Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-02-13
A LIVE GHOST.

Marian Couchley was waiting in coun-
try inn for conveyance to Moreton Grange,
where she was going to earn her living.
She was sick of the bread of dependence.
Yet just now she felt bewildered and
strange. The only clew she had to follow
was brief advertisement in the newspa-
pers, and that had led her hither
"Is Moreton Grange very far?'
"Four miles, miss"
"It must be very lonely"
~ wouldn't like to live there"
"Why notP'
swell, miss, there amt no accountin
for them things, but people do tell strange
stories about the grange bein haunted!"
The grange, as Marian Couchley first
saw it, by the light of faint spring moon,
was glaring red brick house, its northern
gables entirely draped with ivy and its
chimneys secluded from sight Of the road
by dense growing evergreens. Mrs. More
ton was on the steps to greet the newcomer
"a fair, pallid old lady.
II am glad to see you, my DEAR" she
said. "You must have had dreary ride"
And Marian knew that she should love
her employer.
except the servants, were Mrs. Moreton,
her son Aldebert and herself.
Aldebert Moreton-the name was like
knight of romance, and SO was its owner
II hope you like your room. miss" said
the old housekeeper, as she glanced around
the apartment to which she had conducted
Miss Couchley.
"It Is beautiful room," said Marian.
"Tcll me what Is 1t about this house being
haunted9"
people will talk, MISS" Mrs Brett
said, land it's small use tryin to stop EN-,
and the truth is strange things have hap
pened in this house, although it's haunted
by nothin worse than sad memories.
Master Aldebert is the last and youngest
Of three as noble boys as ever made an old
place glad"
"And what has become of the othersl"
"The eldest is Dead" Mrs. BRETT an
swered in whisper. "He lies in bloody
grave, stricken down by the hand Of his
own brother in sudden fit of passion.
Poor Mr.. Hugh! He fled the country to
escape from justice and died in England.
1t nearly killed my mistress. There's her
bell now, and must CO."
So this was the history of Moreton
Grange. Marian shuddered as she sat
alone by the fire, fancying the cry of a
murdered man in every sigh of the wind.
She was sitting at her window one
moonlight night in July, long after the
family had retired, when something white
and spectral glided across the luminous
space on the lawn-the figure of tall
man.
"The ghostr' she gasped inaudibly.
"The ghostP'
Nor did she rest until she had taken
refuge in Mrs. Moreton's room.
The old lady listened to her tale with
trembling silence.
"My DEAR" said she, "you are mistak
Ell. The dwellers of another world are
never allowed to come back to haunt this.
You were asleep-you dreamed uncon-
sciously'
She shuddered as she spoke. Mrs More
ton soothed, explained and coaxed, but in
vain. Marian would not even 60 back to
her own room alone.
II will 60 with you, my DEAR" said the
old lady at length.
As they stepped out into the hall Marian
uttered piercing cry There full before
them, stood the ghost!
Mrs. Moreton drew Marian back into
her room, shut and locked tho door and
sank trembling on the sofa.
''Did not tell youP' faltered Marian.
"How can you explain away this?'
Mrs. Moreton had no word of answer.
She could only rock herself backward and
forward, moaning like one in pain.
"You must not go from this room to-
night, child" she said. ellie down upon
my bed and try to rest"
At the breakfast table Aldebert was
pale and strangely agitated, and his moth
er looked wistfully up in his face as he on
tered. He nodded slightly.
cat last" he said.
"Thank God" Mrs. Moreton murmured.
Marian went to Mrs. Moreton as soon as
Aldebert had withdrawn and falteringly
impaired to her her resolve to leave More
ton Grange The shock her nervous sys-
tenn had received rendered it impossible for
her to remain.
Mrs. Moreton listened in silence.
"Aldebert, she said to her son, who at
that moment entered Miss Couchley is
going to leave us.
"To leave us! Why?"
"She saw-the ghost last night"
"She will never SEQ 1t again, said AL
debert sadly "Marian''-ho had never
called her Marian before-''will you come
with me2'
He led her to darkened apartment in
the disused portion Of the old grange,
where, upon q canopied couch, corpse
lay, robed in the garments Of the gravel
"There is the ghost you saw, Marian"
he said.
"Who is itP" she faltered
my brother Hugh, who has long dwelt
concealed within these walls that wit
messed his crime and his daily atonement
Of remorse and who is at length set free
by the great Pardoncr.
"He used to seek air and exercise at
night, and the people, who had fancied
him dead long ago, believed, from al oc-
casional glimpse Of him, that tho grange
was haunted. The long deception Is over
at last, and the poor prisoner is set free.
Last night he roarhed out, half delirious,
returning only to die.
"Marian," pursued Aldebert in low,
earnest voice. ''you will not leave the
grange nowf'
II will stay" she answered.
And from the wedding day Of the last
heir of Moreton Grange newer, brighter
life dawned upon the old place. AS the
years crept on and the sound of little chill
dren's voices made music around the gray
walls the shadows fled away, and no one,
save Aldebert and his wife, ever knew
where the murderer was laid to rect after
Ibis long penance of solitude and remorse.
Exchange.