General Burton's Ghost.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 12

General Burton's Ghost.

By KATHARINE TYNAN. I ——-0

It was a terrible blow lo Mrs. Burton when the General came homo lo her ono day from the hunting field, swearing that never so long as ho lived would he speak to his old friend Owen Burke, of Ballyniece, because, as lie put it, Owen Burke had given him the lie at the Hunt break-ia.-:l. The two old men, staunch friends all their days,, had quarrelled over their respective ages. They were both as hale and hearty old men as you could wish to see, although they were well on in tho seventies. -Owen Burke was really tho older man by a fen months, said tho peasants who ought to know; but General Burton declared that ho was tho older. An injudicious remark on. the part of Owen Burke across tho breakfast table at Lord Dromiskey's had acted'like a match put to gunpowder. Before you could count five the old men were at it hammer-and-tongs. Personalities flew. It was a thousand pities, seeing they had always been friends. They had almost to bo separated by main force. "Mary," said the General, breathing hard and striking his hand upon the. ,table; "I wouldn't rest in my "rave if I thought that man's graud-daughter would ever be mistress of Kildrangan. I'll send up. to Dublin for Dan O'Kceffe, and change my will. I'll cut Tony off with a shilling if he marries Owen Burke's granddaughter., Mind that, my woman! I couldn't rest in my grave if 1 knew (hat Tony iva.s married to Aileen Burke. "Oh, the poor children!".said Mrs. Burton, bursting into tears. Sho v;as a pinkcheeked, violet-eyed old lady, with a very tender heart and a soft, placid presence.Her heart was in her husbands young .cousin, Tony Grace, now serving his regiment, the Connausht Kaugors. 1 hough there was no engagement "between him and Aileen Burke, everyone, knew thut they were head over ears in love with each other, Sjic had been looking forward to their engagement and marriage, anil to the lime when she should nurse their habics. And hero was her whole fair fabric of dreams threatened; besides, she didn't know how lony* would take it. Tonv. was a young man ot spirit. Yerv naturally he v;onld resent the General's unreasonableness. "Woman," said, the General, with . a kindling eye;'"l tell you that mail insulted me. If Tony marries a.Burko lie is done with Kildrangan. The place is mine to do what I like with. Owen Burko insulted me.. He said he was by threo months tho older man. I might have forgiven liim—he's not the man he . was—otilv for what followed. He looked at his wife with a lowering face. It stung him to see her tears; ami lie was. therefore, tho more angry. ; "Woman." he said again. 'I put it upon vou that if I was to die before Dan O'Keeffe gets down to alter mv will you should obey me. Everything goes to you by tho will. I knew I could, trust tne boy with you. .If he '". ar " os , C Burke's grand-daughter he isn t to ha\e a penny. 'Or-1 won't be (00 hard 011 vou; give him what'll keep lum out of want. Threo hundred a vear. if you like. Everything else to charities. Turn Kildrangan into t a-home^ for the widows and orphans of soldiers. . And , so saying, and looking very _reu and angry.in the law, he stuliicu ofl to Now, none of those who knew him-b«st ■believed that the General wpulU have been- in ~the: same miiid twenty-tour hours Uiter* but, as luck would have it, iwuxt did he do but die in his sleep? Overexcitenieut. tho doctors called it. When the General had been laid with his fathers the greatest grief tcl upon mwr .Mrs. Burton-not only had she lost her husband, but he had died haying imposed upon her a command that it ivoutrt nearly break her heart to' carry out. Those' she took into her confidence, like Dan O'Keslfe, the' Dublin solicitor;, were of opinion that she ought to ignore her husband's last wishes. "Believe me, ma'am, he'd never have wished such a thing—not in his "Bht mind," Dan urged. "Wasn t he as fond of Captain Tonv as yoursolf? And hatlnt he always a wish for Miss Aileen Burke? Is a littlo squabble between two old friends like that to - cut a fine, harmless young, fellow out.of a fortune? It would lie a'.great , disgrace and a great shame, so it'would; and all the countryside-will be agreeing .with me. Did.ye .seo old Owen how ho cried at the General s funeral? I'pon- my word; mo am, it makes me feel queer still to remember Well, whether- Dan O'Keeffe was too eloquent and - set Mrs. Burton to standing by her husband in all ho did, just or unjust; after the quee-; way Of.-women, or whether she entrenched herself behind a little air of obstinacy, being really afraid not to obey tho General last behests, I know- not. The General had l>een a blustering man in life, and might bo a very uncomfortable ghost. Anyhow, Mrs. Burton turned round on Dan ana remarked in a chilly way that her dear husband was at liberty to do what lie liked with his own; and that no one could say they hadn't done i.be best possible for Tony. She said further, with a handkerchief to her eyes, that Tony was a match for anybody, even without Kildrangan and with a beggarly few hun--,dred a year. , Then, the handkerchiei eoniing down and a red spot showing, inhe'r delicate-old-cheeks, she said that lor her- part she couldn't forgive, Owen Burke his quarrelsomeness which bad embittered he'r husband's last -hours • and doubtless shortened his life;.--that it must make her look very <«(re;ontly on the Burkes from the way she had looked; and -, that thero was a Tightness and fitness in the General's money going- to <l<iws and orphans 01 soldiers and his old home sheltering their heads. •\5 she -said it the forlornne.ss of her blue eyes, contrasting with the nbbons of her cap, as she* looked round the drawing-room at Kilrangan, with its Spanish leather hangings of golden peacocks, would have made anyone pity the poor, staunch old soul. Not so Dan 0 Iveelfc. D<i2i was <mgTv, and. only made things worse by saying, as he put' his papers into his bag, that as fax as quarrelsomeness went the General was worse than Owen Burke, and was the aggressor in the quarrel;- and, having said so, no went off' with his head in tho air, and not so much as a glass of sherry 'offered hint in the house where he had known such hospitality.' . Anthony Gmcc was in India when he received two letters. Ono was from Mrs. Burton announcing her husband's death and explaining tho conditions lie had • imposed upon her relative to tho disposal of the property; (he other wad from Dan O'Keeffe,. tolling him tho same bad news, and advising him to resign his commission, como home, and gel round Mrs. Burton. . After tho first shock Anthony, being a. wise young man, made up his inind not to resign his' commission; but. instead, to ask for six months' leave of "absence on urgent' private affairs. He had made up his "mind to this beforo turning over Mrs. Burton's letter and finding .a. postscript scraWlod. across it. "The dear General did not wish you to suffer in any case; and you will have .six- hundred a year of your own, even if you do. niarry Aileen.. That is to. say, your present allowance will be settled on you, aud tho principal will be yours." Ho had no idea, of course, of what it had cost Sirs. Burton to exceed her husband's wishes by aji additional threo hundred a year. Six hundred a year. Ho turned over the letter in his bauds, considering. It was a great come-down from the inheritance of Kildrangan and some five thousand a year to six hundred a vear all told. Vet. it was belter than nothing. There was even a curtain exhilaration in the thought of going homo to Aileon. and telling her that sho must take him or leave him 011 six hundred a year. He had very little doubt of the result. After all. six hundred a year was something. Every soldier hadn't as much. Why .shouldn't ho bring Aileen back with him a.s his wife A few more years of soldiering 11 ml they could go home. He'd get some job—a Itcs.iilent Magistracy, a land agency, .-omething or other. As lo trying (0 change Mrs. I!urton's mind, thai lie would never do. ■ It was a pang lo lose h'ildraugan. .Still. 1 if the dear old fellow wished to leave il 1 aw;iv from him to the willows and or- • phniis of poldicrs, it was his own 1,0 . jmc. Xhflj Jwd been, toe good to him

for him to have bitter thoughts concerning I hem now. Let Kildrangango. Keall.v and truly, his greatest grief was Hull he should not have seen I lie dear old man before he died. AY bile he was considering these mailers his soldier-servant entered, his lent for some purpose or other. This soldierservant, Tim M'Govern by name, was Captain Anthony's foster-brother. Unofficially they were on terms of great intimacy, which was shown by the Captain's remarks to him at this moment. "Is I hat you, Tim, ye blackguard?" was what lie said. "Who else would it be, Master Tony?" said Tim, coming '..forward. Ho was struck by something .in Capliin Anthony's face. "Is'anything wrong, sir?" lie asked, in a voice of affectionate concern. :■.■■■."_ "The General's, dead, Tim." "The Lord have mercy, on him," raid Tim, piously. "It must have been snddent." "He died in his sleep." "Isn't it the best, way as long-as ye're prepared ? He never did harm to anybody. Wasn't he tho kindest and cliaritabicSt? .1 hope tho mistress is.bearin' up well." . "I've a letter from her here.' Captain Anthony laid his hand upon a black-edged envelope. "She's well; but of course she feels it. After all thoso years " "Of course, sir." Tim watnhed the. Captain's face-for a second or two, then said insinuatingly— "We'll be goin' home lo Kildrangan, Master Tony?" "I'm thinking of asking for . six months' leave for myself and yon, Tim. 1 worked through my last furlough up in Cashmere. Thev can't tcl'uso me now." _ _ "Six months' lave, is it? Ye wouldn t be lavin' tli' ould lady to look after things herself?" "As a matter of fact, I've nothing lo do with Kildrangan. AYhen Mrs. Burton dies the house is to lie turned into a charity. The General has been very generous" to me. I'vo nothing to complain of." "The oul' —I beg your pardon, sir. Ye was say in' ?"■ .. What Captain Anthony left untold on that occasion Tim M'Govern learnt for himself as soon as lie got home. All the countryside knew (hat ■ there' had boon a quarrel between General Burton find Mr. Owen Burke, which had been followed closely by the ■ General's death, that the General had not linil lit'ne to alter his will as ho contemplated, but that he had left it on his widow to cut Captain Anthony Grace out of "everything, excent a few hundreds a year if lie married Miss Aileen Burke. < Tim was a philosopher. • He rather hoped at first that his master would turn his attention to another young lady. A'ot that Mks Aileen wasn't a beauty and a darlint, but Tim doubted if any woman was worth it. women bein' liiuch of a muchness,- though ho did not express these ungallant views to -the many girls lie made love 10. However, that was .not ' Captain : Anthony's way.. He'd, have been quite-' free to leave Aileen for, although there was "ii kindness" between them, thero was 'nothing like a formal engagement. Instead, however, of taking his liberty and keeping Kildrangan, Anthony Grace on his return went straight to Aileen Burke,', asked her if she would bestow her darling self on a poor .devil with, only, his pay and six yeaiyaud. when-Aileeil put her arms/roiihfl his. neck, oiever-even Hinted at tho sacrifice he was making for her. All the rest of the world might know why Anthony was cut off with a pittance after growing up as heir to Kildrangan ; but the Burkes did not. People are always tho last to know what most concerns them. . " v Captain Anthony had to take up his quarters at Kildrangan. He, apparently, had no grievance" against Mrs. Burton, with; whom ho was on just the old tender term's. Sho turned over all tho business concerning Kildrangan to him as though he were still the heir. And though ho was busily engaged in love-making, ho never seemed to find hor demands on his time and attention irksome. .Perhaps, fortunately, Aileen was getting her Indian trousseau together, and was often up in Dublin, which left her. lover, free for business. Sometimes in.-his secret .mind he. wondered what -Mrs.-Burton would do when he went back to. India:.,-.He did not | see such a solution us did Dan O'Keeffe, who came down to Kildrangan. oil the old footing, having been forgiven by Mrs. Burton. Dan rubbed lnV-hands together and said in a pleased whisper to himself, "We shall see—we shall see." But Captain Anthony had no thought of trying to turn Mrs. Burton from obeying her husband's behests." She'had talked the matter over with tears. " The poor-old lady felt bound by her. hitsband's wishes. Sho had come'by this time to the point of remembering always that but for the uufortunatc altercation with Owen Burke her husband would in all probability still be living, and, woman-like, to blaming Owen accordingly. Not that she included Aiiecn in the blame. She had always been fond of Aileen. The girl had done nothing, although the poor old lady could not help wishing that her boy had chosen elsewhere, so that he might stay with her and comfort her old age. as her son and tho heir to Kildrangan. No matter how .she tried to chasten herself to accept her husband's will, the thought of the soldiers' -orphans.and..widows -at-KiL drangan instead ■ of Tony and his- wife and children "was a bitter one. : . .. She had many sad hours over it. Tony's leave had not much longer to run. He was going back to- India for five years. Sho might be dead before he came "back: A poor, lonely old woman—what had"she to go oil living .'i'or?: .'-She wept so many tears over her sad thoughts in Tony's" absouco that the blue of her eyes grow quite faded and washed out, the pink cheeks showed it curious pallor' under their streaks of rose; her poor old head got a trick of shaking; "The mistress is growing'terrible ould," said Hose Connor, tho cook at Kildrangan, to Tim Sl'Govern ono day. "I'm doubtin' but that we'll soon have tho widdies and orphans. 'Tis time I'd be looking for another place;" and she wiped awav a tear. " ".Sure, why would yo be doin' that, darlin'?" said Tim, 'slipping liis: arm' about her waist. "What place would yo bb lookin' for only my little'place. Amn't I askin' you these"three months?" ' "Go on out' o' that wid yo, Corporal M'Govern," said Rose, giving Tim a sounding box On'the ears. "Is it Injia I'd bo thinkin' of. an' .1 (he only wan that can do tho mistress's little bird to her likin'? God help her, 'tis fad in' from the face of the oal'tli sho is; wid her troubles. 'Rose.' she says to mo Only this mornin' 'isn't it awfnl to think o' Master Tony goin' from me. him that ought to close "my poor ould eyes ? To think o' them v;iddies an' orphans is breakin' my heart,' she says, ! ali'' yet,' she says, 'I e-an't go agin-the- Giniral." i-do be prayui' sometimes;' she;-says, 'that he'll' relayse me; but'suro-the dead don't send messages. If' he; knew how disolate I'm feelin'.' she says,""tisn't happy he could be where lie- is,sho-' sa^s." "Poor ould lady!" said Tim. feelingly. ' I forgot to •mention before that ■ Tim M'Govorn was installed at Kildrangan as well as his master, and' had been making life below stairs a gayer and more eventful thing tliau it was used to lie even in that Irish household. What with bein.g agreeable to the men and making love to the women, lo say nothing of the fun and diversion he created, his presence made the greatest difference. To do him justice he was extremely agreeable. It was his unfortunate good nature that got him into so many scrapes with the girls: and it was the argument lie used effectively to disarm jealousy in tho case of each of the ladies to whom lie made love. "Sure, I wouldn't be namin' her in tho same day wid you. darlin'" he would say, with irresistible roguery, "Slill, the girl lia.s a likin' for me. an' I'm that soft-hearted' —an explanation which was found salisfaelorv in nine cases out of len. lie had all (he cleverness of the soldierservant. and there was no end lo the advice and assistance he could give to Pat O'Rourkc, (he butler., about his nlate and his linen, end all sorls of household gear besides. He had many ways of repairing damage to an article. Pal was not rightly sure whether Ihr, su'rsrcstiou came from iiin'i or Tim about tin) poor master's rlothes' that were mouldering awny in tho big waidxobea apstairi,

"The mill It'll I" 1 in I ticin and Hie mildew," Was il I'iil liimvi-lf llkiiirliL of il, or Tim 'i l':it < oulilii'l have lulrl afterwards; .vol il Kill sensible iidvire. Aml was il not natural llial. Tim. who was so knowledgeable, find nil n linlidii.v lis well, lialf tin' limn wi.lli his hnnils empty, o.\eepl lor l.lii! tnslcs lie imposed on himself — was it mil nalunil Unit. I'al f-IniiiUT suggest—or did I In- offer come from Tim? —(lint. Tint should have III! I lie clotll«'S out 1111(1 Hive I horn a careful going-over? Tim mislress did say sotnclhing nbfiul giving lln- dollies nuay; but iioliiint! had come (if it. It trns not everyone, even of tho poor people, tlio General s old-fashion-ed garments would suit; anil il seemed a . jiity lo till tlicm up. I'or a morning or l\vo Tim moved about' Iho General's dress-ing-room, brushing and sponging tho General's garments, ivhisl 1 i softly lo himself as ho did mi, as though he wero curryinij a horse. Captain Anthony happened lo 1)0 in Dublin for a few days lit (his lime, his visit synchronism;; with one paid by Hiss Aileen Burko. lie was very happy about his approaching marriage— the one lly in his ointinonl, the fact, that ho. was going to leave poor old Mrs. Burton lo loneliness. She had aged a deal of late, and she seemed lo cling to him moro as tho time passed. It seemed cruel (hat tilings could not have gone on as they were, instead of overylhiiig being at sad sues and sevens like this; ami all because Owen Burke and General Burton had quarrelled over- their ages and (ho General had died before they had time to mnlco.it up again. The General bad al- [ ways been n hasty man. No one doubted that ho would have como round, except, perhaps, his widow. This was one of the not infrequent.cases where the partner in a marriage takes the other partner's word for his or her finalities without judging by experience. "I nover forgive," the (Jcneral had been wont lo say. And, again: "When 1 say a thing I mean it." It would have been nil impiety to Mrs. Burton's mind lo doubt these words of her late husband, although tliey were easily refuted by her own expenenco of him. < "1 shall never seo the dear old soul again," Captain Anthony had said, sorrowfully, lo Aileen as (hey travelled down together from Dublin. He arrived at Kildrangan about five o'clock in the afternoon. Ho went into the drawing-room with a rather sad anticipation. Mrs. Burton had been melancholy of late. But what bad come to her? ller roses were blooming again; she almost ran lo meet hint and fiing her arms about.his neck. Although she was crying, : they were evidently joyful tears. _ I "Tony, my dear boy," she sitid, "I thought you would never come. Tho most wonderful thing has happened." She went away from him to see that the drawing-room door was fastened; then canio back to where he stood wondering. "My dear boy," she-said, "I am (he happiest-old-woman in the world. You need not be banished. .Aileon will como here as your wile and my dear daughter; Kildrangan will be yours. Can you put up with an old woman in tho chim-ney-corner for a few years, making tho end of her days on earth happy by your happiness?" "But what " began Captain Anthony, in bewilderment. She stood on tiploe to reach liis ear. "L have seen the General's ghost," she said. "Such a kind, dear ghost. He came back to right that wrong. 'Mary,' ho said to me, "tuy dear girl, you're to lake no notice of what I said. It was only my being hasty. Let Tony marry tho girl of his choice, as I married the girl of mine. He's ■to have Kildran- . pan and all that's in it when you've, done with it.' And with that he walk-, ed through the door and disappeared." " "You are'sure?" said Anthony, arguing against his own interests. "I wis'h I was as sure of heaven. Ho wore his old military cloak and the peaked, cap."-,■■■He stood in- the corner of the room and the light was on the old cloak. I saw tho very rent I mended myself, when -he rattle-home after the Mutiny. I wish he'd said more, given me a message for myself, but that was all he said. It has made me very happy. If you could know what it ia to ma to-, feel that you will close my e.yes after all, and the widows and , ..orphans will never overrun Kildrangan!' Dear John, he 'was always so just. I wonder if he know., how unhappy I was!" There- was nothing for Captain Anthony to do but to submit to being cricd over and kissed, after which he took the carriage, by Mrs. Burton's command, oyer to Ballynieco to explain the altered happy conditions of affairs to Aileen, and bring her and her fathor back to dinner. It was not till quite lato the same ovening—in fact, it was nearly midnight—that Captain Anthony Grace had tho chance of telling tho jjoods news, to Tim M'Govorn. He camo in on" Tim folding-an'd putting away his clothes in the' maimer of an accomplished valet. "Tim, you scoundrel," he said, "our soldiering days are over." "Yon don't "say so, Captain," Tim responded with blank'surprise. "What's altered your intuitions? 'Tis a thrifle awk'ard for me, seeing tjiat I'm engaged . to three girls downstairs;" Captain Anthony eyed him narrowly, "You needn't mention it downstairs." he said. "Mrs. Button has seen, or thinks she has seen, the General's ghost." : "Dramin' moro like," commented Tim. "And he told her that he had changed his mind, that he wished mo to inherit Kildrangan after her death. She proposes to make all that secure now, to settle a certain sum upon me, and to let it be known that I am her heir." "Glory be!" said Tim,.piously. "So I suppose our soldiering days are over." "They was good days." said Tim, regretfully. "A. finer set of min. not to say playboys, thin the Hangers I wouldn't be wishin' to see this side of heaven; ail' the officers as pleasant as-ever I come across."--"I shall send in my papers," Captain Anthony- said, shortly. • "You, of course, will do as you like. You may look for . . promotion-, being a smart soldier,- though a bit tricky uud too much taken up with regimental sports and theatricals, and the like. Perhaps you'd like to serve a few years longer?" "I've no wish at air to be a timeexpiTed man, Captain," returned Tim. "Besides, how would y'oit get on at all without mo? If I might be havin' a lodge, sir—old Peter Horlihy won't bo long in it; his daughter would take the poor ould man in—l might conthrive to settle it wid them girls downstairs. Hose 'ud bo my choice. I always liked them block-haired, white-skinned girls." "Tim ye villain!" said Captain Anthony, in a threatening voice, "if I thought you had anything to do with tho General's ghost it isn't, putting yon in Peter lierlihy-'s lodge I'd be." "Is it .me?" asked Tim, turning up his eyes to heaven. "Sure, why would ye bo .thinkin' the like, Captain? Your own foster-brother, too!" . "'Twouldn't bo the first bit of vil- ' lainy " "It might be tho last," said Tim, philo- . sophically, "if so be that I was bad enough to do it. Ifose is a very strict girl. She wouldn't like any thrieks. Why would ye bo thinkin' the like o' me, Captain? Isn't it natural that the poor ould •Gineral couldn't rest aisv till he'd undone the wrong he'd done? Suro he didn't want to be killin' his own wife, any way?. An'- .wasn't she witherin' off tho face of the earth that, now's that lightheurtod. an' light-footed 'tis only touchin'the ground in an odd place sho do be? I may spake to Rose, Captain?" "Do what you like," said Captain Anthony. "You can have the lodge, of course, and do my valeting as usual. I'll see old Herlihy's daughter about it. He's too old to be alone thero. At the samo ■ time, if I thought " "Glory be to goodness, what would you bo thinkin' for at all, Captain?" returned Tim.