The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-12-29
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J TIE Black Ribbon. 81

Although Sir Tristram Beresford was
the direct ancestor of the Waterford
family and did something for the Prot
estant cause at the revolution he
would not have been particularly
known to posterity but for his connec-
ton with an uncommonly fascinating
ghost legend, the foundation of pas
sage in one of SCOTS ballads
Forever more that lady wore
covering on her wrist.
The lady to whom Sir TristNm was
married. Nicola Sophia Hamilton,
laughter of Hugh, Lord Glenawley,
was educated with John, second earl of
Tyrone, and, according to the family
legend, they were so taught that be-
lief in a future state was not among
their convictions. 1t was agreed new
ertheless between the two young peo-
pie that in the event of one dying be-
fore the other the deceased should. If
possible, return and give certainty to
the survivor on that solemn question.
The earl died Oct. IA, 1893, ,in his
twenty-ninth year. and it was two or
three days after when Lady Beresford
attracted her husbands attention at
the breakfast table by a pallid and
careworn look and her wearing black
ribbon round her wrist.
He inquired the cause of these cir
cumstances, but she declined to give
any explanation. She asked. however,
very anxiously for the post, as she eX-
pected to hear of the death of her
- @
tram ridiculed the possibility of her
knowing such an event beforehand.
Nevertheless" said she, my friend
died on Tuesday last at 4 O'Clock"
The husband was startled when a
letter from Lord Thrones steward was
soon after handed in relating how his
,~master had suddenly died at the very
time stated by Lady Beresford
81 can tell you MORE" said the lady,
know will prove welcome. | shall ere
long present you with a SON.
This prediction was likewise in due
time verified During the remaining
years of their union the lady continued
to wear the black ribbon round her
Z wrist. but her husband died without
being made privy to the secret
The widow made an imprudent sec
ond marriage with an officer named
Georges and was very unhappy during
her latter years.
A month after the birth of a fourth
child to Colonel Georges, the day be-
ing her birthday her friends came to
congratulate her, and one of them a
clergyman, told her with blithe coun-
tenance that he had just learned from
parochial documents that she was a
year younger than she thought-she
was only Al
"Oh, then" said she, you have sign
ed my death warrant. If l am only
At today, | have but a few hours to
live. and these | must devote to set
Ting my affairs
The company having all departed ex-
eepting one intimate female friend,
Lady Beresford told that person how it
was she was certain of her approach
ing death and at the same time ex-
planned the circumstances connected
with the sable wristband.
During the night preceding the con-
tram Beresford. she awoke suddenly
and beheld the figure of Lord Tyrone
at her bedside. She screamed and
endeavored, but in vain, to awaken
her husband. At length recovering
some degree of composure she asked
Lord Tyrone how and why he had
come there. He reminded her of their
mutual promise and added.
81 departed this life on Tuesday last
at o'clock. | am permitted to give
you assurance of another world | can
also inform you that you will bear
son to Sir Tristram, after whose death
you win marry again and have other
children and will die in the forty-sey-
enth year of your age"
And how" said she, shall be GER
tain that my seeing you now and hear
ing such important intelligence aH
not mere dreams and illusonsY
The spirit waved his hand. and the
bed curtains were instantly raised and
drawn through a large iron hoop by
which the tester of the bed was sus-
pended. She remained unsatisfied for
she might she said, exercising the
greater strength which one had in
sleep, have raised the curtains herself
He then penciled his name in her
pocketbook. Still she doubted. She
might imagine in the morning that she
had written the name herself
Then, asking her to hold out her
hand. the spirit laid a finger as cold as
ice upon her wrist, which was mme-
diately impressed with black mark
underneath which the flesh appeared
to have shrunk. And then he vanished
Soon after completing her recital and
having finally arranged her affairs the
lady calmly expired in the arms of her
friend. The ribbon being then removed,
the mark was seen for the first time
by any eye but her own.--London
News.
Lean Cows.
1t is often said that a COW will first
take care of herself before she will