Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-10-11

ana Lney never doubted 1or q moment
that he was killed. But the squire in
dulged in fond belief that the boy
would yet return,
81 viii prove IL he is dead or not" he
said. "Remember, Wymark, the terri
BILE compact we made to meet again on
the first Christmas eve my son Is able to
spend in his OWN house, and depend upon
1t he will come, either in the spirit or In
the flesh. Next Christmas eve the ban
guet will be spread, and then the truth
Of his fate shall be known to me-"
Again were tho windows of the old
hall ablaze with light, and the host sat
At the head of the banqueting table, but
now his face was pale, and no smile en-
wreathed his lips. He expected spirit
guest to night. One by one the guests
arrived. until all were present but the
young master of tho house.
A sorry spectacle was this feast for
the guests trembled as though stricken
with ague, until the clocks had chimed
;he hour of II; and the white haired old
squire rose to his feet q light In his eyes.
Gentlemen, said he, "I 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 thirteen of us, either In
;he flesh or the spirit. Only one Is alb
sem, my brave son. But gentlemen,
hal kis spirit fled from this world, it
would have returned here tonight to
keep good the oath made He Is not
dead; my son lives, and my life Is re-
filled with hope" Lieutenant Wymark
ccncurred 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
Christmas eve, the company stood up,
and. with hands clasped, repeated after
the squire the same oath.
Seventeen years have passed, and
Christmas is again at hand, but death
had been busy during the past six months
pmong the friends who had so long met
Oh Il Christmas eve at Halstead hail.
The squire was dead, and three other
gentlemen who were advanced in years,
90 that Of tho original thirteen only eight
were known to live.
Within month of Christmas the
lodge-keeper was found dead in the PARK,
hi, death being hastened, no doubt, by
the breaking up of old ties and associa-
lions. OF the eight living members of
the dread compact only one was absent,
Lieutenant Wymark, his profession hav-
luS again called him again to India. Two
weeks before the seven met in solemn
conclave 10 discuss the matter of their
oath, for 1t must be confessed they much
regretted their participation in it. Some
voted that the matter be allowed to drop
as being perfectly serseless, arguing that
as the hall was empty and the keys in the
hands of the trustees they could not
gain admission. The majority. however.
proposed that they present themselves
al the gates, at least, according to the
compact.
Finally this was decided upon, each,
however, hopeful that this would term
mate what was becoming q dreadful ter
ror to them. Captain Jack was not dead,
but had managed to save his life by pre-
tending to conform to the religion and
custom OF his captors, hoping some day
for an opportunity to escape. This op-
portunity never came, and his fate would
probably have been forever shrouded in
a mystery had not Wymark been borne
to the same STR nghold. This strong
hold was Immediately stormed by the
4JI.t. ia, .,.4,. t44e ,UiNcS res. uIvt. to
liberty. Our two soldiers now made di.
recG for England, and it was only by the
most determined efforts that they ar
rived in the hall in time for the annual
feast. 1t was just IL o'clock Of Christ
mas eve.
Just in time" said Wymark, "and
the old place is filed with light. What
constitutiony our father has. Why, he
is near upon 93 years of age, and last
Christmas looked as we'll as ever"
Dear old chap" murmured Captain
Jack; "but how strange everything
seems. There is not footmark in the
7now, and the gates look as il they had
not been opened for days and days"
AS he spoke a spectral figure issued
from the lodge, and the gates swung open.
1t was the ghost of the keeper, and as
he beckoned to the men he regarded
them with burning eyes.
"Ah, good Silas, began the captain,
but pause on feeling the frightened grip
of Wymark on his arm.
"Hist, Jack. 'Tis spirit. God forbid
that we have come too late -
"My father! moaned the captain.
They pushed past the spectral gate
keeper, and entered the hall the doors
OF which were opened with invisible
hands. Up to the banqueting chamber,
the table Of which was spread for the
feast, though not sound could be heard
of any living thing
"a dread revelation tonight" gasped
Captain Jack. 81 wonder how many OF
the thirteen still liver"
ave shall soon know" was the reply
of Wymark, "for it is nearly 30"
The soldiers seated themselves in the
same chairs as they did seventeen years
before and waited. Meanwhile the other
living members of the compact made
their way to the gates, hoping to have
to turn back again, but. to their horror
the iron door swung open, and they
were compelled to go forward by some
unseen power. Upon entering the BAN
quet chamber they recoiled at tho sight
of Captain Jack; then explanations fol-
lowed, and the nine men seated round
the table.
"Four of us gone" said Wymar1.
"Why, all were here last yearl My
friends, my oath may have been an un-
holy one, but we were forced to keep 1t.
May God forgive us, and see US safely
through"
II want but one glance of my poor
old father" said Captain Jack, ''but can
1t be possible"
He stopped, for the hour of IL had be-
gun to strike, and nine strong men
gazed with expectant horror one at an
other. for the sounds of rustling gar
ments were heard about them, though
none but themselves were to be seen.
AS the last stroke fingered In the air,