Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-03-09
STORY OF THE SPOOKERU

BY MRS. NJ. CoRBET-sEYMoUR.

Spook being the Flemish word for
ghost, it will be seen at once that
am going to tell the story of house
given up to that very unpopular kind
of tenant.
The visitor to West Flanders will
not find the Spookerij without little
painstaking. 1t stands far back from
the road running between the ancient
city of Bruges and the modern water
ing place Of Blankenberghe. 1t will
be reached by first following the
course of the canal and then as sud-
denly abandoning it for short cut
across potato and cabbage fields.
The Spookerij is not colored, ac-
cording to local custom, either r pale
green, boiled shrimp, or light blue
tint; it is only dirty white. A low
pitched, rambling dwelling it is just
four or five rooms on the ground floor,
the same on the floor above, and
grenier at the top. In England it
woul 4As.e a little farmhouse IN Flan-
~, thanks as chateau -or it did SO
s,nk before the spooks came into pos
session.
We, who were old residents, knew
it as Chateau Rosendael. Nowadays,
should chance visitor pass that way
and make inquiries, he will be told
that it is the Spookerii.
The tall, spare form of an English
man named Geoffey Langdale used to
be seen in the garden which separated
the house from the fields that sur
round it upon three sides, but only
after sunset. He did not court the
sunshine; it was kept out Of the house
by venetian blinds DUNG spring and
summer.
The two elderly servants who were
Mr.. Langdale's sole attendants said
that "the Master" shut himself up
with his books for companions, and
only came forth into the air for an
hour or so of an evening and in all
weathers.
Why he had chosen 10 expatriate
himself and settle in ,his solitary
corner of West Flanders, no one pre-
tended to know. Every one was at
liberty to hazard guess, but there
was absolutely no means of ascertain
ing if such guess was right.
Therefore it was settled that Geof-
frey Laugdale had reasons of his own
for loving this absolute retirement,
and would never probably reveal what
those reasons might be. After renting
the place for one year, he purchased
it at very low price.
The servants, man and wife. frankly
admitted having taken the situation
for the sake of the high wages offered;
otherwise they would bave preferred
life in England.
They knew nothing whatever of Mr..
Langdale's previous history; they an
swered an advertisement which had
appeared in the Daily Telegraph, and
at subsequent interview the matter
was arranged.
Lottsrs-so they said when ques-
toned d--never came for Mr.. Langdale
in general way; there was always
one, however, which arrived upon the
fifth day of every month, and bore the
London postmark.
After its receipt, Coulson OF his
wife were sent with check to the
English bank, which has existed for
uuuy loHS year III DIuSoS iot ouO
convenience of residents and passing
visitors.
There was no stint in the domestic
arrangements of the little household,
but neither was there any extrava-
gance. Geoffrey Langdale was himself
an abstainer and very frugal eater;
he did not entertain guests and he
mover gave anything in charity. Some
money slipped through his fingers in
the purchase of books, for he was
continually adding to his library;
otherwise, Coulson could not imagine
what he did with those monthly
checks.
Not that these servants were spe-
cially given TO gossip concerning then
master; indeed, there was. but little
chance of it in country where they
could not speak more than word OF
two Of the language.