The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1899-02-09
STORY OF THE SPOOXERU
81 MRS. NJ. conBEr-sEYMouR.

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spook being the Flemish word for
kost. it will be seen at once that 1
going to tell the story of house
Ivsn up to that very unpopular kind
tenant
The visitor to West Flanders will
II find the Spookerij without little
snstaking. It stands far back from
\ road running between the ancient
Nv Of Bruges and the modern water
\ place of Blankenberghe. 1t will
reached by first following the
burse of the canal anu then as sud
knly abandoning it for short cut
ross several potato and cabbage
Ids.
The Spookerij is not colored, ac-
riding to local custom, either pale
sen, boiled shrimp. for light blue
BIT it is only dirty white. A low
ched rambling dwelling it is just
|ur or five rooms on the ground floor,
same on the floor above, and a
suier at the top. In England it
build be little farmhouse in Elan
rs it ranks as chateau--or it did so
blk before the spooks came into pos
ssion.
We, who wore old residents, knew
as Chateau Rosendael. Nowadays,
puld chance visitor pass that way
make inquiries, he will be told
btit is the Spookerij.
The tall, spare form of an English
named Geoffey Langdale used to
seen in the garden which separated
house from the fields that sur
md it upon three sides, but only
sr sunset. He did not court the
pshiAe, it was kept out of the house
venetian blinds DUNG spring and
nmer.
lhstwo elderly servants who were
lngdale's sole attendants said
The Master" shut himself up
hhs books for companions, and
came forth into the air for an
nor so of an evening and in all
aihers.
Why he had chosen to expatriate
hsef and settle in this solitary
ner Of West Flanders, no one pre-
dsd to know. Every one was at
erty TO hazard a guess, but there
absolutely no means of ascertain
Il such guess was right.
Therefore it was settled that Geof-
y langdale had reasons of his own
loving this absolute retirement,
would never probably reveal what
pse reasons might be. After renting
place for one year, he purchased
avery low price.
Fhe servants, man and wife, frankly
nltted having taken the situation
The sake of the high wages offered;
srwlse they would have preferred
in England.
[ney knew nothing whatever of Mr..
Saale's previous history; they an
Ted an advertisement which had
Peafed in the Daily Telegraph, and
subsequent interview the matter
arranged.
stters-so they said whom ques-
'a-never came for Mr.. Langdale
general way; there was always
however. which arrived upon the
Gay OF every month, and bore the
aon postmark.
i'er Its receipt, Coulson or his
were sent with a check to the
snSh bank, which has existed for
long year in Bruges for the
.enience of residents and passing
Aere was no stint in the domestic
nSements of the little household,
neither was there any extrava-
" ueotfrey Langdale was himself
SEs'aiaer and very frugal eater;
~ not entertain guests and he
" gave anything in charity. Some
Wy siipped through his fingers in
fucnase of books, for he was
anaaiiy adding to his library;
''wlse' Coulson could not imagine
ne did with those monthly
u / snat these servants were spe-
IT'S gwen to gossip concerning their
W. w. indeed, there was but little
I Il 81 1t in country where they
uU' speak more than q word. or
n y the language.
10" ION market days, in Bruges,
9oulson had some chance of con-
P'isS ! In one or other shop where
a ;a Is spoken; her husband, also,
NV = low intimates in the town
ss snom to exchange . few harmless
bs h. Noes In this way, then, some
II peculiarities of Geoffrey Lang
became known.
soor three of his compatriots
i ~ !. Up the courage to call on him,
NJ, ~ guests entrance seemed
y prohibited. Coulson could
'Aaks his gray head rsgrstfully.