The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-06-01
A GHOST STORY.

Of friends and neighbors who. one Christ
mas evening were seated round her hos
pitable hearth
'Ahi yon think so? Pardon me if |
cannot agree with you, said Mr. Hen
mixer. well known Dublin barrister. of
ourly frame and jovial countenance
famed for his wit and flow of anecdote
The Ladies' of the party uttered excla-
nations in various keys, while the men
looked attentive and interested All
that Mr.. Henniker pleased to say was
wont to command attention. in Dublin
at least
so you think all ghost stories may be
explained? What would Mrs March
mont say to our old woman in the black
bonnet. AngelaY And the barrister
turned to his quiet little wife. who rare
iy opened her lips. She was eager enough
now
Il wish 1 could quite forget that old
woman. John dear she said with a
shiver
Won't you tell us. dear Mrs. Hen
niker9 Please-please dor cried the
ladies in chorus
NAY. John must tell that tale said
the wife. shrinking into herself as it were
No one knew how it happened that the
conversation had turned upon mesmer-
ism. spirituahsm and other themes
trenching upon the supernatural Per
haps the season, suggesting old fashioned
tales, had something to do with it; or
maybe the whistling wind. mingling
with the pattering of hail and rattle of
cab wheels. led the mind to brood over
-uncanny 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
% one in company. but all were silent
and attentive.
lyon say all ghost stories may be ex-
planned, Mrs. Marchmont So would |
have said year ago; but since we last
met at your hospitable fireside my wife
and have gone through a very astonish-
ing experience We can a tale unfold.
No man was better, inclined to laugh at
ghost stories than L =
We'll. to begin my true tale. We
wished for a complete change of scene
last February. and Angela thought she
would like to reside IN the same county
~ her sisters and cousins and aunts" -
tDorsetshire. | believe, Mrs Henni-
her. interrupted the lady of the house
Angela nodded
intended to take 4 house for my
family, leave them comfortably settled
IA it, and run backward and forward he
tween Dorsetshire and Dublin Well, it
80 happened that | did leave them for a.
single day during the three months OF
my tenancy of the Hall had seen a
wonderful advertisement of a spacious
dwelling house, with Offices gardens.
pleasure grounds--to be had for fifty
pounds per annum- | went to the agent
to make inquiries ".
is this fourishing advertisement
correctY asked
Perfectly
WHAT SO many advantages are to
be had for fifty pounds year,
Most certainly | advise you to go
and see for yourself
Il took the agents advice, and Angela
was enchanted with the description
was able to give her on my return A
charming little park, beautifully planted
with rare shrubs and trees-a bowery.
secluded spot. so shut in by noble el1ns
- to seem remote from the world The
house-such mansion as in Ireland
large. lofty rooms. thoroughly furnished.
every modern improvement MY wife.
as surprised as myself that place of the
kind should be going for 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 advised me not to do
so. Take it by the quarter. or at least
by the half year. he recommended
ii replied that it appeared such de-
sirable bargain that lwished to take it
by the year. His answer to this was
reiteration of his first advice | can't
tell you how he influenced me- for he
really said no more than tell you; but
l yielded to his evident wish without
knowing why | did so. and closed with
him for six months, not year.
'.Glamor, Mr. Hennikerr'
1T would seem SO, Mrs. Marchmont
We went to the hall, and Angela was de
lighted with it. The snowdrops Law in
snowy masses about the grounds-the
garden gave promise of beauty as the
season advanced. How the children ran
over the housed how charmed we were
with every nook and corner of it! Our
---own bedroom was comfortable large
room. opening into very roomy dress
ing room, in which my wife placed two
cribs for our youngest boys. Hal and
Jack'-
Don't forget TO say that our bed
chamber opened from a sitting room
interrupted Mrs. Henniker
Well, for three weeks we all slept the
sleep of the just in our really splendid
suite Of apartments Not a grumbie
from our servants-nothing but satisfac.
! ton with our rare bargain | was on the
poiRt of returning to dear. dirty Dublin