The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-07-08
A GHOST STORY.
The Spectral Visitant of Death to the
Dissipated Lord LyttletOn
Century Ago.
THE LATEST.

Lord Lyttleton, in the winter of the
year IT'S, had retired from the metrop-
oils with party of his dissipated COM
panions to profane the Christmas at his
country house, Pit place, near Epson,
in Surrey. They had not long aban-
doned themselves to the indulgence of
their dissolute orgies when u sudden
ard unexpected gloom was cast over the
party by the extraordinary depression
Of spirits and detection of countenance
which were observed to take possession
of their host. 1t was in vain that he at
tempted to silence the inquiries of the
guests on the subject of his detection.
They were convinced that he was i'll,
or had met with loss at play, or was
crossed in love; and his denial of all
these imputations only excited a more
eager curiosity to be informed of the
origin Of his depression. Thus urged,
lie at last determined to reveal the Sc
cret that SO painfully distressed him.
The night before, on his retiring to
bed, after his servant was dismissed and
his light extinguished, he had heard a
noise resembling the fiuttering of a
dove at his chamber window. This at
tracted his attention to the spot, when.
looking in the direction of the sound.
he saw the figure of an unhappy female,
whom he had seduced and deserted. and
who, when deserted, had put violent
end to her own eXistence; she was
standing in the aperture of the window
from which the futtering sound had
proceeded. The form approached the
naturally light, the objects of the cham
Der were distinctly visible. Raising her
hand and pointing to dial which stood
on the mantelpiece of the chimney, the
figure, with severe solemnity of voice
and manner, announced to the appalled,
and conscience-strickcn man that at
that very hour on the third day after the
visitation his life and his sins would be
concluded, and nothing but their pun
ishment remain, if he awaited himself
not of the warning to repentance which
he had received. The eye of his lord
ship glanced on the dial. the hand was
on the stroke of ~. Again the apart
ment was involved in total darkness,
the warning spirit disappeared, and
bore away at its departure all the light
rcss of heart and buoyancy of spirit
which had formerly distinguished the
unhappy being to whom the tremen-
dous summons had been delivered.
On the succeeding day his lordship's
guests, with the connivance of his at
tendants, had provided that the clocks
throughout the house should be ad-
vanced an hour, without the impos-
lures being discovered. Ten o'clock
struck-the nobleman was silent and
depressed. Eleven struck-the depres-
sion deepened, and now not even smile
indicated him to be conscious of the eff
forts of his associates, as they attempt
ed to dispel his gloom. Twelve struck.
He returned to his chamber, convinced
of his security, and believing that the
hour of peril was now past.
Lord Lyttleton's guests remained to-
gether to await the completion of the
time so ominously designated by the
vision. A quarter of an hour had
elapsed-they heard the valet descend
from his masters room; it was just 10.
His lordship's bell now rang violently;
the clock struck one at their entrance.
and the unhappy lord lay extended on
the bed before them, pale and lifeless,
and his countenance terribly convulsed.
London Household Words.