The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-14

up for the inconveniences and discom- forts of travel.
 A dim light shone from the small win dows of the lodge at the entrance to the park, and the gates were thrown open by an old man who paid little attention to carriage or occupants. After long ride under the trees. Lady Gradden caught her first glimpse of 1 Graddsn ;a is n distance. A few lights glimmered from the lower windows, but the greater part of the massive stone structure was sharp ly outlined in black against the dark
 The homecoming was cordial enough as cordial us an English gentlewoman who had looked for different things from her eldest son could make it without sac rilcing her dignity. She, A sad faced. faded blonde in her sixties, kissed her sons wife lightly on the cheek and bade sented to the immediate family, inciud- ing Rob, the merry 16-year-old younger son Somehow Lady May liked Rob from the first. He seemed more alive, more human, more American than the others.
 Then came dinner, with its many courses, which was as long and depress- ing as only an English family dinner in the country can be, so that at 10 o'clock circle and retire to her room: That night her dreams were filled with lords and ladies. knightly tilt and court splen- dors, but the morning brought her back 
 The moist weather kept her indoors and she resolved in the morning to make a tour of inspection of the great house. Sir Humphrey. from the library; "go where you will; but shall not Rob or l
 .T am not the least afraid" laughed Lady May Ut will be such novelty to 20 alone, and I shall trust to my Yam kee wit to keep me out of private apart ments' . A..
 Room after room was preesente,d Is,i ,stS to carved furniture, the rich hangings. the fine old paintings. costly ornaments ana decorations, and the atmosphere or an tiuuity everywhere manifest, brought to her mind tho court dreams or the night before. So, with her imagination keyed to its highest note, Lady May May Wandersa ~atId ssa came to the north wing. There, at the far end of the long corridor, in an alcove between two mullioned windows. stoo9 b'r 5V some m magnetic charm she seemed drawn toward the tarnished relic.
 "Who are you?" asked Lady May sweeping an exaggerated courtesy Defore
 :T am Sir Humphrey Gradden," came a deep voice from the armor, and yot are welcome, my daughter, to Graodef
 Whereupon Lady May did what almos any healthy young woman on either sidt of the Atlantic would have done undel the circumstances-gave piercinl scream and fell to the noor Tn oea'
 There a few moments afterward young Sir Humphrey, his mother, her house keeper and half the servants of the es tabiishment found her. In her own room tender and experienced hands sooI brought her back to conscioueness' OnIl Sir Humphrey, his mother ana the mousse keeper were pi esent. ~ |.
 Why didn't you tell me the house | haunted?'' said Lady May, sitting ul and looking from one to the other. "Haunted?" "Yes; how else could old Sir Humphre!
 Young Sir Humphrey gasped and sanl | into the nearest chair his mother caugn at the nearest support in order to saw | herself from falling, and the housekeep | era good Catholic-devoutly crossed her self
 When Lady May was strong enougl Sir Humphrey told her the family tradi | tion enlarginR much upon 1t, and repeat ing the legend: When Sir Humphre, | speaks joy will come to Gradden House. 1 Lady May only smiled and hoped It woul' | come true.
 And inside the year joy did come t l Graoden House in a wee pink morsel o l humanity, who on the parish register ant | to the world is known as Humphrey, bu to those nearest and dearest Joy Is hi l only name.
 The rusty old armor still stands in tn north wing of Gradden House. but wheth ! CT Lady May heard actual words on tha | eventful morning, or imagined she hear | them. only old Sir Humphrey in the cryp at St. Martin s-on-the-Hill. or mischiev | ous brother Rob from his school at Eto can tell.