THE MIDNIGHT GUESTS.
It was Christmas Eve, and a jovial, merry party was assembled in a targe but cosy room, in a comfortable country house.
Tlie lamps burned brightly, the fire sent forth a cheerful blaze, the curtains were closely drawn, to exclude the noise of the rude blast, which howled and raged outside, and every face in the circle beamed with happiness. It was a sort of scene the beauty of which only an Englishman could understand—the sterling feeling and purity of which only an Englishman could appreciate.
Tlie most conspicuous of the group arranged round the fire were an old lady and gentleman, the mistress and master of the house. They were beautiful «x--ampies, particularly the old lady, of serene and placid old age. At the time my story opens, the old gentleman was addressing a young man in a naval uniform.
"IVhy I object to travel on Christmas Eve is this: Some years ago—that is, when I first started in life—l was a sort of higgler, and used to travel about the country, buying up pigs, poultry, and such like. Among others, I used to deal with an old couple, who lived in a solitary house, some five or six miles from any other habitation. “It was a large, old, rattle-trap sort of place, and had in former times been a publichouse; but the road that passed it had been turned, and a short cut made to the next town, and so it had fallen into disuse and decay. "Around the house were stables, and also attached to it were a few acres of land, which the old couple cultivated, and a garden for vegetables; while in front there was a heath, upon which they turned out a flock of geese. The house was some distance from the present road, apd the way s to it was not kept in order, so that it was extremely rough, and at? certain seasons almost dangerous. How they ever came to take up their abode in such an out-of-the-way place I never could understand, for not only was the house very large, but there was no market within twelve miles. "There were, however, as there always are, strange stories afloat, both about the people and the house, previous to their coming there, and it was said that the old man and his wife were in some way implicated in many a dark deed which took place there and elsewhere. All this, however, was mere report, and as far as I was concerned I never saw anything to confirm it, or in any way to excite my suspicions. "I had had many a deal with the old couple for their gee-se, and occasionally had bought a pig or two from them; but they were such a cantankerous old pair, and drove so hard a bargain, that I did not care to go out of my way to >.rade with them when I could lay out my money elsewhere. My visits occurred ?t irregular intervals during several years; but I' generally had to go to them at Christmas for some of their geese, which were the finest I could procure. "One year, the day before Christmas Eve, I started at daybreak to the old house to purchase some geese, and having made a bargain with the old man for as many as I wanted, I put them iuto n y cart, and started back, leaving him and his wife mumbling and grinning at each other over the money which I had just paid them. "The day had been rough and stormy, and before I reached the house there had been a heavy fall of snow. I did not think much of this; but as I proceeded on my homeward journey over the heath, it came on thicker and thicker, and at last it was with difficulty I could keep the track, for not only was the road not distinguishable, but the snow fell so thick that I could not see my horse’s head. "After I had been travelling ou for more than an hour, I saw something dark looming in the distance. I pushed on, and at last saw that I was aproaching a house. At first I could not make it out; but you may judge of my surprise when I did so, to find that, instead of being nearly at the end of my journey, I had mado a circuit, and got back to the old house from whence I had started. "I was hesitating what I should do, when, to bring matters to a climax, just at this moment the cart gave a sudden lurch, and the next instant I lay stunned and bleeding at the bottom of a disused gravel pit. "After I had somewhat recovered from the shock, and found that none of my bones were broken, I got up, and made for the house. "Tlie old man and woman were greatly surprised when they saw me back again, and did not appear well pleased; but when I told them of my accident, the old man proffered his assistance, and after some considerable amount of trouble, my horse and the geese were extricated from the pit without much damage, though my nag had received a blow in falling which rendered him for the time dead lame. By the time we had got back to the house, the storm was raging with such fury that we could hardly keep our feet, and I was not sorry to find myself in front of the large fire which the old woman had made up while we had been absent. "There was no help for it but to remain the night, and so I proceeded to make myself as comfortable as I could. Their larder was, as I expected, but sparingly furnished, and I therefore determined to kill one of my geese, and set the old woman to cook it. Tlie prospect of a good supper at another’s expense seemed to worfc like magic on the old woman, who bustled about, put on a large pot, and very soon my senses began to be assailed by a most pleasant odour. "When supper was concluded, the old man. on my offering to pay for it. produced a bottle of whiskey. We finished
this between u«. and, after smoking two or three pipes, I felt sleepy, and went to bed. The room in which I was put was better furnished than I expected; but it was large, and the floor and windows so dilapidated that the wind found its way in in a most unpleasant fashion. Still, when I got between the blankets, I found myself mbre comfortable than I could have expected, and very shortly fell asleep. "I had not been in bed, A should suppose, more than an hour, when I was aroused by a violent knocking at the door. I lay for some time, and listened, and then the knocking was renewed. I was just thinking of rising, and seeing what or who it was, when I heard footsteps on the stairs, and then the door opened, and someone was admitted. “In a short time, I could hear, from the crackling of the wood, that the lire was being made up: and presently the old man re-ascended the stairs, and brought back his wife. "For soipe time after this I lay perfectly still, wondering what it could all mean, when suddenly I saw, through a crack in the partition, a light moving about in the room next to mine. "I rose softly, and, on looking through the chink, I could see the old woman preparing a bed. Her face was towards me, and there was something in the expression of her countenance which startled me. I never saw anything more perfectly fiendish. "I jvas about to retire again to my bed, when, as I moved, one of the boards creaked. She started, left the bedside, and approached the chink through which I had been looking: but I drew on one side, so that she could not see me, though I could sec the gleam of her eyes through the crack. “I stood still, for I was afraid to move. At last, to my relief, she turned away, and went on with her work, and without more ado I got back into my bed. "I lay down again, and for some time all was quiet. "Presently the sound of voices struck my ear, and I listened. I could recognise that of the old man mingling with the others. One soft, like a woman’s, the other, clear and strong, as of a man. "Then, at times, came a ringing, merry laugh, and bits of conversation which I could not put together. All this excited my curiosity, till at last I half made up my mind to rise and see what was going on. “Just as I was dressing I heard footsteps ou the stairs, and my inquisitiveness getting the better of me, I approached the door and peeped through a crevice. "The old woman came first, followed by one of the most beautiful girls' I ever set my eyes upon, and in the rear of this fair young creature came a third person —a man of about 55 or 60. “I never saw a more interesting face. The features were all strikingly handsome; but the expression of the face was very mournful and sad, almost painful to look at. "They all stopped opposite to my door. There were a few whispered words between the father and daughter, for such they evidently were, a kiss, and then they separated, the girl following the old woman up the next flight of stairs, and the man turning into his room next mine. "I cannot tell you how I felt as I gazed after the old hag and this young girl. She seemed almost as if she was a lamb going to be slaughtered, and when, as she ascended the stairs, her sweet, silvery voice grew less distinct, till a door closed, and it no longer reached me, I felt that I was in some measure to blame in not giving her warning. ‘Warning! yes,’ I thought; ‘but of what?’ "A gleam of light from the old gentleman’s candle recalled him to my mind. Should I speak to him? Should I tell him to fasten liis door, and be upon his guard? I was about to do so, and had approached the crack for that purpose, when I thought I would look through. Just as I reached it, he appeared to have finished a survey of the room, and, approaching the bedside, fell on his knees and bowed his head in prayer. "I dared not interrupt him, and when he had done I thought better of it, and, returning to my bed, I once more fell asleep. I had a lot of muddling dreams, out of one of which I awoke suddenly. There was a noise I fancied in the next room, and I rose up and listened. The stranger’s light was still burning. What could he be about? "After a second or two it moved, and passed into the passage. I sprang out of bed and went to the door. There in the middle of the passage stood the old man, a candle in one hand, and a long Spanish knife gleaming in the other. "Never was anything more diabolical tlian the expression of his face, and if ever there was murder written in a man’s eyes it was in his. "I stood like one transfixed, my whole frame trembled with excitement; yet I was rootted to the floor; I could not move or stir a limb.
"The old man seemed almost in the same fix as I was, for he stood for some minutes motionless, gazing at his knife. He then put down the candle, and wiped the knife upon the tail of his coat, and when he had done so I saw that it was stained with blood I
“At this moment something moved upon the stairs, and then the pale, white, but beautiful face of the girl was thrust forward over the bannister.
"I never saw a more lovely example of terror.
"She made no noise, but stood as one fascinated. Tlie knife was still in his hand, and as he stooped to take up the candle their eyes met. With a muttered curse he seized the candle and sprang towards the stairs.
"The girl’s head was suddenly withdrawn, and a prolonged shriek rang through the house. It seemed as though that scream, so long and heartrending, had thawed my blood. My fetters, as it
were, fell from me, and, opening the door, I rushed headlong up the stairs to grapple with the old man.
"Another scream, more heartrending and more prolonged, thrilled my heart, the light was suddenly extinguished, and a door closed.
' "When I got upon the second landing, it was ad silent as the grave—not a sound broke the stillness of the night. “At length, after groping about for some minutes, on approaching one of the doors. I fancied I could hear something breathing behind it. Thinking it was the young lady, who had probably eluded the old man, and shut herself in, I spoke to her, telling her I was a friend, and that she might trust me. However? I obtained no answer; she, I imagined, thinking it was only a trick to induce her to open the door.
“What had become of the old man I could not make out; his disappearance seemed almost magical. So, after trying all the doors, and waiting and searching about for more than half an hour, as I could neither see, nor could I hear anything but what appeared to me someone snoring, I went back to my room. “I thought, at any rate, the girl was thus far safe, for I was almost certain 1 hoard her close and bolt the door, and if the old man attempted anything I was now awake, and ready to go to her succour. But what of hee father? I felt my way to. his door; but it was locked, and to my repeated calks ho made no answer. I next thought I would go down to the kitchen and get a light. All there was silent and dark; not a sign of the old couple could I sec, and not a sound reached my ear. "I remembered wlmre I had seen the old woman keep the tinder-box; but it was not in its- place, and’ though I searched diligently I could not find the means of getting a light. Finding, therefore, I could do nothing till daylight, I determined to get back to my room and there await its advent. “After I had returned I heard the clock strike five, and I knew that I had at least two hours to wait before there would be sufficient light for me to do anything, so I lay down on my bed, determined, if possible, not to go to sleep. "However, that proved useless, _ for, though I tried hard to keep my eyes open, at last sleep overcame me, and I did not awake till it was broad daylight. "I arose and dressed myself, and when I got downstairs I found the old woman up, the fire lighted, and everything as usual. ‘“What was all that noise about last night?’ I asked. “‘Hey!’ she replied; ‘what did you say?’ “I repeated the question. " ‘Noise! I didn’t hear any noise.’ “ ‘Who were the lady and gentleman you let in after I went to bed?’ " ‘Lady and gentleman!’ she mumbled, looking at me askant; ‘what are you talking about? That whisky was too strong for you; you must have been drunk.’ “‘No; nothing of the sort. Where’s your husband?’ " ‘Gone out to look after the horse.’ "I questioned her a great deal more, but I could get nothing out of her, although she was evidently greatly perturbed, arid kept ou muttering to herself. "Shortly afterwards the old man came in. and I went through the same seri.’B of questions with him. He stoutly denied the admittance of any guests after I had retired; but when I described their appearance I noticed that he trembled and was very pale. "Finding I could get nothing satisfactory from these people, I ate my breakfast, and when I had finished I sat down to think. Could it be possible that all the incidents which occurred last night were not real, but were a dream? I went through them all again and again, and I made up my mind that it was impossible. Still, there was not a sign of anything that would indicate that anyone else was, or had been, in the house beside myself. • "The whole thing was so mysterious that I was fairly puzzled. At one time I made up my mind that I would start off and get assistance to search the house; but the snow was so deep, and it cou- ’ tinned to fall so thickly that I felt certain that to attempt to cross the heath would be madness, so I was fain to rest where I was. “I never spent such a dull, uncomfortable day in all my life. I did not know what to think—whether I had been, as it were, bewitched, and had seen all these things in a vision, or whether there was something really wrong about these two old couple. “How the day passed I do not know; but I know that at last night came, anil I retired to bed. “I did not undress myself, but, putting out the candle, I lay down in my clothes. “In about half an hour I rose, and, opening the door softly, descended* to the kitchen. "As there were formerly in many houses, there was a large pane of glass in the door, through which I could see, and before this I stationed myself. "Tlie fire was still burning, and by its light I could see my host and hostess crouching over it, and both of them were smoking. "‘I wonder if he’s a&leep!’ the old man said, after a time. "‘Who?’ asked the old woman, who seemed only to have caught the last word. “ ‘Why, the higgler.’ " ‘He! yes. I put a little of my snuff in his nightcap, and by this time he’s as sound as a church.’ "‘Your snuff!’ the old man exclaimed; ‘I hope you didn’t give him too much. I should not like him to drop off the hooks!’ "‘Why not?’ she asked; ‘what makes you consarn yourself about him?’
" ‘What makes me consarn myself about him?’ reiterated the old man; ‘why, in
the first place, if he was gone, we should have some trouble to get rid of our things; and, in the second place, because, if he were missed, there would be such a hue and cry, and such a search after him, as would be rather unpleasant for us.’ "‘Well,’ I thought, ‘this is very mysterious. Snuff ! nightcap ! What does the old crone mean?’
‘“I wish he hadn’t come!’ grunted the woman.
"‘So do I.’ responded her husband; for I fancy he smells a rat.’ . "‘Well, if he doesn’t, it’s very strange; and if I had my way, search or no sehrch, he shouldn’t go back to tell talcs.’ "I don’t know if anyonq can fancy my feelings as I stood and ’heard this, but I can tell you it was not pleasant to hear. However, I did not quail at my position, for I now saw that there was a mystery, that there was something wrong; and I determined to find it out. How this was to be done I did not rightly see, but I could ]>erceive that great caution was required ; and as a man who is forewarned is also forearmed, I determined to wait with patience, leaving the issue to Him who guides the stars in their course, and who was able to keep me in safety if it was His good pleasure. “Just as these thoughts passed through my brain, the old woman rose from her chair, and, fancying it was no longer safe for mo to stop, I made my way back to my room, slipped off my things, and lay down in my bed. "My drcams that night were again confused, and again I was awakened by a loud knocking. I felt an inclination to get up and boldly face these midnight visitors, but I seemed chained to the bed. ‘“What can all this be?’ I thought. ‘Has the old woman given me an overdose of her confounded snuff, and have I lost the power of motion?’ “It was evident that I was suffering from some powerful narcotic, for even while this thought was passing through my min'd I fell asleep again. "And now comes another, and, perhaps, the strangest part of my story. No sooner had I fallen asleep than I had another dream; I fancied that I was in a distant part of the house, and that all of a sudden I heard the sound of a feeble moan. “I stopped and listened, and, after a time, I heard the same low, feeble sound. “Then, as if by magic, I was transported to a room, in one corner of which was a low couch, and upon it lay a young girl sleeping. I gazed at her, and, to my astonishment, I saw that her features were the same as those of the beautiful young ereateufe I had seen the previous evening; but, oh, how altered! “She was pale and emaciated, but still very lovely. “Then everything seemed to vanish from my sight, and I awoke to find it was daylight. “I lay for some time thinking, but there was a considerable amount of confusion in my brain, and I could not follow out a train of thought; but at last, by an effort, I threw oft jpy drowsiness, and the import of my dreams began to be apparent. I had always been sceptical as to the significance of dreams and visions; but, putting the two dreams together—for now I saw very plainly that the incidents I had thought occurred last night were not realities, but a mysterious revelation of events which had been previously enacted—l made up my mind that I was about to be instrumental in the discovery of a great crime. "How I was to set about it, I could not tell; but I trusted for guidance to a Higher Power. “I went down to my breakfast, but I could not eat—the pale, but beautiful face of the girl, as she lay sleeping, kept on haunting me. After breakfast, 1 watched an opportunity to slip away unobserved, and commenced a survey of the house. “I tried to enter the room next to mine, but it was locked, and on looking through the. hole in the partition I found that it was perfectly dark. I next proceeded cautiously up the next flight of stairs, and had just turned a corner when I came plump upon my hostess. For a moment she stood and glared at me like a tigress. ‘“What do you want here?’ she exclaimed. ‘What do you mean by sueaking about the house in this fashion?’ • ‘‘‘Well,’ I replied, ‘I don’t want anything in particular; it was a mere bit of cariosity.’ ‘“Curiosity is a dangerous thing. I should advise you not to indulge in it here/ she said significantly. “ ‘Dangerous! yes,’ I laughing. ‘So Mrs Bluebeard found.’ "Finding that I could not with safety continue my search, without rousing suspicion as to my motives, I retired to the kitchen and sat down to cogitate. “The conclusion I arrived at was that to remain in the house another night, after all I had heard and seen, was not safe, for I thought what the old man had said, as to the hue and cry about me if I should be missed, perhaps might not hold good now that his wife’s fears were aroused. But, then, I thought, to make a precipitate retreat would also arouse their suspicions; aud if the girl was, as I expected, really confined in the house, what might not they be prompted to do? Besides, was it not cowardly to make off and leave her to their mercy? “But if I wanted to go, I began to perceive it would not be so easily accomplished for I found that every step of mine watched, and ’when I went out to look for my horse, the old man came with me, having in his pocket something very much like a long horse-pistol. This was a sort of armed neutrality which did not agree with my feelings, and I determined to bring on a crisis. "I commenced action by knocking the old man down and disarming him. " ‘What’s that for?' he asked, when 1 had tied him up to a manger. " ‘Well,’ I replied, ‘in the first place 1 don’t like people to follow me about With pistols in their pockets; and, secondly, 1
have a fancy to go over the house. So. now, my advice to yon iR to remain quite still till I come back, and if I find things all right Fll release you.’ “At this moment his wife made her appearance at the door of the house, aud, leaving the old man to recover from hia surprise, before she was aware of it 1 had her securely tied in a chair. "At first she was silent; but if looks could have killed me, I should have been annihilated at once. Then, suddenly, in an utter abandonment of frantic, but impotent rage, she raved at and cursed me. “Leaving her to vent her passion as she could, I proceeded at once to search the house. I paid little respect to locks aud bolts, and at last my perseverance was rewarded. In one of the garrets, crouching in a corner, was a human form.
"I cannot tell you my feelings; but notwithstanding that the features were pale and shrunken, I at once recognised them as those of the young girl I had seen in my vision. I raised her, and spoke kindly to her; but she seemed rather stujieficd, or else too weak to reply to my questions.
"What to do I could not tell; but 1 thought a stimulant was the most likely thing to aid in her restoration, and went down and ransacked the place till I found a bottle containing some brandy. "Tlie, old woman looked at me as though she would have eaten me; every now and then writhing in her chair, and uttering imprecations of the most hideous kind.
"However, I thought nothing of her curses—l thought only of the girl upstairs, and of how to restore her to her senses. •
"A little brandy and water, with a small quantity of bread, worked wonders, and as the afternoon was tine, and th© snow had by this time hardened. I got out my horse for the purpose of riding over to the nearest village, and fetching assistance; for it appeared there was something more the matter with the girl than mere weakness.
“To resolve on a thing was with me to do it, and I started at once.
“As I rode along I began to remember the stories I had heard with regard to the house; and when I had nearly reached the village an idea suddenly occurred to me. Suppose tfie people had accomplices? Suppose they should arrive while I was absent, and release them; what then would be the fate of that poor girl? "These, and many other strange fancies, clustered continually around my brain, till I got quite nervous. At last I reached the village, went to the doctor, and told my talc. “‘Good heavens!’ he said; ‘why, that clears up the mystery! But wait a minute—l’ll have my buggy got ready, and we’ll go back at once.’ "When his horse was put iu, and I, the doctor, and his man had taken our seats, he commenced:
“‘I daresay you remember old Mr Wanstall, who lived at the Grange Farm; well, about five or six weeks since he sold off, for the purpose of joining his sou in Australia. When all was arranged, he started off one afternoon with his daughter, to cross the heath, Bo as to reach Berkstone before nightfall, as he had some few debts in the town which he wanted to settle previous to starting the next day to London. Shortly after he started it came on a thick fog, and, feeling anxious about him, I went over to Berkstone the next day to see if he were all right, and to take another and a final farewell of him. But when I reached the place where he was to have put up, he waa not there. Nothing had been seen or heard of him or his daughter. I subsequently ascertained that he did not go to London, and that the ship sailed without him.’
“ 'No, nor never will, I fear,’ said I; ‘these wretches have, no doubt, murdered him for his money.’ “‘I am much of your opinion,’ he replied. “For the remainder of the journey nothing was said; for the doctor was sad, as well as anxious on account of the girl, and I could not get the notion out oi my head that by some means the old woman would get free and wreak her passion upon the poor, helpless young creature. “At last the house came in sight, and I watched anxiously for any sign of a confirmation of my fears. I looked forward with that indistinct but intense volition which we are apt to exercise under such cicumstances, as if a strong and earnest wish might suffice to carry us onward and show us what we desired to know.
“The doctor, perceiving my anxiety, applied the whip, and we moved forward at a brisker pace, and at last we stopped at the door. I could sec no one; I heard no sound; the door was closed as I had left it. I leaped out hastily, and, opening the door, I entered, and made for the kitchen. I started back with horror, for there lay the old woman, stark and dead. ‘“She’s been dead for some time,’ said the doctor, feeling her pulse. 'She died of apoplexy, brought on by fear and ex: citement. Come, lot us go up aud see the girl.’ "As soon as I had taken the doctor up stairs, I left him to see after the old man; but on going into the stable he was nowhere to be seen. We shut up the house, and took th© girl back to the village; where, under the kind treatment of the good old doctor, she speedily recovered.
"The old man was captured a few days afterwards, some miles distant, with a quantity of money on him, among which were th© very notes that were known to have been in the possession of Mr Wanstall when he started on that fatal journey across the heath.
“It appeared that, tempted by the sight of the money which Mr Wanstall inadvertently let them see, they murdered him in his sleep, and buried him in the garden. After this, I need not say that the old fellow suffered for his crime, being hanged, three months afterwards, in the county gaol.” "And ivhat became <>f the girl?” a?Aod the lieutenant.
"Well,” said the old gentle man, "there she sits,” pointing to his wife. “After sb© got well she took a fancy to me, and married me; and now you know why I object to travel on a Christmas Eve,”
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Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 11, 28 January 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)
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5,302THE MIDNIGHT GUESTS. Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 11, 28 January 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)
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