Year: 1867

For the truth of the story now placed before the
reader the author cannot fully vouch. The chief
incidents were related to him by a maiden aunt,
who we'll knew some of the personages herein men
toned, and it was evident, that supernatural as
were some of the facts narrated she at least, had
no doubt or misgiving as to their entire truth.


"Icanno, say how the truth may be,


tell the tale as twas told to me-


II is nroner to observe that it has its moral, as
al stories should have; and if it should tend to
make any one wiser or better man, more prompt
n forgive the faults or the shortcomings, the errors
or frailties of those with whomhis destiny or his
choice has cast his lot, my purpose will have been
fully ACCOMPLISHED. The awful figure OF the SPEC
TIRE OF THE FIREsIDE should make those of the
same family or household draw closer together In
love and affection, for it sets by every nreslde,
stalks in every home, and its dark shadow falls up
on every hearth The nursery tales OF ghosts and
poblins told with impressive earnestness around
the winters fire in our days of childhood, that
made the family brood huddle more closely togeth-
or around the hearth as if to seek protection from
common dangers by closer companionship and sym
pathy, were but things of fancy; but the SPECTRE
OF THE FIREsIDE Isl stern reality that bears away
from our very midst, the loved, the beautiful and
the vainlv regretted. But to our story.


Robert Guiscard, a worthy scion OF the noble
Huruenot stock-a race that has no superior on
earth for sterling qualities Of head or heart t-dwelt
near the banks of the broad Santee, on one OF the
most enchanting and romantic spots to be found In
the neghborhood of that noble river From gen.
Grafton to generation, that patrimonal estate had
descended from father to son, and it was rich and
valuable property which the skill and enterprise OF
;ts successive possessors had rendered one OF the
most desirable possessions in the Palmetto State.


There was nothing in the appearance OF the
Mace that spoke of recent and newly made settle
ment, such as one would expect to ind IN a new
country like this, where our civilization dates back
but little more than century. The venerable and
annie mansion. the huge oaks that sheltered 1t,
the groves of evergeens and rare exotic trees with
all the appointments of the mansion and grounds,
seemed to point back to long line Of ancestors
who united taste to capital and industry; and one
felt while riding along the avenue of wide spread
ing Iye-oaks venerable with age and gray with
long pendent moss, as if he were approaching the
portals of some old baronial castle, rich with the
histories and associations of centuries.


Noble plantations of rare and choice fruit trees
were in full sight, and away to the rear OF the man
sion occupying the bold sweep of the terraced hl as
it sank behind the dwelling the eye rested upon
the gold and purple, the green and russet OF the
vine with its delicious clusters, ready for the Vlnt
age In the ample pleasure garden were vases and
rare statuary; here water nymph pouring from
her never idle urn the sparkling water that fell
foaminp at her feet like clusters of fsnow fakes into
amarble basin and there an Apollo, with his brow
upraised as ifwatchng the flight of his rustlng ar
row, Here. att sudden turn the Graces met the eye
of the bewdered but delighted lounger, while from
the entrance of rustic grotto which by It's coones
invited the wanderer to take sanctuary from the
noontide heat, his steps started back IN SURPRISE a.
his abasLed and startled glance fell upon nearl!
nude Diana. with her left arm lightly thrown a
round the neck of milk-white hound, that seemed
ready to spring forward upon the intruder. Ovel
all were thrown the gnarled arms and dense foliage
of ancient live oaks, whose huge trunks stood Out
like fantastic columns that supported the greer
gothic roof of Nature gorgeous temple. Far away
on every side stretchedthe wide fields Of the owner
of so much wealth


Robert UulScarQ was tne FiSl VI Ills I'ce. iAili
and kin, he know not There were none who bore
his name, none in whose veins coursed blood kin
dred to his own. A fatality seemed to pursue al
of his race. A century anda quarter previously, &
Guiscard-a solitary wandcrer had made thi:
spot his home, and at the lapse Of this long period
there were none to call his descendant kinsman Oh
brother. He would have parted with hmore than hal
his wealth to have grsped the hand of one in whose
veins coursed kindred blood but it might not be-
The history of each one of his race may be summed
IN in a few words They lived, they loved, they
married, and after short period Of welded life -
long enough to know how sacred and sweet domes
tic affections are-they stood alone in life like
dreamcrs awakened from visions of Paradise anC
vet not all alone "a memory followed and blessed
or haunted Them and little child, the sweet me
mortal of happy days bygone claimed portion o
the love that the shadows Of the tomb chastene'
and halowed.


A glance at the family portraits hanging in tn
ample hall, seemed to epitomse the history OF thel
race. There upon the canvass reposed the gay ant
cheerful features of the founder Of their family