Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-29

| 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 It may be you, my
boy" the squire said with emotion, the
thought just crossing him that his son
was shortly bound for active service. |
have no wish to disparage the choice of
your superiors, but I think they might
have chosen another, who was not the
only son of his father"
Sand he was a wi6ower," chime1 in
Lieutenant Wymark, merrily. "Away
with gloomy forebodings, and let us
make com pact, one and all of us, to
meet Captain Jack at a banquet in this
same oom upon the very rirst Christmas
evehe :sgain spends in England.
at shall be so," declared the squire,
GAY, be it 20 years hence, in the body or
the spirit. Every Christmas the ban
my sons return. Gentlemen, do We all
agreef"
! I'VE dol"
"Then all stand up, end with clasped
hands repeat after me what L shall say"
The entire company at once rose up,
and having formed circle by lasping
one another's hands, the old squire con-
tinued:
eve hereby solemly swear to meet
again, either in the spirit or in the flesh,
OIL the first recurring Christmas eve up
on which Captain Jack Helstead returns
| home from foreign service, let it be one
or so years hence, in the anne hall and to
| feast according TO the custom of the
place."
| The Sc words were repeated with SOL
emnity that would have appeared to be
eminently ludicrous if any one could
have with essed the proceedings. But
when they resumed their seats and at
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, be cause of the ILL
fated number of Is, 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, COLLINS and more fes-
! Invites.
With the advent of Christmas day the
| full complement of guests arrived with
| plenty of pretty girls, and then followed
Irritation aud kisses, and dancing and
skating, and the 18th of January when
Jack Helstead had 70 join his regiment.
The gay party broke up, and soon after
the young soldier and Lieutenant Wy
mark were on their way to India.
A severe engagement was reported be-
tween the British and the rebel tribee,
whom they Lad 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 heard of him,
and they never doubted for moment
that he was killed. But the squire in
dulged in fond belief that the boy would
| yet return,
81 will prove if he is dead or not" he
said. Remember, Wymark, the terrible
compact We made to meet again on the
first Christmas eve my son is able to
spend in his own house, and depend up
on it, he will come, either in the spirit or
in the flesh. Next Christmas eve the
banquet will be spread, and then the
truth of his fate shall be known to me-"
So solemn was the old mans tone, that
| Wymark shuddered, and he wondered, in
a half-doubtiDg way, if it could be pos
sible for the dead TO return. Again
were the windows of the old hall ableze
| with light, an ] the host sat at the head
of the han1ueting table, but now his face
was pale and no smile eDwreathed his
! lips. He expected a spirit guest to mig ht.
| One by one the guests arrived, until all
were present but the young master of the
house.
deathly silence reigned within, the
servants stepping on tiptoes and speak
| ing in hUshe3 voices to one another; and
the waits were not allowed TO sing, for
the old lodge keeper had strict order 20
permit no revelry, though none who pre-
senUed themselves went away empty
! hande d. A sorry spectacle was this feas',
! for the guests trembled as if stricken
with ague, until the clocks had chimed
the hour of twelve, and the white haired
old squire rose to his feet, Lew light in
his eyes.
"Gentlemen," said he, 81 have cause to
| rejoice 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, eith0r in flesh
or the spirit. Only one is absent, u
brave son. But, gentlemen, had his spir
it fed from this world, it would have re-
turned tonight to keep good the oath
made. He is not dead; my SOC lives, and
my life Is refIied with hope"
| Lieutenant Wymark ooncu rred with his
host, and then the neglected wines and
viands were drunk and eaten, and every
heart was lighter.
Before breaking up, the squire insisted
that the oath should be repeated, his
mind confident that Captain Jack would
surely return. As on the preceding Christ.
mas eve, the company stood up, and, with
hands ciasped, repeated after the SO uire
the same oath.
Seventeen years have passed, and
Christmas is again at hand, but death had
been busy during the past six months
among the friends who had so long met
on Christmas eve at Helstead Hall.
The squire was dead, and three other
gentlemen who were advanced In years, so
that of the original thirteen only eight
we're known to live. 1t had long been
the talk of the country this dreadful com-
pact, and so terrified had the servants of
the hall become that now their master
was no more not one would remain, and
the place wRs closed.
Within a month of Christmas the lodge
keeper was found dead in the park, his
| death being FASTENED, no doubt, by the
breaking of old ties and associations.
OF the eight living men bers of tho dread
compact only one was absent, Lieutenant
| Wymark, his profession having again
called him TO India. Two weeks before
the seven met in solemn conclave to dis
cuss the matter of tSeir GA b, for it must
be confessed that they much regretted
| their participation in it. Some voted
that the matter be allowed to drop as
being perfectly senseless, arguing that as
the hall was empty and the keys in the
han is of the trustees they could not gain
admission. ] he majority however,