LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1829, 2 January 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE PRIORY GHOST. A CHRISTMAS GHOST STO&Y. [Written Specially for the “Globe.” {Continued.) “ A southerly wind and a cloudy sky Proclaim a hunting morning, ” So sing Harry as he ran down the handsome stone steps that formed the entrance to the spacious hall of the Priory, Assembled on the terrace beneath, he found a bevy of ladies, admiring the hunters as they impatiently pawed the ground, and talking merrily to the horsemen. In a few minutes the gay cavalcade rode away down the avenue. • And now, 9 said Mrs Laacelles, when the handkerchiefs had been duly waved after the retreating forms, and the girls were wondering what to do to spend the day. “ Now, what do you think of turning out the old wardrobes after lunch, and selecting anything that will he use to yon in making up your costumes. You will see a great variety of dresses worn by the Lascelles from time immemorial. We shall find them all collected in the blue-room, I think.’ Of course the girls decided at once, that that was the very thing to make the time pass quickly, and so after lunch they followed Mrs Lascelles through the picture gallery and down a long corridor that led to the north wing. 4 I hope, my dear*,’ said the old lady, as she unlocked the massive door that opened into a dismal passage, and separated the “Haunted Rooms” from the rest of the house. 1 1 hope you won’t feel nervous, you’re not at all likely to see anything in broad daylight.’ And now they entered the blue room, directly opposite to the door of which hung the picture of a lovely girl, holding in one hand a bunch of pure white roses, and in the other a curious old fan. ‘ How beautiful!’ exclaimed one of the girls * Who is she ? Mrs Lascelles ?’ « Our ghost,’ was the answer, very gravely given. ‘Ask Harry this evening. I daresay he will tell you all about her; I cannot.’ And then the old lady turned to the wardrobe, where she soon forgot everything else in tho pleasure of bringing out dress after dress for the young people, who were in raptuies at the sight of tho gorgeous costumes, heavy with lace and embroidery. But at length, growing tired, aho said, ‘ Now, if yon are not afraid I will leave you hero, while I go and speak to the house keeper. You are very welcome to anything that may be of use to you, except this,’ holding up a handsome _ bine silk dress, abundantly trimmed with costly lace, ‘which is the dress Judith Lascelles wore when that portrait was painted and,’ lowering her voice, 4 she wore it the night of her death. Katie, I give these keys to yon, with full permission to unlock any chest or recess you like. I expect it will amuse yon, as there is a carious collection of ornaments in one of the tranks, I forget which, and if you try them all yon will come to the right one in time.’ So saying the kind old lady left them to their own devices, and they rummaged about among costly silks and brocades which had not seen daylight for many a long year, laughing and as they did so, and making the old rooms ring with the sound of their merriment, till Effie Carlyonjsnddenly exo’aimed— 4 Why, girls, its getting quite dusk; if we don’t make haste we shall be caught by the evening in those ghostly old rooms, and I for one don’t at all relish the id<*a.’ 4 No more do I,’ answered hersister Mary, looking at her watch, 4 1 declare, it’s past four. I wonder that it’s as light as it is. Do be quick,’ she continued, impatiently. 4 I’m getting more afraid every minute.’ So they hastily collected the articles of apparel they had chosen, and had nearly reached the outer door, when Katie suddenly felt in her pocket for the keys. They were gone. 4 1 have lost the keys,’ she said, as she turned and ran back to the blue room. Apparently the others did not hear her remark, for without waiting a minute for her they hurried on down tho narrow passage, which by this time was quite dark, and Katie’s heart sank within her as she heard the heavy oak door slam behind her companions. However, she was a brave litt e girl, and thinking to herself that there was really nothing to be afraid of, she commenced her search for the missing kevs. Bhe looked everywhere, hut it was getting so dark that it was with great difficulty s he found them at last—under the picture of Judith Lascelles, Hastily looking the door after her, she ran lightly along the passage. Somehow she fancied she was a long time getting to the door that separated her from the inhabited part of the house, so she stopped, and peered forth into the gloom in the hope of teeing something that would show her where she was. Right at the farthest end was a large window, and the pool child put her hand to

her head and tried to recollect if they had passed it in the morning No, she was sera they had not. In her hurry she must have taken the wrong turning. There was no help for it; she must retrace her steps. H ark I What was that ? Was it the wind blowing the ivy to and fro against the window, or was it the sound of footsteps following her 7 Katie now ran as for her life, but it seemed to her that the faster she ran the faster came the sound of pursuing steps. Just as she reached the great door, to her a haven of safety, she threw a terrified glance over her shoulde-, and—was it reality, or was it her excited imagination that conjured up the figure of a woman in bine, with golden hair streaming over her shoulders, and pure white roses in her hand ? With a wild despa'ing sh "ek, she fell heavily to the srjund. * # # * * When Katie came to herself she was lying on one of the comfortable seats in the picture gallery, while the manly form of Harry Lascellcs leant over her, chafing her little cold hands and imploring her by every endearing epithet to speak to him. Slowly she opened her eyes, snd then recalling what she had passed through, said, in a frightened whisper - ‘ Where is it 7 I’m sure I saw something.’ ‘ No, you only thought you did, my darling. There is nothing ti be afraid of. Vou’ll soon be all right again, and 1 must confess that I’m glad that at last I’ve got an opportunity to say something to you, that I began to be afraid I should never be able to say, as that fellow Blair Is always hovering about you.’ ‘ What have you to say that is so important ?’ she eaid, looking up at him with a sweet shy glance. 1 Tan you not guess ?’ he said as he drew her to him, and elapsed his arms around her. *lt is that I love you my darling. I want to give my life to you, sweet. Say you will be my wife Ka* ie.’

She raised her drooping head from his shoulder, ‘I do love yon.’ she eaid earnestly. And then followed for them a few minutes that were like minutes passed in Elysium. But soon there came a reaction. ‘I forgot,’ said Katie sadly, and withdrawing herself from his loving clasp. ‘I forgot. My 'ather will never allow it. He told me only this morning chat it was his wish I should marry Mr Blair. It > eemed ha d then,’ she continued, pathetically, ‘ but now I know that I love you, it will be harder s f ill. But I dare not thwart papa, as it will make him worse, and the doctor slid he was to have his own way in all things.’ ‘ My little darling,’ Harry replied tenderly, * do you think that I intend to give yon up so easily. I shall ask your father’s consent this evening, and, if he refuses it, we must circumvent him in some way er other. And, by the way, I really have some sort of a plan which has grown up ont of the ghost turning up so often lately—for yon mast know, dearest, that my mother saw 45 istress Judith too the other night—and I have been \hinking that the ghost may as well put in an appearance for a wedding as for a death. It’s bound to be one er the other, and the first seems to me to ba infinitely the best.’ ‘ Well, what is your plan 7 Nothing ve--y dreadful, I hope.’ ‘ No, nothing very dreadful, though perhaps, darling, it’s rather rough, as the Americans say. on your father. Mais que voulez voas ? If we do not go in for heroic measures you will marry Mr Blair, as sure as we sit here. Listen, my plan is this,’ and he poured into her ear the details of his idea.

‘lt is rough, as you call It, on poor dear papa,’ said Katie, ‘particularly as he is so superstitions, and, to tell yon the truth, I don’t much like it.’ ‘My darling, ’ replied Harry, ‘ onr case is desperate. A slight shock will not hurt your father any more than it has hurt my mother or yourself. So don’t raise any objections, or I shall stop them like this,’ he said, kissing her rosy lips ‘ Well,’ replied she after a pause, ‘ I shall not relate my adventure to anyone, but tonight when we are all sitting round the fire I shall ask you for the story of Judith Lascelles.’ ‘ Tea, and I shall make the most of it, you may be sure. Oh !my darling, what would I not do to gain you, ’ he exclaimed rapturously. ‘And now I must go,’she said, ‘or I shall be missed, and that would nevor do. Au re voir,’ and she flitted away from his side like a bird. That evening, at Katie’s request, Harry related to an attentive audience the sad story of Judith LasceTea. When he had finished silenos fell on the little group, which was at last broken by Andrew Blair, the stout and ic d-faced, saying * Well, for my part, I consider that the old gentleman was quite right. Of course, the girl should have married the man her father wished her to, without making all that fuss about it. It’s a child’s duty to obey her parents. “Children obey your parents in everything,” ’ ho added sententiously. ‘And yet, “Fathers provoke not your children to wrath, ” says another text,’remarked Harry, ‘Ah! that,’said Mr Blair, ‘requires very careful rendering indeed; many texts do,’’ aud he seemed stouter and redder than ever as he gazed fondly at Katie, looking more like an amorous round of underdone beef than an ordinary lover. And now the lights were brought in, and Effie Carlyon went to the piano and proceeded to thump and torture it in a manner scientific beyond expression. Under cover of the music, Harry thought he would be able to carry on a conversation with his lady love, but he reckoned without his best. As he made hia way across the room to her he heard Blair say—‘Miss Katie will you play a game of chess with me ?’ With a half imploring, half playful look at Harry, she answered, ‘lf you wish it Mr Blair,’ and rose from her seat. ‘Miss Katie,’ he began nervously, when they were fairly settled at their game, ‘ Miss Katie, your father has— ’ ‘Mr Blair,’ she interrupted quickly, ‘lf you talk,Jl cannot possibly attend to what I am doing, and I want to win this game very much, (To he. continued.)