Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-05

lions for the young MISTRESS and beheld
their tears, was tempted to disclose her
whereabouts TO the sorrowing twain, but
on reflection l remembered she would never
return as they desired, nor hold converse
with any one within the envirOns of her
birth place, and as she was virtually dead
to them might as well hold my peace
But when the conversation turned on Sir
Rupert, they had but little To offer in his be.
half; although their tones were respectful
enough, could see they had not forgiven
him for the merciless doings of an unnatural
father.
you must show me the hall and tell me
the story" | said. AS we sat around the
cheerful wood fire kindled in the great
chimney that filled up nearly one whole end
OF the apartment This room was so cheer
ful and pleasant in the glamour of the fire
light, as looked about me and enjoyed its
coziness, that 1 could not clearly connect its
genial air with the huge, shadowy pile
had viewed with such distrust from the
outside; somehow it seemed impossible and
said as much TO my entertainers.
"Ohi indade, an it's your own swate self
that knows nothing about this ghostly ould
place; no. nothing at all"
Peggy turned her chair around quickly
and faced me with this explanatory burst
OF Hibernian elocution because had vent.
ured, presume, 10 throw shadowo of doubt
on the superstitous stories rife about
Heatherlelgh
Facing me, she looked as much like gen.
uine ghost rs / ever care to see, in her
broad, white rutiled cap and snowy van.
dyke, illumined, 50 To speak, by the keen
light OF her wide-open blue eyes.
"No, perhaps not, | acquiesced, "but you
must take me over the halt, tell me Of the
spiritual visitors, aud then 1 may under
stand it better
THAT Oh wall, me Teddy, in the daytoime,
whln the spirits rest an there be no fears
ov botherin' yes Oi'll show you the gloomy
ould apartments"
"Spirits never bother me- / answered,
bravely But my courageous and daring
sentence did not fail on Peggys ears very
kindly, / found, for she grew excited at
once. Hitchng her chair closeE ID mine,
and putting her shaky hand on my arm in
solemn warning, she broke forth
"Me Teddy, an it's yerself that'll pay for
yer wild spaches this noight ia this awful
place. An yes nlver lived at Haythurleigh
naythur; an niver hearn O. the masthur
walkin' an wallsin' all the long, ghostIy
noight until the cock-crowin. No, yes
niyer hearn tell o. the loikes o. thatp
"Howly mother" she began again. let
ting go my arm and dropping into an atti-
tude of resignation, IAN the masthur was
q terrible man, an outen his head for the
most part o. the time long toard the last.
An TO this day, me Teddy, his ristliss spirit
be rovin' through the great rooms, and
repintin' NV of his thratement NV the proud.
hearted chllder. Oh! save us, a-worryn'
and repintin' yet
After this burst of the determined old
housekeeper gave In and let her have her
own way on the spirit question. | saw at
once that ii pleased the two cid servants
exceedingly to think that Peggy had con.
veried me TO their belief in spiritual mani
festations, so / consented by my silence
and let them believe as they chose They
little imagined might be convinced against
my will. l was not permitted TO enter the
main building that night, of course not
The masthur moight be a-walRIn'," Peggy
explained, with drawn brow and contiden-
tial tone.
II should suppose that you would not
dare live here at ali if Sir Rupert - 80
restless. Are you not afraidrl said, when
! found was refused an evening glimpse
into the hall proper.
"Och, no. exclaimed Peggy; 1--WE niver
bother with his part o. The stabllshnRnt,
an he's too much ov q gintleman 10 imer
the servants dingy rooms
laughed at her view Of the matter and
began to suspect that there was no spirit
about Heatherleigh that wandered at night
and dubbed by the inmates Sir Rupert.
My room was made ready for me in the
wing and adjoining that OF the old couple,
for which | felt thankful After such 4
vivid recountal as | had heard that even
ing. | felt il u privilege TO be near fellow
mortal in the midnight watches. After re-
firing, found that my nerves were all I'M
strung and l could scarcely close my eyes.
Sleep / could not.
Tick took, textbook, went the great brass
clock in Peggy's room, and every vibration
echoed in my weary head. Ifancied could
hear the tread of ghostly feet on the roof
overhead, and felt certain that the tireess
feet of Sir Rupert had stepped down and
out of the deathly shadows Of the dark,
dank yews and were now Oh the repintiu'
promenade.
Alas if had but known just what waa
fated to experience under the Heatherleigh
gables | should have died Of fright before
another day had dawned
TO BE CONTINUED