The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-18

and rear magnificent cattle, importing the
rarest specimens Of live stock from
abroad. Let other men speculate IN the
paper stock and shares-in their guanos
or Chiiian nitrates; loved to speculate
in the harvest which might spring from
my seed, as it sent up tender green shoots
through the soil and in. the rain which
might descend, This is a kind Of specu-
lation in which one may gain without
another losing; and upon the profits which
it yields the blessing Of heaven may be
asked with a clear conscience.
Yet / had sufficient commercial blood
in my veins not 10 rush blindly into
buying the frst property which offered
itself. / thought it better TO wait until
/ could secure a handsome little estate
at a low figure-say $1,000; the remainder
to be my working capital
/ watched the advertisements in the
newspapers. One day 1 saw that a fine
property up in one Of the mountainous
counties, containing an ancient castle,
was to be sold. It comprised 800 acres
of arabic land and meadows. and 1900
acres of forest, together with sundry
buildings scattered over its area The
price demanded was only $1,000. ! went
10 the lawyer representing the vendors.
He explained to me that the estate had be-
longed to a certain Count Kearandy. VINO
had inhabited the castle until his recent
death; and that his heirs wished to sell
II just as it stood. with its live stock and
plant, and even with the furniture and
pictures within the castle walls.
but If do not want the furniture and
pictures. / inquired.
"Oh. the price would remain the same
seven Observation-Disclosures you desire them
or not Live stock, plant. pictures. and
everything are simply thrown into the bar
gain
but do you think that the purchaser of
an estate should be compelled to wear the
late proprietor's old coats?'
The lawyer laughed and said ne thought
nothing of the kind.
Why do the family wish to sell out?" /
asked.
zone of the heirs. a soldier, has been
killed on active service. the second-his
sister-has got married, and the third can
not attend to business"
What sort of land is it?'
"Good-some first rate. some second rate
very fine meadows-a stream running
through the property and watering the
whole OF tia windmill and a sawmil
which cuts up the valuable forest tim
Der. The estate is well worth the money,
and will yield a handsome income"
rs there not some drawback attached
10 it?"
None whatever"
I had glanced at the inventory Of the
plant. This alone was worth n,5OO
wondered more and more why the present
owners had decided to accept such a ride
ulously small price. The lawyer seemed
to divine my thought.
The reason why they are selling at so
low figure is that a clause in the viii
OF the testator makes it a sine qua non
that the purchaser shall take over all his
old servants. steward. valet coachman.
stableman, etc-and also allow the orphan
girl he adopted to remain living in the
castle. This is the only obstacle, and
II is not a serious one. for the testator
has left all these people ample pensions
for life"
why. that is no obstacle at all; for in
any case 1 must have employed such
servants. II is good thing they are al
ready in the castle
The lawyer gave a gesture Of surprise
as he said:
self?"
OF course. am"
I'm the castle?''
Certainly. You don't expect me to take
rooms by the month in the cottage of one
of my farm laborers."
Il had no idea you intended to live there
why not? Are there ghosts gliding
about within its chambers ?-bloodstains
on the ceilings which can't be washed
out?-midnight vampires such as Dumas
described2 So much the better-I am not
afraid of them. Besides, 1 am only the son
OF a merchant, and no highborn ladies
will condescend to visit me from the other
world in rustling robes. And, moreover. I
intend to install a cheese factory on the
estate, and the smell of cheese viii send
tine most obstinate ghost about his bust
ness"
We both of us smiled, and when I had
once more assured the lawyer that nv
nerves were strong, he said:
Well, then, there is nothing to hinder
the bargain"
The deeds of transfer were in due course
signed, and now felt sort of childish
curiosity and pleasure in possessing a
castle which was reputed to be haunted
and had its own ancestral ghosts l myself
could be frightened at none of these things
= should only be alarmed if one of nv
debtors had run away or one of my trou-
blesome creditors had come back TO visit
me from the other world. But Ii would he
fun TO see the people around me- protes-
quely alarmed at nothing al. all and afraid
TO venture out at twilight into the court
yard or even into the corridors.
A few days after the completion of the
purchase, TOOK leave OF my friends who
would not see me for years. and started
OF by coach for my new residence. 7 had
already written to the steward telling him
to have light carriage waiting for me
at the last station, B.; and / found the
vehicle punctually there. The coachnan
was dressed In mourning-I supposed that
he was mourning his deceased master. A
long black veil hung from his hat such
as is worn by the driver of a hearse. al
ways respect the sentiment of grief: but
II was little unpleasant to have this man
sitting beside me as though he were driv-
ing the horses of St Michael. 1t was a
good thing that there was no black cloth
on the horses themselves; or people would
certainly have mistaken the whole thing
for a funeral
Nevertheless, / set my mind at ease. and
we drove off. 1 told the man to 90 as
fast as he could, because it was already
dusk. It is true that he handled the reins
very well; but as we travelled on | was
not pleased TO hear the frequent deem
signs which he uttered Now and then he
sighed with a sort of believing effect like
a sleeping COW; and when ! asked him
what was the matter he would reply that
Il was impossible for him to tell anyone
what load was lying on his heart Very
Well-as long as he didn't break NV 5,a.l