The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18


] spent at Lavrock Grange in the year SO.
As an army doctor have met with strange
adventures in far lands, and have seen some
gruesome sights in the little wars which are
constantly being waged on the frontiers of
our empire, but it was reserved for an old
country house in Hants to be the scene of
the most noteworthy episode in my life
The experience was a painful one, and 1
hope il may never be repeated-but indeed
so CHASTITY an event is not likely to occur
again. If my story reads more like fiction
than truth. l can only quote the well-worn
saying Of the latter being stranger than the
former. Many time in my wandering life
have ] proved the truth of this proverb.
The whole affair rose out of the invitation
which Frank Ringan sent me to spend
CT ris-mas with himself and his cousin Percy
al the family seat near Christchurch. At
that time l was home on leave from India,
and shortly after my arrival / CHANGED TO
meet with Percy Ringan in Piccadilly. He
vas an Australian, with whom l had been
Intimate some years before in Melbourne
dapper little man, with sleek, fair hair and
transparent complexion, looking as. fragile
as a Dresden china image, yet with plenty
of pluck and spirits He suffered from
Heart disease, and was liable to faint. on oc-
casionsi yet he fought against his mortal
weakness with silent courage, and, with
certain precautions against overexcitement.
he managed to enjoy life fairly well.
notwithstanding his pronounced effem-
macy and somewhat trucking subservency
TO rank and high birth, 1 liked the little
man very well for his many good qualities.
ON the present occasion / was glad to see
him, and expressed my pleasure
Although 1 did not expect to see you in
1s,v,4s I'D off
had passed.
Il have been in London these nine months
my dear Iascelles,'' he said, in his usual
mincing way, partly by way of a change
and partly to see my cousin Frank, who
indeed, invited me to come over from Aus
tralia."
Is that the rich cousin you were always
speaking about in Melbourne?"
Yes. But Frank is not rich. am the
wealthy Ringan, but he is the head of the
family. You see, DOCTOR" continued Percy,
taking my arm and pursuing the subject in
a conversational manner, my father, be-
ing a younger son, emigrated to Melbourne
in the gold-digging days and made his for
tune out there. His brother remained at
home on the estates, with very little money
TO keep up the dignity of the family, so my
father helped the head of his house from
uncle and father died, leaving Frank and
me as heirs, the one to the family estate,
the other to the Australian wealth. So"
so you assist your cousin to keep up the
dignity of the family as your father did be-
fore YOU"
We'll, yes, I do" admitted Percy, frank
w. "YoI. see, we Ringans think a great
deal of our birth and position. So much SO
that we have made our wills in one an
others favor
How do you mean?"
We'll if I die Frank inherits my money,
and if he dies I become heir to the Ringan
estates. 1t seems strange that should tell
you all this. Lasceiles; but you were so in
innate with me in the old days that you
can understand my apparent rashness.'
1 could not forbear chuc<le at the rea-
son assigned by Percy for his confidence,
especially as it was such a weak one. The
little man had a tongue like a town-crier,
and could no more keep his private affairs
to himself than woman could guard Sc
cret. Besides 1 saw very well that with his
inherent snobbishness he desired to i'm
press me with the position and antiquity of
his family, and with the fact-undoubtedly
true-that it ranked amongst the landed
gentry of the kingdom.
However the weakness, though IN bad
taste, was harmless enough, and had no
scorn for the confession of it. Still. felt
trine bored, as 1 took little interest in the
chronicling of such small beer, and shortly
parted from Percy after promising to dine
with him the following week.
At this dinner, which took place at the
Athenian Club. 1 met with the head of the
Ringan family; or. to put it palmer, with
Percy's cousin Frank. Like the Australian,
he was small and neat, but enjoyed much
better health and lacked the effeminacy Of
the other Yet on the whole liked Percy
the best, as there was a sly cast about
Franks countenance which did not relish,
and he patronized his colonial cousin In
rather an offensive manner.
The latter looked up to his English kns-
man with all Difference, and would, 1 am
sure, have willingly given his gold to re-
gid the somewhat furnished escutcheon or
the Ringans. Outwardly, the two cousins
were so alike as to remind one of Tweedle-
dunn and Tweedledee; but after due consid-
Grafton 1 decided that Percy was the better
natured and more honorable of the two.
For some reason Frank Ringan seemed de-
sirous of cultivating my acquaintance; ana
in one way and another ! saw a good deal
of him during my stay in London. Finally,
when l was departing on visit to some
relatives in Norfolk, he invited me TO spend
Christmas at Ringshaw Grange-not, as 1t
afterwards appeared, without an Interior
motive.
Il can take no REFUSAL" said he with
heartiness which sat i'll on him.. Percy,
as an old friend of yours, has set his heart
on my having you down; and--if may say
SOL have set may heart on the same thing.
oh you really must come. Lascelies'
cried Percy esgerly. I'VE are going TO keep
Christmas in the real old English fashion
Washington Irving's style, you know; Molly
wassail-bowl games and mistletoe.
And perhaps a ghost or so,' hnisneo
Frank, laughing. yet with side glance at
his eager little cousin.
Abr said L 80 your Grange Is
haunted"
Il should think So" said Percy, before his
cousin could speak, land with good old
Queen Anne ghost. Come down, doctor,
and Frank shall put you in the haunted
chamber"
'Non' cried Frank, with a sharpness
which rather surprised me. ''I'll put no one
In the Blue Room; the consequences might.
be fatal You smile. Lascelles, but assure
you our ghost has been proved to exist