New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-26

announced by cable and which places In mourning
her son, Admiral Lord Charles Beresford. who has
just returned to England from visit to this coun-
try has doubtless been heralded in similar fashion
oy the supernatural appearance Of Lady Beresford
wife of Sir Trstram Beresford, and the ancestress
therefore of Lord Charles Beresford. Lady Beres-
iord had a romantic affection for tho Lord Tyrone
of her day, and filled with doubts and fears as to
the value Of their religious opinions, they made
solemn promise to another that whoever of the
two first died should il permitted by the Almighty,
appear to the survivor for the purpose Of proving
the existence of the Divinity. Fifteen years later
she came down morning for breakfast, looking
very much agitated and with a black ribbon tied
around her wrist Her husband asked her IL she
had hurt herself, whereupon she earnestly en-
treated him not to inquire as to the cause OF her
wearing it, saying, "You will never me again
without it." She then eagerly and anxiously asked
whether any letters had arrived, and on being
questioned by her husband remarked that she ex-
pected to hear of Lord Tyrone's death, which she
declared had taken place the previous Tuesday.
Her husband laughed. but In the afternoon letter
was brought in stating that Lord Tyrone had died
on Tuesday morning at Dublin. To the astonish-
ment of Sir Trstram Beresford. his wife, instead
Of nanfesting grief, showed feelings Of relief and
exclaimed: II can now give you most satisfactory
piece Of intelligence. 1 going TO become
mother; it will be boy, and an heir TO your es-
tates." A son was born within the year, who, IN
course Of time, inherited. not only the Beresford
title and estates, but, marrying Lord Tyrone's only
child and heiress of all the lie Poer property, was
created Earl of Tyrone himself, his father-n-laws
title being revived IN his favor.
Many years afterward, when her deathbed
Lady Beresford revealed to her eldest and to
Archbishop William King. of Dublin, her spiritual
adviser and most intimate friend the reason of her
wearing the black ribbon her wrist She de-
clared that on the night preceding the arrival Of
the announcement Of the death of the last Of
LIE Poer Earls of Tyrone he had appeared to her
sitting by the side of her bed On her screaming
with fright. ne exclaimed: Have you forgotten
our promise TO each other2 I died Tuesday
morning at 4. have been permitted thus to APP
pear 10 you that the revealed religion is the
true and only one by which can be saved. am
also suffered to inform you that you will seven
months hence become the mother Of a son. who Will
marry my infant heiress, and thai you will die in
your siXty-edghth year" Lady Beresford continued
Il begged him for some convincing sign proof.
that when the morning came might be able to
rely that his appearance had been real, and not
merely the phantom of my imagination He there
upon laid his hand, which cold MARBLE
on my wrist. and where the fingers touched it the
sinews shrank up and the nerves withered. Now
said he, let no mortal eye while you live ever see
that wrist "
After Lady Beresford's death which occurred
precisely as had been predicted in her sixty-eghth
year, her eldest and the Archbishop of Dublin
united the black ribbon found the wrist exactly
as she had described it, with the withered
and sinews shrunk, the discovery being placed on
written record by both men. namely the prelate
and the first Of the Beresford Earls Of Tyrone.
Lady Beresford lies buried in the Cathedral of
St Patrick, at Dublin. and appears TO the Beresford
family whenever a death IS about to take place
among the members Of the house. That is the true
story and origin Of the famous ghost OF the Beres-
fords, the existence Of which is known and believed
in from one end of ireland to the other,
Columns could be written of equally well
authenticated instances of supernatural visitatons,
of family spooks and Of seeing things" So that
It is not altogether astonishing that the story of
Sir Gilbert Parker and Of one or two Of his fellow
members to the effect that they had Sir Fred
erick Rasch seated IN the House Of Commons at the
very moment when he lying I'll IN bed at his
country place near Danbury, in Essex, should be
believed by men who nearly every one Of Them in
cude family ghost among their ancestral tradi-
lions IN which they have been brought to believe
as IN the Holy Writ.
MARQUISE DE FONTENOY.