The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-01-04
|STORy OF THE SPOOKERU] !
ny MRS. NJ. conBrr-sEYMoun.

SVSV~V~oevVevS
Spook being the Flemish word for
ghost, it will be seen Mt 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 Spookerii without a little
painstaking. 1t stands far back from
the road running between the ancient
city of Bruges and the modern water
ing place OF Blankenberghe II will
be reached by first following the
course of the canal and then rs sud
denly abandoning it for short cut
across several potato and cabbage
fields.
The Spookerii is not colored, ac-
cordiug to local custom, either n pale
green, boiled shrimp. 'or light blue
tint il is only dirty white. 4 low
pitched, rambling dwelling it is just
four or five rooms on the ground floor,
the same on the floor above. and II
grenier Mt the top. In England it
would be little farmhouse in Elan
ders it ranks as chateau--or il did so
rank before the spooks came into pos
session.
We, who were old residents. knew
il 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 Geofl'rey 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. ..s
Why he had chosen to expatriate
himself and settle in this solitary
corner of West Flanders, no one pre-
tended to know. Every one was at
liberty to hazard a guess, but there
was absolutely no means of ascertain
ing if such guess was right
| Therefore it was settled that Geof-
frey Langdale had reasons of his own
for loving this absolute retirement,
and would never probably y 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 have 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.
Letters-so they said when ques-
tioned-never came for Mr.. Langdale
III 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 or his
wife were sent with check to the
English bank, which has existed for
many n long year in Bruges for the
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. Geoifrey Langdale was himself
an abstainer and very frugal eater;
he did not entertain guests aud he
never 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 Il country where they
could not speak more than a word OF
two of the language.
But on market days, in Bruges,
Mrs. Coulson had some chance of con
versation in one or other shop where
English is spoken; her husband, also,
had just few intimates in the town
with whom to exchange few harmless
condolences. In this way, then, some
of the peculiarities of Geoffrey Lang
dale became known.
Two or three of his compatrioti
plucked up the courage to call on him,
but to all guests entrance seemed
strictly prohibited. Coulson coult
only shake his gray head .sgretfully