New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
UNEXPLAINED.
A GHOST STORY.

AL ghost stories may be explained SAID MrS'
Marchmont smiling rather sc0rnfully, ana au-
dressing a large circle of friends and neighDors
who, one Christmas evening" were seated rouhu ler
hospitable hearth. -..ro.o u.oo
with you," said Mr.. Henniker. well-known DUB
lin barrister of burly frame and Jovlal couhteh-
ance famed for his wit and flow OF anecdoie, 81
The ladies of the party uttered eAclama!lors IN
various KEYS while the men looked attentive ana
interested All that Mr. Henniker pleased TO say
was won't to command attention, IN Dublin at leaSu.
So YOU think all ghost stories may be eX-
planned ? What would Mrs. Marchmont say to
our old woman in the black bonnet. Angela
who rarely opened her lips She was eager enough
81 wish could quite forget st, that old woman
Won't Won tell us. dear Mrs. Hennikerp Please
please dol" cried the ladies in chorus
Nay: John must tell that tale. SAID tne "iIe'
shrinking into herself as 10 were
No one knew how it happened that the CONVEX
sation had turned upon mesmerlsm. splrltuallsm
and other themes trenching upon the supernatural
Perhaps the season, suggesting oldtashloned tales,
had something TO do with 1t or maybe the whlstlng
wind minging with the patfering OF han ana raTUe
legends ANYHOW, all the company spoke OF ghosts ::
some to nook, others to speculate; ana mere was
the witty lawyer prepared to tell grave tale OF his
His ioyiai face grew stern. Like the Ancient
Mariner. he addressed himself TO one in company,
but all were silent and attentive
"You say all ghost storis may be explained Mrs.
Marchmont So would have said a year ago;
but since we last met at your hospitaDe freside,
nv wife and have gone through very astonishing
experience We can tale unfold No man was
better inclined TO laugh at ghost stories than
well to begin my true tale. We wished for q
compiete change of scene last February, and An
gela thought she would like to reside in the same
county as her sisters and cousins and aunts--"
"Dorsetshire, believe Mrs Henn1kerY inter-
rupted the lady of the house.
Angela nodded
II intended to take a house for my family.
leave them comfortably settled in it, and run back
wards and forwards between Doysetshire and Dub
lin. Well it so happened that did leave them for
single day during the three months OF my tenancy
of spacious dwelling house. with offices, gardens,
pleasure grounds-to be had for fifty pounds per
annum went to the agent TO make inquiries.
rs this fiourishing advertisement correct?
asked /.
Perfectly
What so many advantages are TO De mad Tor
fifty. pounds year p
yourself
chanted with the description was able TO give her
on my return. a charming little park. beautifully
planted with rare shrubs and trees-a bowery, Sc
cluded spot, so shut in by noble elms as to seem
remote from the world. The house-such a mansion
as i'm Ireland would be called Manor-house or Cas-
tie-large lofty rooms. thoroughly furnished, every
modern improvement. Ny wife, as surprised as
myself that place of the kind should be going for
mere song, begged me to see the agent again, and
have taken the Hail for year. but Mr. Harold
advised me NOT to do so. Take it by the quarter,
or at least by the halfyear" he recommended.
II replied that it appeared such desirable
bargain that wished 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
snid no more than tell you but yielded TO his
evident wish without knowing why did so, and l
closed with him for six months. not year"
Glamour Mr.. Henniker!"
70 the Hall, and Angela was delighted with it.
The snowdrops lay in snowy masses about The
grounds-the garden 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 i'll Our own bedroom was comfort
our Youngest boys. Hal and Jack"
Don't forget to say that our bed-chamber opened
from n sittng-room" interrupted Mrs. Henniker
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 sat
isfactlon with our rare bargain. was on the eve
Of returning 20 dear, dirty Dublin and the
When We are all attention: Mr. Henniker y
Angela and i were sitting in the drawing
room under the bed-chamber i have described,
when loud cry startled us, Mother, mother,
mother.'
1.-The little boys were in bed in the dressing.
room Angela dropped her teacup and dashed
ont of the room, forgetting that there no
light in the rooms above us
caught up candle and followed i her quickly
lie cried in great excitement, oh, the old woman
black bonnet Oh-o1-ohi'
i thought q little fstherly correction would
be beneficial, but Angela would not suffer me
70 interfere. She tried TO soothe the little beg
gsrs, and in a few minutes they were coherent
wearing block bonnet, had been in the room
She came close 20 them and bent over their cribs
with her dreadful face near to theirs.
How did you see her@ we asked There
was no candle here
She had light about her. they said at any
rate, they her quite well. An exhaustive
search made. No trace Of human being
was to be found. / refrained from speaking