The record-union., 1894-12-29

Among more than thousand that
have moved through the happy hours in
this good old room, there is not one 1 can
recall who would turn reproving or re-
eliminating face upon us, said the Mo-
rose Traveller emphatically, as if descant-
ing upon the pleasant traits of absent
friends.
Here the Student Traveller passed slip
OF paper to our Chairman, who read its
contents with Frightening face.
Very good; very good, indeed" he
went on cheerily, again pouring the
steamlng liquid into our cups with so
chary caution that it evoked friendly
protests from many of the company.
Il am now asked to propose" he re-
sumed, 1.-The toast-and it is most fitting
one here this night-'To the tender
wralths OF those who have passed before
as here ="
Hear !-hearv "May their loving
presence lingerie "May their shadows
never grow Iessv and other like hearty
outbursts quickly followed; and for the
hrst time during the evening there were
now clinking of cups and a rousing
ciatter OF good cheer as they came ring
ing merrily down upon the table.
something of buzz of genial conversa-
ulon enSued. But IL soon dWindled into
snatcnes of broken remarks and rejoind-
ers; for common distracting influence
was subtly weaving its witchy spell upon
While we had last toasted and cheered,
there had been a cessation of the mea-
sured footballs overhead: but only a ces-
satlon. 1t was as though the walkers had
been challenged by our toasts to the
wraiths OF our own friendly-told tales;
hau listened for moment as with some
keen and intense longing of hearing; and
then, missing the moduIation of kinful
tone in our voices, the ghostly beat, beat,
beat, upon the softly creaking deals had
been unftaggingly resumed.
Wonder if they are the wraiths
others, like US, have unhappiiy con-
jured ~ suggested the Gypsy Traveller,
uneasy in his chair, as if still longing for
the Hutterlng tents and the huddled
humans in rags beneath the dripping
edges of Epping Forest.
"Nonsenseo hazarded the Merry Tray
eler, but apparently without faith in his
own surmise. ''There are no they up
there at all. You all know there isn't six
feet between our ceiling and the roof
tiles ~
"Plenty of room, that, for ghosts"
quavered the Casual Traveller, drawing
his chair a tritie closer to the table.
"Or trouble" mumbled the Vaga bond
Traveller, with the tremble and hum idity
somewhat thickened in his tones.
Here a blazing knot in the fireplace
burst with a detonation which sent Nero
y
Gus movements of restless at our table
Several of us spoke reassuringly to the
animal, but he would not return to his
accustomed place.
mo wonderp exclaimed the Casual
Traveller, springing from the table and
leaning over an oaken settle in the ingle-
nook. Look hero at this manifestation,
One of these panels has jumped wide
open. 1t has Sunken hinges, too -
He pushed his hand and arm into the
dark oritice, but was rewarded by the
discovery of nothing but dust and cob
webs. he listened moment attentively.
That unaccountable tramping is very
plainly heard here. Strange, too. 1t
seems to come now from below, now
from some side apartment, and again dis
tinctly from above US. Listen! Can You
hear ST. Paul's? ?''
We listened alertly. The stout walls
deadened the sound. and the night out
scarcely hear its seemingly mutfled
strokes.
The Casual Traveller saw this in our
faces and cried out:
Come here, quick1yp
We hurried to his side, our attentive
heads punched before the open panel,
Almost thunderous came the closing
strokes of ten from the mammoth clock
OF old st. PauPs, and just as this was
the hour,
With whimful impulse one of our
number flung the panel shut. We could
not reopen it. Disseminating our efforts.
we at last returned to the table, unpIeas-
antly depressed by the trit1ing occur
renee; and each one of our number ap-
parently bent on showing how little he
had been affected by the incident. This
brought on period OF pretentious hilar-
lty, IN which jest and repartee, rollicking
song and reminiscence were invoked to
dispel the dismal influence upon us.
When this enforced diversion was at
its hight, the landlord appeared with two
servants. One brought a tremendous
tray laden with cold collation. we had
ordered, and the other replenished our
huge bowl with what the good little
autocrat of America so aptly termed 'old
particular"
The landlord dismissed his helpers and
fingered a moment to beam on US with a
landlords wise look of toleration and
approval, not unmingled with tinge of
melancholy over the near loss of such
genteel and profitable guests
j ust as he was backing out of the room
with unctious grimaces and bows the
Glpsy Traveller pumped the inquiry at
him:
''See here, Splitpenny, have you anv
witches or warlocks bundled away in
your musty old rooms?''
Witches an warlock ?n
es, ghosts, bogles, bugaboos ?" added
the Clerical Traveller with a touch of se-
verify.
Old Splitpenny's face heightened as he
answered evasively:
low should / ave time fur secb di-
versions? 'opes ye've everything snug
an tidy, now sirs."
lie began again to grimacingly back
through the doorway, when the Student
Traveller insisted:
But, tell us, now, Splitpenny, is there
anything unusual going on about the inn
anyone suffering, or in trouble bara
alongside us?
"Lor' J. 'Ow can any gentleman lilo
you, be thlnkin' o. th' like O, that on
sech night o. ali th' year? II anvtbinL
more's needed, jess make it known. sirs.
must be down at th' tap, sirs. She'll he
a 'eavin' directly, in front O, st. PauI,s
sirs !' -
The landlord here referred to the
thousands who would soon be gatbering
before and about the great Cathedral to
add their annual din to the clamor of the
bells when the midnight chime was runp:
but his manner and remarks had moi
lessened the restlessneSs of our company.
The lunch and the punch happiIv
served as brief and timely diversion
Toasts were drunk TO separate Travellers.
to the company collectively, and at last
with much feeling and hoarseness of ut.