The Republican journal., 1904-01-14
AN UNCANNY SECRET
GRIM MYSTERY THAT Turks WITHIN
AN OLD ENGLISH CASTLE.
Three Men Only Know the Truth
kbeat the Terrifying Curse Whfch
Rests Upon the Ancient HabftatiOn.
and Their Lips Are Sealed.

ana Their Lips Are Sealed.
Near the border of two Scottish coun-
ties, set in the middle of broad and
fertile s,rath 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 oluest wing dates from
the thirteenth century, the greater part
of it was built in Jacobean days and
with its numerous turrets, battlements,
cofDels and pinnacles recalls the Clio
ries of ChantiIly and other French
chateauZ of tie same period. 1t be
longs, together with the surrounding
estate TO a wealthy peer, whose grand
father married Il north of England
heiress with a dowry of over a million
sterling. During the greater part of
the year the castle is untenanted save
by few servants and caretakerS, fol
the owner spends his winters abroad
and Ills summers in the English seat
brought into the family by the above
mentioned heiress. But during the
autumn months ii is full of lie and
gayety. for its kindly lord and lady.
Who nave many children and grand
children and L host of friends, keep
open house then in their old Scottish
home, and its halls and corridors. mar
rev passages and winding staircases
eg.n with tie 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 De possessed of little
curiosity and less imagination ii he
does not feel his pulse somewh hat quick
ened and his sleep somewhat broken
during the period of his residence
there, for he has probably heard al
ready something of the weird associa-
tons which cling to the house and its
owners and of the mysterious secret
said to he known only to the head of
the family, TO his heir and to one other
p'tooi, Il 'SNi1t ~ LII anu lVllIblS
to affect the whole lives of those who
learn it and make them different from
other men
No clew to the myspry has ever been
! given 10y any one of the three deposita-
, ries of it. but popular belief has long
connected it with secret cha mber in
the castle which rumor assigns as the
hn1 t1ti Of ct, l,n1f
creature of terrifying aspect and fabu-
lous age, the incarnate embodiment of
the curse which rests upon the house
In the gayest moments enjoyed by
those who during the bright days of
early autumn thronG the guest cham
bers of the castle there is always an
indetinable feeling of some weird pres
ence within its walls.
My dear Young lady" We're The
words of the host to one who was pay
ing him her first visit as he babe her
good night, lit is, | know. the custom
OF ladies' to sit up late in one another'S
rooms chatting and so on. Now. that is
not allowed here. When you go to Your
room tonight remain in it aud lock la
tp''l oIltc pll Il WEI SNlIllllj't > d YER
noon some young people We're enjoying
/ noisy game OF billiard fiveS in the
hall. While the merry din was ut its
height the tail. bowed figure of he
host was suddenly observed to la
standing in the midst of the party. i
want to ask YOU all he said in his
quiet. courteous tones, ITO 90 un 90
|
them until a bell rings. when yoa VIII
be quite at liberty to come dnwn
again" Instantly. like the ARABS of
the poem, the players silently s.oie
away to their respective chambers
After lapse Of some twenty III 'llutes
bell did ring. Down they all came
and resumed their game where it had
t been broken off. No allusion was male
by any one to the mysterious behest
they had received.
In quiet corner of the old castle
there is Il quaint little chapel. diting
from the restoration. decorated by a
Dutch artist of the time and fitted I'D
in recent days with rich altar ard
other accessories by the present owner
who spends much time there engaged
in solitary devotions. \ year or two
ago Il young officer, whose visit had
been shortened by Il sudden summons
to rejoin his regiment, had arranged
to leave the castle at an early hour
i'll tie morning. Quitting his chamber
about dawn, he took wrong turning
in the uncertain light and pushing
open a swing door, found himself in
the chapel, which he had not before
entered. At the far end he observed.
with great surprise. motionlesS fig
ure knealing near the altar and moved
no.Ses 'Ssiy up to see who it was He
recognized his host, still in evenn.
dress. as he had parted from him some
seven hours previously
a young medical man was not long
ago staying at the castle by invit, ;ion
of its owner. who had made his ac-
luaintance abroad, and, being some
thing of an invalid. had asked hi.n to
come and take few weeks holiday
in Scotland and at the same time 10
give him the benefit Of his professional
skill. y room was assigned to him in
one of the towers. and he was in the
full enjoyment of his visit when i.
was suddenly brought to an end in
strange fashion.
Coming home unexpectedly early