Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-05
An Uncan-
ny Secret
GRIM MYSTERY THAT Turks WITHIN
AN OLD ENGLISH CASTLE.


About the Terrifying Curse which
Rests Upon the Ancient liabitntiOn.
and Their Lips Are Sealed.
Near the border of two Scottish coun.
ties, set in the middle Of a broad and
fertile strath and protected from the
northern blasts by a range of lofty
mountains, there stands and has stood
for generations an ancient feudal cas-.
tie.
Although the oldest wing dates from
the thirteenth century, the greater part
Of 1t was built In Jacobean days and
with Its numerous turrets, battlements.
corbels and ~pinnacles recalls the glo
ries of Chantilly and other French
chateaux Of the same period. 1t DO
longs, together with the surrounding
estate, to a wealthy peer, whose grand
father married a north of England
heiress with a doWry Of over d million
sterling. During the greater part of
the year the castle is un~tenanted say
by a few servants and caretakers. for
the owner spends his winters abroad
and his summers In the English seat
brought into the family by the above
mentioned heiress. But during the
autumn months 1t is full of life and
gayety. for its kindly lord and lady.
who have many children and grand
children and a host Of friends, keep
upsern house then II their oil Scottish
haES,le, and its halls and corrilors, mar
row passages and winding staircases
echo with the sound Of merry voices
and the tread Of youthful feet from
morning till night.
Cheerful, however. as the invited
guest finds the old castle and warm as
is the welcome extended to him within
its walls, he must be possessed OF little
curiosity and less Imagination If he
does not feel his pulse somewhat quick
ened and Ills sleep somewhat broken
during the period of his residence
there, for he has probably heard al.
ready something of the weird ~associa-
lions which cling to the house and It's
owners and Of the mysterious secret
said TO be known only TO the head OF
the family. TO his heir and 70 one other
person, d secret 50 grim md terrible as
to affect the Whole lives of those who
learn it and make them different from
other men,
No cIew to the mystery has ever been
given by any one Of the three deposita
ries of it. but popular belief has long
connected IL with a secret chamber in
the castle which ruinor assigns as the
habitation Of d strange half human
creature of terrifying aspect and fabu-
lous age. the i%ncarnate embodiment of
the curse which rests upon the house.
In the gaycst moments enjoyed BY
those who during the bright days of
early autumn throng the guest cham
bers of the castle there IS always an
i%ndefinable feeling Of some weird pres
ence within its walls.
MY dear young lady," were the
words OF the host to one who was pay,
ing him her first visit as he babe her
good night, 1T Is, ! know, the custom
Of ladies to sit up late in nj anothers
rooms chatting and so ON. Now. that is
not allowed here. When you so to your
room tonight remain in 1t and lock the
door," Once on n wet summers after.
noon some young people were enjoying
q noisy game of billiard fives In the
hall. While the merry din was at lis
height the tall. bowed figure Of the
host was suddenly observed to be
standing in the midst Of the party. Il
want 10 ask You NIL" he said In his
quiet, courteous tones. ITO go up Ia
your rooms at once and to remain In
them until a bell rings, when you will
again" Instantly, like the Arabs oi
the poem. the players silently stole
away to their respective chambers
After n lapse Of some twenty minutes
a bell did ring. Down they all came
and resumed their game where 1t had
been broken of. No allusion was made
by any one 10 The mysterious belest
they had received.
In d quiet corner Of the old castle
there is q quaint little chapel, dating
from the restoration. decorated by Z
Dutch artist Of the time and fitted al
In recent days with a rich altar and
other accessories by the present owner
who spends much time there engaged
in solitary devotions. A year Or tW'
ago Il young officer. whose Visit hi
been shortened by n sudden summons
to rejoin his regiment. had arransel
to leave the castle at nh early hon.
in the morning. Quitting his cfiainlut
about dawn. he took a wrong turnin:
In the uncertain light and. pusliin;
open Il swing door. found himself y
the chapel, which he had not bcfor'
entered. Al the far end he observed
with great surprise. a motionless fig
ure knecling near the altar and move,
n0iseiessly up 10 see WHO Il was. IL
recognized his host. still Ii evening
dress. as he had parted from him SOM
seven hours previously.
Al young medical nan was not l0ni
ago staying at the castle by Invitation
..@l. Tad uaaIa hta az