The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-10-26
BLACK HALL.

A great storm was abroad in the Blue
Ridge mountains; angry flashes cleft the
gloom; thunder crashed and was echoed
from hill to hill, and the swollen streams
dashed headlong, taking rocks and fallen
branches in their course to the james.
Amid all this distracted nature an OBJ
server might have seen the two lamps of
the Amherst stage coach cleaning like
bleared eyes through the rain, as that
numbering vehicle, drawn by powerful
span of bays, dashed along the mountain
road en- route for Lexington.
Suddenly bright, young face peeped
out of the coach window, and a girlish
voice cried:
'Driver, how near are we to Com
modore Develin's?"
''Be thar in JUS tree minutes, Miss.
It's dat are big house on the hill yonder
all ablaze like"
moment more and they were driv-
ing into the grounds. Again the inn
patient girl essayed to look forth, but
receiving a cold dab on the cheek from
the wet leaves, she fell back impatiently
and listened to the heavy, wet boughs,
|
coach.
Suddenly the stage stopped, old Nico-
demus jumped down in the mud, with a
lantern in one hand, and flinging open
the door with flourish, said loud enough
to wake the seven sleepers,
"Conadore Divilins, Miss!"
There were only two sleepers within,
however, but they opened their scared
eyes wide enough for seven, half expect
ing to see highwayman, but, being re-
assured by Nicodemus' dbobbing wool
head and smiling black face, they laid a
contented hand on their pocketbooks and
bade farewell to the young lady, who
quickly leaped into the mud, and, pick
ing up her dress, ran up the broad steps.
Nicodemus followed with her trunk, and
taking the quaint brass knocker, repre-
senting a coiled serpent, in his hand, gave
a long, loud knock, which echoed far and
near. There was a sound of feet running
to the door-it opened-lightsd dazzled the
young traveller, and, amid silvery laugh
ter and exclamations of delight, she was
clasped in the arms of her old school
mate, Lena Develin.
"The north and south have met" said
the commodore, and the little traveller
turned to behold superb looking old
gentleman, with long. silvery beard
white hair and fine, dark eyes, who held
out warm hand, saying:
"Welcome to Black Hail. Miss Grace. =
Bring Miss Howard in to the fire.
said Mrs. Develin. appearing in the parlol
door.
Although Grace had never before met
her friends family, their warm greeting
made her feel very unceremonious; SO she
ran with a smiling face to meet Lena's
sweet, dove faced, little mother, who ad-
vanced, radiant in welcoming smiles.
Just then Lena's brother Bob opened
the front door. He was quiet looking
fellow, with mischievous brown eyes
who, when introduced, bowed shyly,
blushed trifie, and strobe on to the din.
ing room, shaking the rain from his
slouch hat.
"Now come to my room and get on dry
clothes" said Lena. you look wet and
cold" and she led Grace up the broad
staircase.
Jesse" addressing a colored man
"bring up Miss Howard's trunk"
Everything was new and strange tc
Grace; the dark, wide halls, the colored
servants, who peeped at her curiously
and lastly, Lena's room, with its dark
paneled walls, heavily curtained win
dows and bed, and the great wood fire
on the hearth.
"Oh, how lovelyl" exclaimed she
throwing herself into an easy chair, but
on second thought springing up to cares:
her friend.
'You dear darling, haven't seen you
for six months"
"And I've been shut up here all thai
time" replied Lena, who was tall
quiet blonde.
"Well, now, should really have en-
joyed that" Grace replied, tossing hel
damp wrappings over the back of {
chair, because l adore old houses, anC
trees, and romance, and ghosts. Oh
have you any ghosts here?"
"Well, yes, we have what they call {
haunted room in the rear part of the
house, but none of us ever slept there ol
saw the ghost"
"Oh, do tell me about it. Is there {
story connected with it,"
"Yes, quite a little romance. Jus
drop into that chair close to the fire anC
I'll tell you the story"
Then, taking Grace's hand, she began
"Years and years ago, Grace, my
at-great-grandfather who wa
an artist, came over from England anC
settled in this house with his bride,
very young and beautiful girl, who haS
been hastily married to him by her faith
, er TO prevent a match between hersel
? and young Lord Somebody who wa
her fathers enemy.
''This hard hearted relative of min,
married her against her wishes, an,
then carried her away, almost broker
hearted, to a strange country, and init
this gloomy old house. He was doubl,
her age, and jealous as he could be o
( her former lover, whom he thought wa
separated from her forever. But
, wasn't so, Grace That young Lore
Somebody swore that he would rescu
her yet, if he had to murder her hus
band-so he started at once for America
where he spent long time in vail
search for his lost love"
''He must have been awtul plucky,
interrupted Grace, with dilated pupils.
"Oh, yes, he was-but listen. On
day Camilla-that was my great-great
great-grandmother, you know-wa
weeping in the summer house, when sh
suddenly looked up and beheld her oil,
r lover standing in the doorway Sh'
was overwhelmed with joy, and cor
fessed that she was wretched with he
o husband; and l suppose there occurre
; quite little love scene, for her husband
= = overhearing the affair, rushed in
plunged his dagger in the young lord
g heart, and carried Camilla fainting I
q her room, where he flung her on the beC