The Portland daily press., 1895-07-25
AT HEYTON GRANGE.

Some years ago I met Gascoyne dressed
in suit of Scotch gray sporting clothes.
1t was at q railway station, and he had be-
side him his gun case and fishing rods.
Knowing that he was not man to spend
a great deal Of money on his own pleasure,
I guessed at once thaS he had been lucky
enough to receive an~1nvitation from some
one who possessed fishing and shooting
rights. "Hello, Gasooyne," I said as /
came up with him. whats the game
now? This looks something like business. -
"Ah, my boy" says he, 81 should think
it is too. Old Jefferson has been looking
out for country place for some time, you
know, and he has managed to find one up
In the north at marvelously cheap rent.
He's taken it for 10 months, and if he
likes it he has the chance of buying it at a
ridiculous figure
"Why, what's the matter with itp' I
said.
"Oh, nothing" he replied, ''that I
know of, but it doesn't suit the owner for
some reason, and he has had it on his
hands for very long time and could not
let it, and suppose he got tired of it and
OAAOuSlu 4O MOu10 SOu I1a VI ~ ctp oily
price.
Jefferson writes me that it is really a
grand place, with some glorious shooting
and fishing and really magnificent house,
and he's asked me to go and have a
months sport. I thought it was too good
chance to be missed, and so I packed up
my traps at once, and I m off,
AT that the train came up, and after
seeing him comfortably settled in a corner
seat and wishing him good sport and a
high old time strobe away
What was my surprise, in little mora
than week afterward, to meet him one
evening in the High street as 1 was re-
turning from business.
why, Gascoyne, said, whatever has
brought you back again 80 soon? thought
you were going to stay month";
''Neyer a month would I stay at that
place for any price, he replied, "but
come, let us walk up to the Ring of Bells,
at the end of the village. We shall be
quiet there, andfI'll tell you all about it,
1t makes ms feel SO queer every time I
think of it that I really can't tell you with
out glass of something"
We went up to the old inn, and before a
comfortable glass and blazing fire we lit
orr pipes, and he commenced:
JeHerson was right when he said he
nad splendid place. It's fallen into dis
repair little through being untenanted SO
long, but Heyton Grange, as it is called,
Is regular country mansion, with mag.
nificent hall, fne, large entertaining rooms,
and don't Anow how many bedrooms and
offices up st9irs. I found he'd invited
qulte NUMBER OF fellows, and intended
having regular smoothing party staying in
the house, but he had asked me up day
or Two In advance, SO that we could have
quleO time together before the rest came.
we had three most enjoyable days. The
country round was magnificent We had
lew ldle shots, ana cast ny or TWO for
trout as we sauntered along, talking of old
umes, ana these lazy trials were sufficient
10 snow us that we should have line sport
When we commenced IN earnest. We spent
tnese Gays alone, and Jefferson and L slept
Sogesaef curing tnat Time, for we are old
irlenos, as you know, ana nked better TO
De WIN MIN than to De IN the room allot-
ted 10 me IN tne iaroH Wes5 wing until
'na6 parG Oh Ine mouse was occupied by
some OIL inc o0ner vlslGofs. On the fourth
uay 5ney came. we hao glorious time OF
IT, ana wenU 10 ped elred out. dropped
TO sleep at once, but after some two hours
WOKE up paoned IN cold perspiratlon
and with terrible feelng that lcould not
account lor. MneGher nao peen cream
ing OF no coulo not Tell, Dut raised my
sell on one arm ana looked around the
room; ana tnere"flgno py inc Ioot or the
peo' saW-ene pust OF woman as though
tne pooy hao peen ou1 through at the
walssi ST.
Inc lace was as white as marble, and
ene eyes seemed TO look oeseechipgly upon
me. Iefrned, was unable TO stlr, and
the hgure gradually noated away and dis
appeared unrough une panels OF the wall,
heavlng as IL dld SO low, deep sigh.
VI course sleep was Impossible after
tnat' iay III state OF terror untli morn
ing! nu0 managed TO drop lneo q trou-
pleo, pfoken slumper as oayngnU appeared
ana slept on uneasliy until was startled
py KNOCK at the door ana the announce
ment tnat the nrst breakfast Dell mac
TTnEA< ~ TO ~ f,f-4x x-rNAI III l.