The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-07
the Disbin9 Gate
Ccopwfgat 1884, All Rignts Reserped.)

| tnat never came. Tnen IL went away
Some one had heard it moan as IT dis
appeared.
"She win surely come next Oswaldi
night"
This plant OF the boyle had passed
into sort Of saying among the valley
folk regarding anything expected or de
sired at the rushbearing season of th'
year Many were in terror Of the wrath
and not a few OF the older peasant folh
complained Of the vicar OF st. Oswald's
for not laying the ghaist." as any good
priest might do II he would; as had been
done in Westmoreland times without
number before him. There were strange
whispers. too. that this boyle bore some
mysterious relation to the almost deadly
hatred that had Swallowed the lives OF
two OF the Oldest families OF Westmore-
land-the Seacrofts, of Rosedale Manor
the Grasmere side OF Fairfield mountain
just above the hamlet, and the Oldgarths.
which stood among noble sycamores on
Of Deepdale Hall. on the eastern side
OF Fairfield. one Of the remaining stately
mansions Of the olden kings of Patter-
dale and Ullswater.
1t was also believed by a few that old
Georoie Nicholson. for nearly half CEN
fury the most trusted servant Of the Sea-
crofts, had been instrumental many years
before In preventing a tryst, which If
Kept might have changed the fortunes
OF both families, between the fair Marga-
ret Carew, who afterwards became the
lady OF Rosedaie Manor, and her then
lover, an Oldgarth. AS dimly but as sure
~ TOO, IT had grown into popular belief
that old Geordie was somehow response
bic for the Boyle of the Wishing-Gate.
Piqued by the jibes of the peasantry with
his former fellow-servant, Cursty Harris.
as trusted companion. he had undertaken
TO lay this troublesome wrath. and
come out Of the valorous effort with lit
tie more than his life. What had occurred
had never been divulged; but the Boyle Of
the Wishing-G had taken on added ter
rors; and Cursty Harris had never got
so near the grewsome subject, even with
his boon companions, as at this moment
he seemed TO be-
IF yen prOmish e keep it girt L YER
sells, lads" continued Cursty, edging close
TO his friends with a sheepish. but wor-
ried look in his face, "1'll tell We what
hap'd last rushbearin' meet"
They promised bravely. and the four old
heads were together i'm an instant.
"Weel, Geordie Nicholson comd L mea,
an says, 'Cursty. l can't stan 1t ma loan
gel. says bt'ififs I'odIls 'ItOlNlt.
Il ee can't 4 wi ma, fore { Lord! il yell
sae wi mea,' says Geordie 'Gae wher.
nonr says /. Worried wi tn fiearce way
he looket. ia tn holt t. lay tn ghaist
, tn Wish'n-Geat" says Georde greave
as passon. Yen be daft If We do says
|. IN be daft if ! doant,' says he beatin
MS head and his breastie, like he'd a sair
,onsence.
"Seein' sumbUddy must gao wi Geordie
gev in, but telt him to his head, I'd
rev ma ban wi tn ghaist. Leave IN
;haist { mea" says Geordie, shakin' his
'toot stick. an akin wud hey a pint o.
'ell afore goin. Its dowly wark we're at,
ieordie.' says j. an I'd teyter hev II
woap O. rum nor a pint O. yen 'Geordie |
rot it fra tn Dove. an we set DOT
" 'Twor half hour L midneet; fer Ge- |
ride was bund to max tn Wushn-Geat |
foare tn boyle. We clomb tn holt wi'oot |
owrin or freet, though tn meet war bit |
an war SUN dodderin' an shiv-
rim by tn haunted gaet. 'Howp over
h. gaet. says Geordie, an hide ahint III
7all."
"He holpd me over an gev mea some
obble-stanes { heeze at tn ghaist, If
sud be gettin' the best D Geordie.
ad nit mair than gat In pleace, so l
I'D kleek over tn wall at L scraifle.
hen Geordse Strengthened oop Draw. bis
toot stick in bath hands-lads, i wor
roud O. Geordie Nicholson.-and whus-
erG over T. wall.
"Cush Its coomin!"
"When l looket ance mair, ther stood
4 ghaist fairly afoare Geordle-all
prettit over wi rushes an roses. an
4 lang white haar an whuskerS tawtt
n tangelt amang 'em. Lans marcy!
"A 81. e.. oil l.r1f |
h ghaist said ne'er word. an Geordie
lid less. Then tn ghaist put DOT his
and, cuddlin like. Geordie waited TIL
: ghaist wor clais. an then bummd ee
L his stick. Lord what skirlin' an
rafliin an roarin.
"Quick as leetin tn ghalst grabbed
eordic an Mastered ee ABBOTT like a
lwfln in a helmwind. Gcordie beelin,
urstyl Cursty.-Lord, Cursty. holp
ear like a young bull, till l thowt ee'd
ghaist on mea. Bit IN ghaist seemed
Re ee'd nawt else in mind bit slaisterin'
,ordie.
Fl cud NIT run; I cud nit heeze tn
bibles; an fur vera freet l swuund
cad ava. Lansi lads. may we niver
IA sech neetl kna nit what cam O.
ghaist; bit when l cam ABBOTT. 'twor
)am o Il morn. / foun poor Geordie
eeachless l. tn stanes an mud, an
aged ee heeam { Rosedale. 1t seemed
d nivver COON aroun' bit when &c
l. ee yammert DOT l. awfu freet, '
Lord! Lord - Ee's John Auldgarth's
Asti" v
ursty's companions were stunned by /
disclosure and sat gasping and gap :,
as II recovering from hurt or fright. '
BIT that's nit tn warst!" continued .
rsty with genuine trepidation. Miss =
rgery, over theer," motioning with !"
thumb over hts crouched shoulder "
ards the churchyard, where lovely q,
rgaret Seacroft and her affianced hus- 81
I'd still fingered with the old sexton. -
UP the sacred place for the ~
rrow, Miss Margery over theer. as -
" soul in Grasmere loaves, is dangcrt ~
Ter life. -, =.
VA dang it!' exclaimed Tommy BAN y,
furiousiy. "saay what ye wull. mon.
doan't saay thot.' u
'aay IL | wull master Bamthet. It's 20
oos IN greave. Houtl D%ed'nt aud ha
ride COON AEGEAN last meet? Dced'nt GO in
IN an TAX ON like med ABBOTT a. tn be
! foalk's fashen an worriten? Deed'nt in,
cit mea a tn teal o. young John AuId- W,
n stannin' COP L ees faythers beau he
IN fashen an cursin. year In year In
iur ioaVe o Margery2 Deed'nt youn, m,
at [ eend. gang { Amearky till ee'd aw
en- I be grady geo.ergees or sumet IN,
gold mireS an brass aneuf e bowten IN
irasmcre an Pafterdaal ;hrawn iu9 ha
J M Miss Margery baud oct agin his wh
I'm. when ee coom'd heame. an gio br.
ar wen John tell her ee he'd gotten Nv
am iortun WI his ain head an han'sl Ma
oeed'nt IN sonsy lass max oaath 4 ne NJ
ca an Auldgarth Til tn wushss-1s.s -,
wof Md. an The Auldgartns an siIl