the Arsh,
on the FIRST recurring Christmas eve up
on which Captain lack Hsls tead returns
home from foreign service, let it be one
OF 90 ears hence, ia the anne hall and to
feast according TO the custom of the
place
I .se words were repeated with a SOL
emui5y that would have appeared to be
emiuently ludiorous if any one could
have witnessed the proceedings. But
When they resumed their seats and 40
ten pied TO revive the jokes and songs
the jest died on their lips; and to avoid
the movement of any one particular per
son from the table, because of the i'll
fated number Of ID, the squire proposed
that all rise simultaneously and stride
step by step away. This having been
done they one and all retired to bed TO
dream of ghosts, goblins and more fes-
tiyites.
with the advent OF Christmas day the
full complement of guests arrived with
plenty OF pretty girls, and then followed
filtration aud kisses, and dancing and
skating, and the 15Gh of January when
Jack Heslead had 20 join his regiment.
1 ne gay party broke up, ana soon after
the young soldier and Lieutenant Wy
mark were on their way to Iadia.
severe engag ment was reported be-
tween the British and the rebel tribee,
whom they ad been commissioned to
subjugate and the terrible news came to
the old squire that his gallant son had
been killed. That was the last that his |
friends had ever seen or hard of him, |
and they never doubted for moment
that he was killed. But the squire in
dulgsd IN a fond belief that the boy would |
yet return.
81 viii prove If he is dead or mott ne |
said. Remember, Wymark, the terrible |
compact VT made to meet again on the /
first Christmas eve my son ia able TO |
pend IA his own house, and depend up /
on Il, he will come, either in the spirit or |
in the flesh. Next Christmas eve the |
banquet will be- spread, and then the |
tru OF his fate shall be known to me-"
So solemn was the old mans tone, that |
Wymark shnc dsreG, and he wondered, in |
a half-doubting way, if it could be pos |
sibe for the dead TO return. Again |
were the windows of the old hall abszs |
with light, AMI the host sat at the head /
OF the hAnqu sting table, but now his face |
was pale. and no smile epWfeathed his I
fps. He expected "A spirit guest to night |
Oue 10y Que the guests arrived, until all /
we're present but the young master OF the |
house.
A deathly silence reigneo within, the
servants stepping on tip'oes and speak
ing ia hushe1 voIces 10 one another; and !
the waits we're not allowed to sing, for
the old lodge. keeper had strict order 20 .
permit no revelry, though none who pre-
scented themselves went away empty /
ihlh IL \ NNA a. } htNl az &c Htt7 AAlRN tN.t
tor the guest rvmbled as IL stricken
with Rgue, until the clocks had ohimeu /
the hour of tweiv., and the white haired /
old squire rose TO his feet, a new light in |
his eyes.
Gentlemen" said he, 81 have cause to
re oice this night, for we have proved /
that Captain Jack still lives YOu re-
member our compact, to meet once
more, the whole Is Of us, eth IT in flesh
or the spirit. Olly one is absent, my
brave sol, But, gentlemen, had his spir
1t hvd from this world, it would have re-
turned tonight to keep good the oath .
made. He is not dead; my sou lives, and I
my life IL rediled with hope"
Lieutenant Wymark couorrred with his
host, and then the neglected wines aud |
viaud7 were cruuk and eaten, and every T.
htart sBs lighter.
Before breaking up, the squire insisted /
that the oath should be repeated, his /
mind confident that Captain tck would /
surely return. As on the preceding Christ I