Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-08-17
THE GHAIST o. GHAIRLEE.


have not some tradition attached 10 them.
Gloomy and grim stand the old houses,
and there Is n cause for their forbidding as
pect. The sullen shadow OF past crimes hangs
over them.
Last autumn was invited by my dear old
friend, the Laird o. Ghairlee, 10 make one of n
shooting party assembling there Sport Is
good there, II anywhere; and, moreover, the
laird owned convey of pretty daughters, who
would be sure 10 make things lively and
pleasant
Iarrived, then, at Ghairlee station fun OF
hope and prepared for enjoyment. brought
with mo my guns and my beloved violin,
without which never travel.
Ghairlee itself Is a curious old house; the
passages run about IL In an extremely COM
plicated fashion, up one step 20 n ROOM down
two steps into IL, and 30 on. The hall Is a
portion u the old tower; the walls OF i'm
mense thickness. Many additions have been
made by different lairds, long since gathered
10 their fathers
did not sce all this the nigbs OF my ar
rival-in sooth, il was so dark that could
distinguish very little rs the dog cart spun
up tho avenue; but | did notice the black
mas on my left ~ we turned very sharp
corner round block Of buildings, and ON my
over In torrent 10 dash upon rocks In the
dark depths, far, far below.
The next moment we drew up before the
door, barred aud studded with great iron
nails. Light was pouring from the hall, and
the laird stood In the doorway surrounded
by bowling bodyguard Of terriers.
Whist, dOgsl Come I'm, ladder
And my old friend gathered me into his an
cestrsl hall with highland hospitality. We
passed. up n low stairway, and across a thick
ly carpeted corridor furnished with strange
pieces of antique acknowledgement
cabinets and carved chairs from which uncan-
ny faces ieercd In the freight The drawing
room WINS ut the far end and there were again
two or three steps leading 10 1t alone. By
the side OF these steps and against the wall
stood fine old press OF marguerite, quaint
ly inlaid and used, ms afterward learned.
for the slowing away of odds and ends, of
nothing and all things. IL was here that my
violin soon found place, and laid it, in its
modern embroidered case, by the side of
quaint old lutte about which was twisted a
faded, moth eaten ribbon.
This said the lairds pretty daughter,
touching IL reverently, "has a history. We
keep it here-pretty rs II is-because none OF
us like 10 look ON itn- But all this be-
T.
Report had not exaggerated the charms OF
the old laird's daughters Four OF them he
had-the youngest, a charming child-the
eldest, already appropriated. But there re-
manned the adorable second and the exquisite
third, and after day of painful uncertainty
fell before the first OF these two, who was
called by the tuneful name of Mavis, and
who had musical fever akin 10 nv own
Together we triled and tummed and turned
leaves and played love songs and madrigals,
serenades and sonatas, and when we did not
play We talked music, and when we did not
talk music, we talked-ah WE'LL suffice IL 10
say that the days hurried by and the weeks
flew after them and had been a guest at
Ghairlee nigh ON 20 a second month and NV
heart belonged to Mavis.
The cream OF the shooting was over and
the party much diminished. One or two men
only remained beside myself, and a pretty
young wOman-a neighbOr OF the lairds who
had come for two weeks visit We were
gathered In the drawing room and somebody
asked for music. l went out TO the fire
lighted hall 10 the old cabinet 10 get nv
violin, and Mavis went with me We linger-
ed there, alone, for n moment Just for the
sake Of lingering. IL was then Mavis spoke
about che lutte. took IL In my hands and.
as l did 50, thin, faraway wall Of melody
seemed 20 sweep past us and lose itself in the
dtmncss beyond the glow Of the freight.
What was thatf asked, sharply. Then,
seeing that Mavis only trembled in reply,
added, quickly; II must have Jared the old
thing
Put IL down" said Mavis; cit is uncanny
We never touch it. 1t belonged to the Ghaist
o. GhairleoP'
ITO the ghaistlr cried /, neutrality-suspicious.
not altogether heartily-for though 1 car
tainly did not believe in ghosts, there had
been something in that wailing strain TO set
ones nerves on culver; ''you Scotch lassies
forsooth, must still believe In your ghaistsl
There was never decent bluided Highland
body without a ghaist in his castlel You
must Introduce ms some day 10 yours!T And
40, laughing and teasing her 10 bring back
the roses 20 her cheeks IT, indeed | could, 1
led her again 10 the DRAWING room, where a
merry crowd aP1 an hour or two OF my be-
loved mlrs" with my dear violin soon chased
TIE oiaist o Ghairlee from my thoughts.
My rooms were In the towcr-in that same
ps~ns pile OF stone round which / swept on
u1 eVs"'ng OF my arrival and my wkndows
iooked out over the torrent which roared its
way ceaselessly from rock to rocs To a .hud-
dering depth, aud then tore on in a dark
ss,iei, ssisam
babe MATS good nigh. v-s,b . hurriad
pressure OF ter little sfingers-for they all
stood around US IN the drawing room and
she did not offer 10 go out into the hall. and
then sprang lightly up the steps, humming
n strain Of the bit OF Beethoven we had been
going over.
The large corridor was illuminated by n
lamp. smaller passage led away from IL,
and my room opened into this passage-now
In profound darkness. There were candle-
sticks ON a table at the head Of the flight OF
steps, but after found out the way 10 nv
rooms and had grown accustomed TO il, /
rarely stopped 10 light one. Tonight made
no exception 10 this custom, and went swing
ing down the passage toward my door
had found IL, and was about % turn the
handle when ! saw before me, few feet dis
tant, man crouchiug, with his ear close
against the wall level with my door. He
slowly turned his head and stared STRAIGHT at
me A more evil expression had never en-
countsred, - full WINS IL of threatening hate
and devilish purpose.
/ rtOod fascinated, watching the man.
Presently, with hand outspread feeling along
the wall, he began creeping toward me; at
the same moment the dismal bowling OF a
dog, apparently In one of the rooms became
audible. This sound and the action on his
part seemed to release my faculties. dashed
at him-made grab at his coat-struck the
wall; the man was gonel
stood stupidity; the passage was dark as
pitch Could he have slipped aside, and DO
waiting 10 strilSei
Then-then, with revulsion that sent my
blood curdling back to my heart, 1t shot
through me;
How did / see him, being In the darki
That he was there for no good was suffl-
silently demonstrated; but how could have
seen hint i experienced n curious sensation
as IL broke upon me that the man had be-
held was not included in the census of this
planet. felt n tingling IN my limbs and
buzxing In my ears Tho sensation was
nnxr