New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-12
The WHITE COACH.


II is approached on the landward side by good
government road leading from Churchtown
about seven miles OIL, at the head OF lne pay pay;
This road terminates abruptly about a hundred
wards from the entrance gate Of DENLY. Ihere
was no reason for carrying it further, as the IN
habitantS of the scattered farms ana cottages on
the lower skirts of the prom0ntory were qulte con
tent TO drive their carts over the level turi tha
cost them rates. and, on the contrary, supporter
their bOny horses.
whose firm, sandy edge was much appreciated as
a roadway at low tide lay between DENLY ana dry
land on the north A curious, ru1nouS-looklng
nile Somewhat like remains OF Greek temple,
was visible in clear weather on the opposite shore.
I had hoped to pay il visit of inspection during
my stay at DENLY, but something always occurreo
to prevent my carrying out my PROJECT.
Sir John and Lady DENLY had been entertaining
rather large party for the last fortnight, includ
ing the officers of a gunboat which had steamed
away with our friends that afternoon. and Lady
Denby's brother, Charlie Willet, generally called
THE Halter" on account of his absurdly hugh
spirits, had ridden OFF to catch the evening eX-
press from ChurchtOwn just half an horr later
must candidy confess that missed him more
than all the others put together, and sympathlzed
completely with my kind host and hostess, who
seemed q little sad at parting with all their
friends. They rather Old-fashioned people,
who had never in their lives speedeSd
ness PS1 es Cones guest flung Ts1 m after s' the
portmanteau at the back Of the dog-cart.
We had finished dinner and were sitting on
the portico steps enjoying the last rays OF sun
across Scaur Bay, and admiring the wonderful
violet tint Of the waters beneath them, when the
sound of wheels caught my ear " Dear me L
exclaimed in amazement, who do YOU suppose
can be coming to call here at this unearthly hour?
The country carts never go at that pace !" ,
"You only hear the Barnacle Geese feeding
at the foot of the mountains opposite; they produce
q curious sound that strangers often mistake for
the rolling of carriage" returned Lady Denny.
looking, | thought, little pale In the rapidly
gathering twilight
had no reason for supposing that her emotion
was occasioned by the approaching sound, 50
fetch her q shawl? But she did not appear to
hear. l then turned to Sir John, saying:
Does it not seem TO you that the SOUND
comes from the Churchtown road, away on the
left, instead of across the water? Perhaps the
Barnacles are having picnic on our SIDE this
evening for a little change and"
You should not give way to ridiculous IAN
cies !" exclaimed my hostess, sharply and abruptly
mot to say. rudely-with the air Of person
anxious to discredit an unpleasant fact at any
turhcd huttered and terrifed-she was so utterly
unlike her genial self that stared at her for
then il struck me that could easily set the mat
ter at rest by walking round the sharp curve
which lay between the avenue and the front OF
the house and looking along the bleak, exposed
Churchtown road. where l should Immediately see
il there were anything coming:
Lady DENLY, guessing my intention, laid her
little cold hand on my arm and said lmperatlvely ::
"Sit STILL"
Poor Sir John seemed almost spellbOund; he
looked at his wife with deep anxiety and solicit
tude then with movement that denoted he was
pulling himself together, both mentally and physi-
cally, he and put his arm round her, urging
her TO go at once into the house.
All this while the strange sound, from what
ever cause it proceeded, kept approaching nearer
and nearer. Lady DENLY was either absolutely
Of ocg Se sse she or
and listened intenty She alone, though 50
powerfully affected; seemed disnclined to yield
m fhp fought
against it like str0ng-mlnded subject against
the influence of mesmerism, or an unwilling
desperately.
On and on came the thunder Of q carriage, roll
ing and swaying, at a terrific pace We could
hear the thud, thud of many horsehoofs, the clink
Of chains at the poles. l almost fancled the
creaSing of harness was audible.
/ was consumed with curiosity, longing TO go
and reconnotre, but obliged by common polite
ness to sit still, staring straight at the grass plat
in front Of income OF those well-kept Islands
of green with drive circling round it, that one
still occasionally in front of country houses
out OF sight of the windows.
We are all giving way to most"
Lady DENLY never completed her sentence, but
leaned heavily against her husbands arm fol-
support.
Straight in front of us flashed great white
cOach-indescrbably quaint and anclent-bui
snoly-white TO its minUtest equipment.
II was horsed by six somewhat showylooking
blacks all standing sixteen hands high, straight
rcckpd. CARVING their leaQS ike hunters not
funeral horses. They stopped all together-aS
simultaneously as a well drilled regiment of cav
airy dismounts-and two strange figures descended
from the coach and flung open the door, as though
expecting to enter, since the vehicle had pulled
up close 10 the steps on which we were seated.
Roth the men and their garments looked as i
their original substance had been much diminished
and worn away by the rust of age their strange
terra-cotta-coored figures were thrown into strong
relief as they stood for second on either sidt
of the white door of the coach.
One carried an immense curled horn, such a.
2 may still be seen consecratcd to Diana in some ole
French chateau-the other bore homcly bu
strange burden-a huge pair of smiths bellows
They had descended as silently as two deat
leaves (which they strongly rcsembled in genera
tome might have foatcd down from some lofty
tree, and the same curious hush prevailed as they
closed the door and returned TO their places
So ghostly and unreal seemed the whole para
phernalia that / expected TO see the coach ffoa
over the grass plat like passing mist and vanisi
among the dissolving clouds Of sunset. IL wa
almost with n shock of surprise that / watched
II driven slowly round the gravel sweep-and agali
heard the ordinary sounds Of vehicle in motion
As IL left the door poor Lady DENLY shrieket
wildly: "Charlie is dead-I know it. This is
Nonsense my dear When poor viii dice
you saw black eoach-don't you remember
returned Sir john speaking very loud TO try ant
Charlie is as safe in a railway carriage as hi
gray cob is in the horse-box Of the ;05 train
Depend upon il. this is some trick OF Maste
Peter's-just let me 90. and I'll soon make ent
OF their foong."
oh no, no, CRED his wife, cllnglng 10 him s.
. desperately that unless he used force he had n
chance of moving.
Master Peter9" / thought, rapidly weighin
Sir .John's suggestion. why his entire stu
consists of mule about as old US lie is and that
fifty
@This has nothing 70 do with him."
Now strange thing happened. As soon as tn
coach had made the circuit Of the gravel sweep, an
returned TO the point at which il deb0uched int
the main drive. the coachman rapidly pulled uT
and beclfoned 20 me most earnestly TO enter, tn
two servants again flung open the door, and urge
by some strong impulse, shat. did not stay 4
analyze, / ran toward the white coach In
moment was lifted among its cushions the doc