My Mad Tenant.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 139, 9 March 1877, Page 2

My Mad Tenant.

(Hood's Annual.)

I am rather of an eccentric turn of mmd — at least, so all my friends say, and perhaps they are correct. ' When J say I am eccentric, [ do riot mean that I dress in peculiarly" cut clothes, let my hair fall on my shoulders in matted locks, orshow an aversion for soap and water. On the contrary, I don'tthink you'll find <i more tidy old bachelor in dress and person anywhere. My eccentricity is shown in un inordinate love of the mysterious. As v boy I ruined my eyesight by reading terrible tragedies, horrible histories, hideous homicides, and strange stories. These I would repeat to ray nurse Janet Gruesome, a very plain and simple — I might say very plain and simple — country girl, holding her by my bedside of a night, shivering with cold and terror as she listened.. Life v/as full of misery for me. until 1 was turned forty, when a mysterious uncle of mine, who had left England whilst I was still a baby, died in Australia, and left me sole heir to his vast wealth. I instantly settled with my creditors, and taking my " nurse" and my romances, started fur the country, determined to wander about and seek for the marvellous.-

One day I came across a vast gloomy mansion that exactly suited my fancy. It was a weird and ghostly building, with whispering voices in its ivy-clad walls, doors that opened directly they were shut, and shut directly they were, opened. Long corridors lighted by narrow windows let into recesses, so that on moonlight nights the shadows of the tall trees outside took spectral shapes, and seemed pointing with bony fingers to spots where deeds of violence had been done ; whilst the withered branches tapped eagerly against the window panes as if they were houseless ghosts wishing to take up their abode in this mysterious mansion. I was delighted, and determined to take it at once. The agent was soon found, and the terms agreed upon ; but there was one clause in the lease which I did not like; it was even too mysterious to plpase me. " By it the superior landlord, Mr Thomas Balcombe, held all rights over one room on the first floor, a small chamber, the shutters and doors' of which were closed and securely fastened. I inquired the reason of' this, but the agent could give me no positive information. He believed the room contained the family papers and- portraits^ and that Mr Balcombe had locked them up there for. security. 'But/ said T, 'it. is so mysterious to have a sort of Bluebeard chamber in your bouse.' \I quite agree with you, sir/ replied the agent; * and told Mr Balcombe so; ,but he is a strange man, and will have his own way. It's nearly twenty year's now since that room wasAocked, up. At -first -it made a "great noise, inj the. village, arid strange stories were circulated ; but that soon died out, and'except telling these;stories-at'Ghristmas-timo, orwhena stranger 'asks for Ahem, they are „ never, heard, i, vSornetimes, people come for a picnic in the wood yonder, and go., to see :tho A< haunted

house," as they call i«*., but I never let them 'in. T -have* never,. heard it was leally hauLlel.*

.We agreed eventually as to term-}, and in a couple of Weeks I arrived from London, bringing 1 with me Janet Gruesome, two maid servants, nnd some fine old plate and jewellery uiy -uncle had left me. It was a dreary night when I arrived at the "Yews," as my abode was called. But I was happy enough: A cheery fire was lighted in the oak panelled room, and whilst the servants prepar.ed""my.-rsupper, T" unpacked The plate and arranged it on the sideboard to' make the room look brigh ter. When I Jjad^done .this, and finished -my supper, I drew an arm-chair to the fire, mixed myself a stiff glass of something warm, lit my meerschaum pipe, and commenced reading one of my most favourite tales of terror and imagination. I had jnst reached' the most thrilling situation, when the parlour door was thrown violently ,open,, and. Janet Gruesome rushed into the foom

'Master!' she ■' whispered . in trem*. bling tones, * tbo secret room is open, and it's coming out.'

■ It's coming- out !' ; I cried • ' what is coming- out?'

'The ghost, master! it's coming down stairs' a following mel J

' Then shut the door, you idiot !' I exclaimed, for to tell the truth I never felt less inclined to see a ghost in. all my life; "'and bolt it.'

She turned to obey the order, but was too late, for at that very moment a venerable white-haired old gentleman, clad in a velvet dressing gown and scarlet .slippers entered the room.

'I beg your pardon/ he said, rather nervously; 'I hope I do not; disturb you. * I was not aware you haunted. tonight; I believe you are fresh ghosts, or' — here he lowered his voice — -'are you ghosts in embryo !' • Sir !' I exclaimed, * you must know that this house is mine.'

4 Indeed !' said the creature, sittingdown in my arm-chair, and drinking giog ; l has my. cousin Tom let to you, or are you a Balcombe V

' I am not a Balcombe/ I cried impatiently, for I knew now he could not be a ghost — spectres don't drink spirits ; ' still this house is mme — from the chimneypots to the cellars, all '

' But one room.' interrupted my mysterious visitor ; ' that Tom could not— would not — let. You would not have been happy had he done so. I keep the ghosts in there myself. Sometimes one or two escape, and then I come out to hunt for them. I thought you were ghosts — stray ones, you know — at first. I'll taken little m-ire brandy and water. That room is cold, and ghosts are dull fellows at best; they are never lively. Come, my dear sir, sit down and he cheerio I.' Man or ghost, the creature evidently knew the art of making him«elf at home. He mixed some more brandy and water, and then took up my pipe, lit it, and commenced smokin°*. 'Janet!' I whispered, 'he is not a ghost ; be is a madman.' ' Madman !' cripd the thing, looking up suddenly, for his ears were evidently as sharp as his eyes ; ' Madman ! why that is what cousin Tom used to call

me, but he was wrong, I was mad when I had fierce passions and tried to strangle him ; but then the change came, and I was light, ethereal — a spirit. Tom saw this, and knowing that T talked to the ghosts of our ancestors, «rave me a room to collect them in. That's the room. Get us some more glasses/ he continued, turning to Janet, ' more glasses and pipes ; we will be merry.' ' He is mad/ I whispered ; 4do as he bids you : we must humour him. But make haste back, Janet.' ' Come ! tbat looks well/ be cried, when we all had some hot grog and I was smoking; 'your health, Mr 1 beg pardon, what name ?" 'Judberry, sir/ I replied sternly, ' J ud berry.' "Judberry, Judherry?' he muttered absently ; — * don't know the name. Per-; haps he is a butler/ ' No, sir/ I exclaimed, swelling with indignation, 4 I am not a butler/ This house is mine, sir ; the brandy you are drinking is. mine, sir; and the pipe you are smoking is mine, sir.' ' All of them very nice too, Mr Judberry, I am sure," he answered, calmly putting out hiis smoke, and closing his bright eyes in luxurious enjoyment, 'very nice indeed. So you nre Judberry 1 I am Briareus Balcombe. You know me, of course V 1 I can't say I do, sir. To tell you the truth, sir, I never saw or heard of you until now — and/I added to myself, 4 I never wish to again.'

'Never heard of mcV he cried, in astonishment. Then, lowering his voice to a sweet melancholy, he added, " then I will tell you my history. Be silent ! stir not, but listen to the history of Briareus, the poet of the Balcombes ; the betrayed lover— he of the broken heart.'

I was in , my glory ; I was about , to hear the mystery 'of the Bluebeard chamber.

'When I was but a • youth/ commenced Briareus. ' my uncle, who then owned this mansion, returned from Italy;* bringing wMi him a lovely girl. . How can I describe her beauty ? It is im'pns>ible. Tt was the beauty of a dark, wild night wherein the placid moon and 'gentle stars are;,shining, yet the gentle" sighing of the wind, proclaims the coming .storm, So'slTone her glorious face,

calm and pure, yet ever and anon*: the, flashes of those wondrous orbs, Vh'er eyes, told of the fire within her soul.? "1 loved her. Time p.a'§,ged on, .and at last she owned that sheAreturned my pas*sion, but bade nW'k'eep. our love secret, as she dreaded my uncle's; wrath. Just at this time my cousin- Tom .procured, me a lucrative berth in India, iand with a light heart I started for that land of fortunes, fOr I believed I should soon' amass riches, and be able to return to cla i mEI Vina,. „ 0 n my ,a r r i val j n„.l n d ia ,. if learnt ""that my uncle had died, and that Tom had come into his estates.

' My uncle dead, one obstacle to my marriage is removed/ T cried ;' aid I worked on with renewed vigour. But alas ! I was struck down by a sunstroke, fever followed, and I was ordered home. How long we were making the passage I know not A gentleman — rather a rough fellow, though— who had volunteered to be my constant companion, said it was a short voyage. To me it seemed years. At length we arrived, and taking a post-chaise, we drove 1 to the - Yews/. I told my companion at Southampton that J did not require him any more, but he would not leave me until he sasV me, as he said, ( safe in my cousin's care/ But why dwell upon ibis painful history? I rushed into this very room, and embracing Elvina; cried,

," Elvina I Elvina ! behold thy Briareus returned to claim his bride !"

To my horror she thrust me from her, and rushing to my cousin, threw herself into his arms, asking her dear, dear Tom to save her from the madman. 44 Madam," I cried, " are you not my affianced T' " Briareus/' exclaimed Tom, -' are yon mad 1 This lady is my wife." ' I saw it all at a glance/ moaned the poor mad creature, making my heart, bleed for him >- ' I knew then why I had been sent to India — why this woman bad made me keep our engagement secret. She loved my cousin's gold ! My passion rose ; I eoul.l not control myself. With a cry more like that, of a wild beast than than that of a man, I sprang upon Tom. I had him by the throat, and would have killed him, but the man who came with ids from India — he who oslled himself my friend — turned traitor for gold. He. dragged me away from my cousin, and felled me to the earth. My keeper ! They said I was mad, and locked me np in the chamber. Not alone j no, no, not alone ; 'hey cannot shut out the ghosts. They come and tell me stones. I will tell them to you some night. Hark! the ghosts call me. I must go at once, or they will come here. Farewell ; to-morrow !' Slowly' he crept from the room, Mrs Gruesome and I following. Our hearts ached for him. We saw him enter the mysterious chamber, and heard him lock himself in. ' Mrs Gruesome/ said I, 'we will go to bed. He, poor fellow, is harmless, but to-morrow I will see the agent, who must provide a keeper. Ido not want Mr Briareus removed until I have heard his stories. It will save my eyesight, not. reading at night. Good night, Janet. Say nothing of this to the servants, and do not be afraid. He is quite a gentleman, and harmless.' I retired to ray apartment, doublelocked the door and barricaded it, in case of accident. Next morning I arose late, and descended to breakfast, which ought to have been ready at least an hour earlier. Judge my astonishment at finding the room in confusion, and Janet Gruesome in even greater confusion than the apartment. 'He has gone, sir !' she cried as 1 entered the parlour. ' Who has gone. !' I demanded. 'The mad gentleman ; he must have left the house in the middle of the night.' 4 Well, well, r I replied, ' perhaps it is better so. He was a nuisance. Tf he has drowned himself it is no fault of ours; we were not his keepers; so let me have breakfast. Get the tea and offee service my um'le left me ' 4 Your uncle left them, sir, but the mad gentleman ain't/ sobbed Janet; ' he's taken .-'em,'* sir, and the siliver spirit stand as well.' 4 What ! taken my silver service?' • Yes, sir : and every other piece of silver, and all the jewellery he could find, as well as — -'

I could hear no 'more, hut- rushing to the house agent, told. him all about it.

'Yon have been done/ he taid quietly ; 4 there never was a Mr Briareus Balcombe. The room only contained pictures and some old furniture of no particular value, but favourites of Mr. Bale >mbe, so he locks them up. Come to the police,' , ; He hurried me off to the police inspector, to whom I related this sad history.

'That's Solemn Smith's work for- a .pound/ cried the inspector, laughing, • I [heard he had been' in this neighbourhood., Duced. clever fellow ; could have made a fortune on the stn«re if he liked. No doubt he found out all about the room, and also heard;— asking your pardon, sir — that you had queer crotchets, so got into the house when it was empty, picked the lock of the door, and played the madman. I know him, sir, and will be after him.'

This was four years ago ; and the police are after my Mad Tenant still.