Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-10-29
BLACK HALL

lutnffins NtNiitfs ufaNu " lHN'iAhi
span ~ bays. dashed along the mountain
tuaI cn route for Lexington.
suddenly a bright. young face pecPci
out of the coach window. and girlish
voice cried
Driver. how near are we To Com
modore Dcvelin'sY'
"Ilc thar In jus tree minutes. Miss
Ii's dat are big house on the hall yonder
all ablaEe like.
4 moment more aud they were dris
ing into the grounds Again the i'm
patient gih cs,aycI % hook forth, bat
receiving a cold dab on the cheek from
the vet leaves. shc Tell back impaiicutly
and listened 10 the heavy. VT boughs
AZ they brushed the top and sides ~ the
coach
suddenly the stage stoppcd. old Nico
dsmus Jumped down In the mud. with
lantern In one hand. and dinging open
the door with flourish. aid loud enough
a. wake the seven slrfpcrs,
"Coladorc Diyil,as. Mis,'
There we're Only t~o slospers within.
however. bat they op-nci their scared
eve. wide enough Tor seven. half expect.
ing 20 49, highWayinan. bat. icing e.
assured by Nicolcmus bobbing wool
heal and smiling black face. they laid
contcnicl hand on their rockcttnoks and
badc farewell % the young lady. Who
quickly lcaI-d into the mud. aud. pick
ing up her dfcss. ran up the hruad stcIs.
NicCdcmus followci with her trunk. aud
taking the quaint brass knocker. repre-
ssniing a coilci -erTcnt. in hi. hand. gave
a bong. loud knp,k which cchoed far AMI
near There was s1und II fcei running
O. the dpor-it open-l lights daExlcd the
young traveller. AID. amid sil,cry laugh
Ter and ordinations of delight. she was
clasI.,i IN the arm. - her oil school.
mate. Lcna Ds,elin
"The north aud -outh have met. aid
th. commodorr. and the little Traveller
turnc,l O. t.hold superb hooking oil
gentleman. with long. sI,cry heard.
white hair and tine. dark eyes. who held
out warm hand. saying
"wclcome to Black Hall Mi-s Grace.
bring ST.. Howard la 20 the drr.'
aid Mr.. Dcvclin. Appearing IN the parlor
door
Although Gncc had never bcforc met
her friends family. their warm greeting
made her fe,l very unceremonious. - she
ran with a smiling fac. 90 meet Lsna's
sweet. dove faced. little mother. Who al
vanc~i. radiant In welcoming smiles
Just then L'nas brother llob opencd
lhc front door lie was a quiet looking
fellow. with mischicyous brown eyes
Who. when intrSluced. lowed shyly
blushcd triiir. and stro,le ON a. the din
ing nom. shaking the rain from his
slOuch hat
"NoW come 10 my nom aud get on dry
clothes. said lrna you look vet and
cold. aud she lci Grace up the broad
staircase
"Jrsse.- addressing a oolored man
bring up Miss IloWard's trunk.
Everything was new and strange To
Gracc. the dars. wide halls. the colored
servants. who IscPcd at her curiously
and lastly. lenas rOom. with its dark
Ianelsd walls. heavily curIained win
dow. and bcd. and the great wood lire
on the hearth
"Oh. how lovclyr exclaimed she
throwing herself into an easy chair. bu,
on sccund though, springing up to earrss
her friend
you dear darling. I haven't seen YOU
for six months.
And I've bcen shu, up here all that
time replied Lena who was tall
quiet blonde.
"well. now. 1 should really have eb.
joycd that" Grace replied. tossing her
damp Wnppings over the back OF q
chair. "liccause adore old houses. and
trces. and romance. and gho~tA OBI
have You any ghosts heref
well. yes. W. have what they call a
haunted rOom In the rear part Of the
housc. hut none ~ us ever slept there OF
aw the ghost
oh. do tell me about IL Il there a
story connected with ~
YES. quite little romance. Just
drop into that chair close To the fire and
III tell YOU the story"
Then. taking Grace's hand. she began
"Years and years ago. Grace. my
r,atgr,at-grcat- grandfather. who was
an artist. came over from England and
settled In this house with his bride. a
very Young and beautiful girl. Who had
beer hastily married to him by her faith.
er To prevent match tetween herself
and Young Lord Somebody who was
her fathers enemy
This hard hearted relative of mine
married her against her wishes. and
then carried her away. almost broken
hearted. to a strange country, and into
this gloomy old house. lie was double
her agc and jealous as hs could he Of
her former lover. whom he thought was
separated from her forever Hut Il
wasn't ~. Grace. That young Lord
Somebody swore that he would rescue
her yet. II he had To murder her hus-
band-so lac started at once for America,
where be spent q long time In vain
search for his lost love"
"llc must have been awful plucky.-
interrupted Grace. with dilated pupila
"Oh. yes. he was-but listen. One
day Camilla-thai was my greatgreat-
grrat-grandmother. you kno~-was
weeping In the summer house. when she
suddenly looked up and beheld her old
lover standing In the doorway She
was overwhelmed with Joy. and con.
fessed that she was wretched with her
husband. and ! suppose there occurred
quite little love scene. for her husband.
overhearing the affair. rushed In.
plunged his dagger In the young lords
heart. and carried camilla fainting TO
her room. where he flung her on the bed.
and locking the door. departed When
he returned II was TO find her dead She
had taken her life with her own little
dagger"
"Ohr- gaspcd Grace, "and what
them
Them Why. he went insane. OF
course. although people didn't suspect IL
Tor some time. and. being an artist.
painted her picture. which now hangs
on the wall Of the haunted room.-
"Oh do show 10 TO mel exclaimed