The record-union., 1891-05-30
UNEXPLAINED.

"All ghost stories may be explained"
said Mrs Marchmont, smiling rather
scornfully, and addressing large circle
of friends and neighbors who, one Christ
mas evening, were seated round her hos
pitable hearth.
"Ah! you think so? Pardon me, if /
cannot agree with you" said Mr.. Henni-
ker, well-known Dublin barrister of
burly frame and jovial countenance.
famed for his wit and flow of anecdote.
Inc ladies of the party uttered ex-
carnations in various keys, while the
men looked attentive and interested. All
that Mr.. Henni1er was pleased to say
was wont to command attention, in Dub
lin at least.
$50 you think all ghost stories may be
explained. What would Mrs. March
mont say to our old woman in the black
bonnet, Angela 20 And the barrister
turned to his quiet little wife, who rarely
opened her lips. She was eager enough
now.
81 wish 1 could quite forget that old
woman, John, DEAR" she said, with
shiver.
won't you tell US, dear Mrs. Henni-
ker? Please-please doP cried the
ladies in concert.
the wife, shrinking into herself as it
were.
No one knew how it happened that the
conversation had turned upon mesmer-
ism, spiritualism, and other themes
trenching upon the supernatural. Per-
hapS the season. suggesting old-faShioned
tales, had something TO do with 1t; or may
be the whistling wind, mingling with
the pattering Of hail and rattle of cab
wheels led the mind to brood over un-
canny legends. Anyhow, all the COM
pany spoke of ghosts, some to mock,
others to speculate; and here was the
witty lawyer, prepared to tell grave tale
OF his own experience.
His JOvial face grew stern. Like the
Ancient Mariner, he addressed himself to
one in company, but all were silent and
attentive.
you say all ghost stories may be ex-
planned, Mrs. Marchmont. So would I
have said year ago; but since we last
met at your hospitable fireside, my wife
and l have gone through very astoniSh-
ing experience. We can a tale unfold
No man was better inclined to laugh at
ghost stories than [.
Well, to begin my true tale. We
wished for complete change of scene
last February, and Angela thought she
would like to reside in the same county
with her sisters and cousins and aunts-"
''Dorsetshire, 1 believe, Mrs. Hen
niker?" interrupted the lady of the house.
Angela nodded.
81 intended to take a house for my
family, leave them comfortably settled in
1t and run backwards and forwards be-
tween DOrsetShire and Dublin. Well, it
so happened that did leave them for
single day during the three months of my
tenancy of the hall. I had seen a won
derful advertisement of a spacious dwell
ing-house, with offices, gardens, pleasure
grounds-to be had for ESQ per annum.
went TO the agent TO make inquiries
is this hourishing advertisement
correct asked 1.
Perfectly
had wi at so many advantages are to be
8 Most certainly. 1 advise you to go
and see for YOURSELF
81 took the agents advice, and Angela
was enchanted with the description | was
able to give her on my return. A charm
ing little park, beautifully planted with
rare shrubs and treeS-a bowery, secluded
spot, so shut in by noble elms as to seem
remote from the world. The house-such
mansion as in Ireland would be called
manor-house or castie-large, lofty rooms.
thoroughly furnished, every modern i'm
proVement. My wife, as surprised as
myself that place of the kind should be
going for a mere song, begged me to see
the agent again, and close with him. 1t
was done at once. / would have taken
the hall for year, but Mr.. Harold adj
vised me not to do so. Take it by the
quarter, or at least by the half year. he
recommended.
ST replied that it appeared such de-
sirable bargain that l wished to take it by
the year. His answer to this was a re-
iteration of his first advice. I can't tell
you how he influenced me, for he really
said no more than tell you; but yielded
to his evident wish without knowing why
I ca I al wit hi 81,
months, not year"
Glamour, Mr.. Hennikern ~
1T would seem so, Mrs. Marchmont.
We went to the hall, and Angela was de-
lighted with it. The snowdrops lay in
snowy masses about the grounds-the gar
den gave promise of beauty as the season
advanced. How the children ran over
the house! how charmed we were with
every nook and corner of it Our own
bedroom was comfortable, large room,
opening into n very rOOmy dressing
room, in which my wife placed two cribs
for our youngest boys, Hal and Jack
Don't forget to say that our bed-cham-
Der opened from sitting-room, inter
rupted Mrs. Henniker.
s'Well, for three weeks we all slept the
sleep of the just in our really splendid
suite of apartments. Not grumble from
our servants-nothing but satisfaction
with our rare bargain. / was on the eve
of returning to dear, dirty Dublin and
the Four Corners, when -"
when we are all attention, Mr.. Hen
mixer"
angela and were sitting in the draw
ing-room under the bed-chamber / have
described, when loud cry startled us
Mother, mother, mother =
The little boys were in bed in the
dressing-room. Angela dropped her tea
cup and dashed out of the room, forget
ting that there was no light in the room
above us.
II caught up candle and followed her
quickly. We found the children sobbing
wildly. Jacks arms were almost stran-
Cling his mother, while he cried in great
excitement, oh, the old woman in the
black bonnet! The old woman in the
black bonnet 0h-oh-ohp
Il thought little fatherly correction
would be beneficial, but Angela would
not suffer me to interfere. She tried to
soothe the little beggars, and in few min
utes they were coherent enough in their
story. A frightful old woman, wearing
black bonnet, had been in the room.
She came close to them and bent over
their cribs, with her dreadful face near to
theirs.
"'How did you see her p we asked.
There was no candle here.'
'She had light about her. they said, AT
any rate, they saw her quite well, An ex-
haustive search was made. No trace OF
human being was to be found. ] re-
Trained from speaking to the other chill
ttren, who slept in an upper story, though
] softly entered their rooms and exam
1ned presses and wardrobes and peered
behind dark corners, laughing in my
sleeves all the while. OF course we both
believed that Hal bad been frightened by
dream, and that his little brother had
roared from sympathy. Don't breathe a
word OF this to the servants whispered