The record-union., 1891-05-30

and the children. The candle lighted, we
again Notwithstanding to be seen
in the dressing-room, bedroom or the
drawing-roonl beyond, the door of which
was shut. But the curious sense Of
presence near us--stronger than any feel
ing of the kind had ever previously ex-
perienced-was gone. You have felt the
presence of another person unseen. You
may be writing-you have not heard the
door open, but though your back is
toward the visitor, you know somehow
that he has entered"
s'Quite true, Mr.. Henrik er-but there
is nothing. unnatural or unpleasant in
that sensation"
Nothing, of course: merely instance
it to give you some idea of what we felt
on that occasion. We were astonished to
find the sitting room untenanted. Mean
while poor Hal, Jack and Lucy shrieked
in chorus, "Oh, the old woman in the
black bonnet! oh, take her away!
Poor Angela, trembling, hung over the
cribs trying to soothes the children. 1t
was good while before they could tell
what had happened. She came again.
said Hal, and she came close, close to
me, and she put her cold face down near
my cheek till she touched me, and don't
like her-oh, don't like her, mother !"
"'Did she go to Jack and Lucy, too?'
"'Yes, yes; and she made them cry as
well !?
"'Why do you not like her? Is it the
black bonnet? You dreamed of black
bonnet last night. you know said 1, half
puzzled, half provoked.
She's so frightful,' cried Hal.
"'How could you see her? There was
no CANDLE
"This question perplexed the little
boys. They persisted that she had light
about her somewhere. / need hardly
say that there was no comfort for us the
rest of the night. 'Ifany one is trying to
brighten us out Of the place, I'll be even
with him yet,' said I. My wife believed
that trick had been played upon the
children, and she was most indignant.
Next day the cribs were removed to
the upper story, and Charlotte and
Joanna, our daughters oftwelve and four
teen, were put to sleep in the dressing
room. We predicted an end to the an
noyance we had been suffering, The
nurse was a quick tempered woman, who
would not stand any nonsense, and Halls
bad dreams would be sternly driven
away. We settled ourselves to our COM
Portable light reading by the drawing
room fire. Suddenly there was COM
motion overhead, an outcry-surprised
more than terrified, it sounded to US.
Angela laid her book down quickly and
listened with all her ears. Fast flying
footsteps were heard above; the clapping
of door: then-scurry, scurry-the pat
ter of bare feet down the staircase. We
hurried across the hall and saw Charlotte
in her nightgown returning slowly up
the kitchen stairs, with a puzzled ex-
preston on her honest face.
"'What on earth are you doing, my
child !? cried Angela.
9 Il was giving chase to hideous old
woman in black bonnet, who chose to
intrude upon u.s. painted Charlotte. Il
saw her in our room; | jumped out of
bed and pursued her through your room
and the sitting-room. Then / saw her be-
fore me going down atairs, and / ran af-
ter her, but the door at the foot of the
kitchen staircase was shut She certainly
could not have had time to open it, and I
really don't know where she could have
gone to-
This was Charlotte's explanation of
her mad scurry downstairs Her down
right sensible face was puzzled and angry
- so you see that the little ones must
have been tormented by the old wretch,
whoever she is. They didn't dream it,
father, as you thought. Wouldn't like
to punish her = -
"What brave girlg' cried Mrs.
Marchmont.
Brave? Oh, Charlotte's as brave as
lion! She went back to bed, and when
we followed her in couple of hours she
was sleeping souudly. But l can't say
being played upon us it was carried out in
SO clever a manner as to battle me COM
pleteIy. l need not say that | made a
careful search of every Granny about the
handsome house and offices, and if there
was secret passage or door III the wall
anywhere it escaped me. We had peace
for fortnight, and then the annoyance
recommended.
'Angela's nerve was shaken at last,
and she began to whisper, There are
more things in heaven and earth, Hora-
ito
John, you are making a story" inter
rupted Mrs. Henniker.
1T is every word true. I am coming
to an end. Angela, in spite of her dis
claimer, did believe in ghost in black
bonnet. Charlotte believed in her, but
did not care about her ghostship. The
nurse and cook and housemaid declared
they were meeting the horrible appear
auce constantly; and they were all three
in a mortal funk. AS to the children
they would not leave off clinging to
their mother, and fretting and trembling
when evening came. The milkman, the
baker and the butcher all told the
servants that we would not be long at the
hall, for nobody ever remained more
that month or two. This was cheerful
and encouraging for me-"
but you had never seen the charm
ing Old woman all this time?n
''No; but / saw her in the broad day
light. l had good look at her, and a
more diabolical face / never saw-no, not
even in the dock. / was writing letters
in the study about II O'Clock one morn
ing, when / suddenly looked up to see
the appearance that had excited such a
turmoil in my family standing near the
table. A frightful face-a short-set
woman dressed in black-gown, shawl,
bonnet-this was the impression / re-
ceived. But she looked quite human
quite everyday-there was nothing in her
air-only the evil face curdled ones
blood. | stared at her and then took up
folded newspaper and threw it at her.
My motive in so doing was to frighten
her who frightened my wife so much.
Courtesy such a creature need not expect
from me, being, as her villainous counte-
nance proved, one of the criminal class.
The newspaper fell upon the floor after