Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-08-28

to the tongue OF their romance Gavin
Ord stood in an ecstasy OF homage to
worship at the gates Of such temple
as this. And, standing so, he heard Q
woman's cry.
He had walked across the park with
slow steps and come to the narrow
bridge OF Ave Roman arches which
spanned the shallow river-shallow,
save for one deep pool over which
many . flsherman must have thrown
Q skilful fly. Standing by the balus-
trade to contemplate the picture, his
delighted eyes traced every tower and
pinnacle of Melbourne Hall with an
artists ecstasy-thence looked out
over the moonlit park to glades Of
SURPRISING beauty and scenes which
The centuries had hallowed. How ini-
mitable It all was-the mighty yews
about which Elizabeth's couriters had
grouped; the groves which had list
ened to many child Of Parpinea-
the fearsome walls, what tragedies,
what comedies, had been played with
In them! Even dullard might con-
template the scene with awe. Gavin
Ord was no dullard, and the spell 1t
cast upon him was such as he had
never known in all his life. So entire
ly did It claim his mind and will that
when he heard a woman's low cry be-
meath the very bridge he stood upon,
he scarcely turned his head or gave
the matter a thought.
What had happened; whence came
the soundf Being repeated, he could
no longer ignore 1t. In truth, 1t awed
him not a little; for 1t was not the
voice of woman in danger but Of
one asking his pity, his help, as 1t
| seemed, in low whispering voice
| which he now heard more clearly than
| IL a strong man had shouted at him.
Taking one quick glance at the river,
Gavin declared that the cry could not
have come from there. Splashing and
leaping over messy boulders, a child
might have waded across the stream,
he thought Then whence did the cry
come? Turning about, to the right,
| to the left, he discovered himself to
be still alone. 1t was the voice Of
imagination he began to say; and was
about to quit the place when he heard
1t for the third time, and SO unmistak'
ably, that he no longer doubted 1t to
be human.
Some one called to him from the
| river below the bridge.
He climbed upon the old stone para
pet and looked down straight to the
black silent pool about the arches.
So dark was 1t in the shadows that
the keenest eyes might not have per-
ceived human thing there. Gavin
Ord, however, saw the thing as clearly
as in daylight-a woman's fair head
with great sodden leaves about 1t and
streaming black hair caught up upon
the ripples. A shudder of awe inde-
scribable came upon him as he looked.
For the woman was dead, he said
had been long dead, and yet her voice
spoke to him.
He knew that she was dead, for the
water Tapped upon her half-closed
eyes and the fair head turned slowly
as the eddies swirled slowly about
1t. Every right instinct told him that
this was vision and not truth OF
the night. He listened for the voice
again: but it was silent now. AS II
ceased to speak to him, the spell van
ished. He ran round quickly to the
river bank and clambered over the
slippery stones to the POOLS edge.
1t was black as night and void az
the ether.
Gavin Ord was not a nervous man
and very far from superstitious one
When he had quite assured himself
that he had been dreaming, his first
act was to return to the path and
laugh aloud at the whole venture.
Melbourne Hall is generous tc
me-" he said; here are the very
ghosts coming out to welcome me-
None the less he tried to remem
ber what he had eaten in the train fol
dinner and whether his recent nights
had been late or early.
81 shall get to bed at ten here" ht
said to himself, 'and put in goot
walk before breakfast. have beer
doing a good deal and never wa.
great at night work. OF course, If
told anyone, / should be written dowI
liar. It's always the case when yo'
hear or see anything the other mai
has not seen or heard"
He caught up his bag and marched
on resolutely up the wide gravellet
drive by which you reach the grea
gate of the Manor. A loud bell an
| swering to his touch awakened splen
did echoes in the courtyard OF thu
house and set the dogs barking with
in. When a footman opened to him
. he discovered that Melbourne Hal
was building about quadrangle
and that it's main door admitted hin
. no farther than to the great squar
court of which the chapel and the bar
quoting hall were the chief ornaments
Above the latter, lights shone bright
in many windows. But the courtyar
, itself lay In darkness.
"Say that Mr.. Ord is here" Gavi
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