Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-03
CHAPTER III
A Chapter on Ghosts

"A Stoneleigh.
For the first time in the annals of the
younger Rysdale generation, the great bare
room at the top of the house, adjoining Har-
old Leighton's labora tory, had guest. In
tho days of the st. Maur Brotherhood the
monks used this room as an oratory. The
shadowy line of a crucifX, which had once
risen above an unpretentious altar. could
still be traced in the rough plaster on the
narrow east wall. At either side of this
crucifix the blackened marks of bygone
sconces were visible while in the north and
south walls of the apartment there still re-
mained a number of huge spikes, rusty with
age and swathed in cobwebs from which had
hung the fourteen stations of the Cross
Since the departure of the monks this ora
tory had been virtually abandoned by their
successors at Stonelegh The earlier mem
bers of the Leighton family had shared the
dislike of their fellow townsmen for anything
approaching 'papistry." To this prejudice
it affected the use of the oratory, was
afterward added the belief that the gloomy
chamber was still frequented by certain
ghostly members ~ hthe ancient brotherhood
into whose spectraWbings 1t was just as well
not to pry too closely. A live monk was bad
enough, according to some of Harold Leigh
toms ancestors but "a dead monk who
haunted" was too disreputable altogether to
have anything to dc with Hence, as there
was more room at Stoneleigh than could prof
itably be used it thought best to close
up this ancient oratory. leaving it to such
grim visitants from the past as might choose
1t for a meeting place.
There had been seasons. however. when
dust and cobwebs were sufficiently disturbed
to bring some semblance of cheer into the
desolate apartment. Thus, the festivities
accompanying the marriage of Cna's grand
parents had reached their climax here in a
ball at which the local worthless mingled with
number of excellent persons from that out
side world Of fashion vaguely known as 'the
city" No spectral guest tonsured other
wise, appeared this occasion, and when
he he Stone
| leigh's oratory was haunted no longer COM
manded the respect, or even the interest, Of
the credulous
That was moro than half century ago;
and now David Meudon was the guest of this
neglected chamber He in joyous mood.
A man more tenacious or impressions could
not have thrown off easily the irritation
| caused by the meeting with Harold Leighton
in the garden. The elder mans suspicious
| would have poisoned whatever possibility
there might be of immediate enjoyment. The
presence of Una. however. her unqualified
acceptance of him, her uncle's suddenly
changed attitude efeCtually dued Darid's
resentment. Leighton had agreed, apparent
| ly. to the plan for an early wedding. and had
even proposed that the married couple should
| live at Stoneleigh.
In spite of Davids great wealth. neither lie
| nor his immediate ancestors had been iden-
| tilted with a locality peculiarly their own
they had never had family home. With
Una, on the contrary. the last of the Leigh
some particular hearthstone was especially
strong She was pleased. therefore, with the
! offer that promised to make Stoneeigh hers
| and so. in the main, was David.
He liked the old house; its history ap-
! pealed to his imagination. He stood some
| what in awe, It is true, of its present owner.
| and the prospect of living with him did NOT
promise unalloyed happiness. But there was
! something about Harold Leighton. sug
| gestion of mystery, that went well with this
ancient place, and completely satisfied David.
| He laughed at the Stonelegh traditions, but
when Leighton proposed spending the evening
in the oratory he gladly assegted. David
had never been in this part of the house, al
though he had often wanted to explore its
| possible mysteries. The opportunity to do
| this had not come until now.
Yes. there are ghosts here Harold Leigh
| ton replied to the young mans jesting query
| he, David and Una entered the great bare
| room together.
Then you believe in GHOSTS"
"Of course. Uncle Harold believes in
| them" exclaimed Una II believe in them.
| and so do you"
That depends. Show me one and l
might"
well" commented Leighton, ":his is the
| ghost room, and here Perhaps your
| skepticism will find something to try its teeth
| on In honor of st. Maur we ought to have
| a demonstration"
| Splendid" :" laughed David. But you
| don't mean it. People never mean what they
|
| You are known for a skeptic yourself. Mr..
Leighton. You accept nothing that has not
| passed muster with science"
| There may be science of ghosts re-
| torted the savant. Science is not limited to
| any department of human knowledge. A
scientific theory is based on a collection of
| facts. How do you know l haNe not made
| collection of ghost facts?'
| And so have a new theory of ghosts to
| offer !"
"You don't really think those old monks
| come back uncle?" objected Una.
| ''Oh, I'm not going to tell the secrets OF
| my laboratory SO easily-and to such pair
| of tyros,' was the evasive answer.
| They stood before the great fireplace which
| thrifty ancestor had built into the east
| wall. and enjoyed to the full the warmth
| that had not as yet reached the remote
| spaces of the gloomy chamber. It needed a
| fire to bring some show of comfort to this
| wilderness of dust and cobwebs. A few
pieces of Colonial furniture stood out in the
| melancholy wastes-a faded lounge. a gar
| gantuan dresser, several stiff backed chairs
still nursing their puritanism. At the far
| end of the room various objects of de-
cidedly modern appearance, suggesting the
workshop of a physicist aroused David
| curiosity. For an explanation of these he
| turned to Leighton.
| "Is this your laboratory" he asked.
| What do you think of u" was the reply
PLENTY of space, isn't there? A could
have a score of ghosts here-ghosts of
monks. you know-nosing about for their
comfortable old quarters"
"Not so very comfortable in their day
uncle" suggested Una; NOR in ours. for
| that matter"
| Leighton cnuckled grmly. Are you in
terested in ghosts, David?" he asked. look
| ing keenly at him.
What do you mean by ghosts?"
"Ah. that's it! This old room-are there
| ghosts In 1t. ] wonder? The nail marks in
the walls, the stains where the lights were
| hung. the shadowy remains of the altar
| can you shake off the feeling that the broth
erhood is still at prayers here, that il still
| has Stoneleigh for its homer"
''rhe brotherhood no longer exists
There's family tradition, anyway, thai