Year: 1877

longing to hear the sounds of his horses hoofs ringing up the avenue i; and when the Castle clock struck eleven, more disappointed and vexed than cared to acknowledge, slowly took my departure to my weird cham Der in the west wing.

 It looked more repellant and gloomy than usual, I thought, and felt as if un- seen beings were lurking about. l started at the sound of my own foot steps, and when I crossed the room to get into bed, hardly dared to look up behind me

 But I slept; for remember rousing to sense of existence by a loud thud that shook the whole room, and the same low, shivering sigh I had heard three nights before was repeated close to my ear. The heavy footstep crossed the room, and distinctly, at the foot of my bed, the figure of a monk wrapped in long, dark robe, with hood drawn closely over it's head, shaped itself slowly out of the darkness.

 I could not discern the features ofthe snake-like eyes was plainly to be dis tinguished. I gazed as if fascinated on the awful being before me. l cannot say feared it, but my heart felt chill and the marrow in my bones frozen with awe; and sense of deep, inex- plicable mystery took hold of me, as saw it raise it's white hand, and beckon to me to follow it.

 The eyes of the fearful being seemed to exercise strange influence over me and raised myself in bed as if to obey it's bidding. At that moment the sigh was repeated and heard faint voice whisper close to my ear in tones that curdied my blood, "Heed him not!"

 But the influence of those eyes was too strong for me, could not resist, and quitting my bed I followed my ghostly conductor across the room, feeling had no will but his.

 The room seemed changed and was lit up by a strange glare. Over the niche in the wall hung large crucifix, yelled in black, and beneath it stood an altar, on which burned many lighted tapers; and to the left of it small door in the oaken wainscoting stood open.

 Through it and down narrow stair case I followed my guide.

 Presently we stood together on the edge of the moat beneath the oriel win dow. The snow fell fast, and the wind whistled bitterly around us, but felt it not.

 What awful power had this fearful being obtained. over me that followed him Whither he would through storm and snow? ..-

 felt spell-bound, without an atom of my boasted power of will to resist his behests.

 At length we arrived at the angle of the west wing, where the old draw bridge had once stood; and there my guide, turning suddenly towards me and throwing back his hood, struck at me with shining weapon he held in his hand.

 Thereupon the spell that had held me seemed broken, and, with wild cry, I fell to the earth insensible.

 When I recovered consciousness, Ger aid was bending over me. He raised me in his arms, wrapped his travelling cloak round me, and carried me into the Castle.

 Then for many days, I lay sick unto death. The strain on my nerves, and the exposure to the cold had been too much for me, and it was months before my wonted strength returned.

 For long time Gerald and I avoided all conversation relative to my strange adventure but curiosity to know how it was he had arrived just in time to save me, overcame my dislike to talk on the subject. Your Grandfather told me that when. mile or so only from the Castle he had suddenly became imbued with a certainty that I was in some deadly peril, and in need of him; that this feeling had quickly increased; and that as he entered the avenue a voice had whispered to him, "Haste! haste !'

 He then galloped to the door, and as he dis3ounted he had distinctly heard the same voice whisper, "Help her the moat !'' and some unknown influ- ence had then impelled him to rush to the spot, where he found me in sensible on the ground.

 Now, children, do you wonder be- | lieve in ghosts? ?'

 We were all silent for while, and then Alice said, ''Is there no legend re- lating to this monk, grandma ?''

 "Yes, child, she replied; 'you1 grandfather told me that too, after wards. The legend is vague, but tradi- tion says that the young widow of one of the first Lords of Gayton was drowned in the moat by her confessor, monk o1 the Dominican order. Since the west wing has been burned down, Gayton Castle has been free from spiritual visi- tants. And now, grandchildren, see, ii is past the witching hour of midnight and so let us off to bed."