Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-02-26

lew moments later, d1nnef Oe1Q8 an.
nounced. the guests retired. leaving tho
clergyman at his place by the fire. The
hostess having assigned Bishop VIII
berforce the seat Of honor at her right
hand. as soon az an opportunity offer.
cd he remarked:
II beg your pardon, madam, but may
I inquire who was the clergyman we
left sitting in the drawing room?"
"Ah. you have seen him, then7" re-
Piled the lady. 1T is not every one
who has that privilege. l cannot tell
you who he is or whence he comes.
For many years this specter has haunt
ed the house and grounds. 1t has, in
fact, been a tradition in the family. He
seems to do no harm, and, although he
appears only occasionally, we have be-
come quite accustomed to our friendly
ghost"
"How very singular" remarked his
lordship. But have you never ad-
dressed your specter?'
Indeed. I have had no opportunity.
nor the desire, for that natter" re-
sponded the hostess. growing pale.
MAY take tho liberty now?" in
CURED the dignitary.
with all my heart, your lordship,"
replied the lady. The bishop arose
and, returning to the drawing room,
found the clergyman where he had
left him few minutes before. Hav-
ing no fear, the bishop said kindly:
"Who are you. my friend. and why
are you hereT'
The specter seemed to sigh deeply
and say as though to itself. AT last"
Then in a hollow voice. addressing
the bishop, it continued: II am the
spirit of a clergyman who left this
world some eighty years ago. and I
am here to impart to any one who will
receive 1t 4 secret which died with
me. I could not rest In my grave
while 4 great wrong was being done
which it was in my power to right. I
have been returning all these years In
the hope some one would address me,
for it was not given to me to be the
first to speak. All men have stunned
me until now. and it IL your mission
to do my bidding. was called to this
house eighty years ago to receive a
confession from dying man. He
was the sole possessor Of secret the
knowledge Of which would alter ma
terially the entail Of this vast estate.
and in his death he wished to repair
the terrible wrong upon his kin.
AT his request I wrote down the
confession word for word as he gave
It to me. and when he finished he ex-
pired in my arms. 1t was very impor-
tant that should return to London
that night. and in passing through the
library to leave the house concluded
Il would be safer not to carry the pa
per on which was written the confess
sjon away with me, but to place It In
some secure. unseen spot, where I
could obtain It the following day and
deliver the document to the person for
whom It was intended. Mounting the
steps to the bookshelves, I took out
copy of Young's, Might Thoughts,'
which was the first book upon the up
permost shelf nearest the last win.
dow. and, inserting the paper careful
y between its leaves. I replaced the
book and departed. A horse was
awaiting me at tho door, but ere W
reached the entrance Of the grounds
be took fright. was thrown and in
stantly killed. Thus died the secret
with me. No one has disturbed that
book In all these years, and no one
has had the courage to address this
messenger from tho unknown. The
paper will be found % I have stated.
and It remains for you to correct the
injustice which has % long been upon
this noble family, Ny mission b over.
and I can rest In peace"
At tho close Of this remarkable
speech the specter faded gradually
from sight. and the bishop was left
gazing into space. Recovering from
his astonishment, Bishop Wilberforce
went at once to tho library and found
tho book exactly a. indicated BY the
specter. In its secluded corner upon
the top shelf. thick with the dust Of
ages, evidently the book had remained
unmolested many years. There was
he document Just ~ described. but
BOW faded and yellow. The secret Of
tho confession never became known to
tho world. The good bishop regarded
Il - a confidence from the spiritual
world and always ended the story with
the assurance that The ptaestly specter
wa never again seen.
Il b q fact, however. that about the
time Of this extraordinary occurrence
he magnificent estate In question pass
"a into possession Of . remote member
q the family who until then had lived
IN obscurity.-Lond0n ataDdasll ..