MY MAD TENANT.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2403, 1 December 1877, Page 7

MY MAD TENANT.

r »tt rather of en eccentric turn of mine! ; x i Uf- so all of my friends say, and per£*S they are correct. When 1 nay I am baP i-i/ldo not say that lam dressed m fJS cut clothes, let my hair fall on P shoulders in matted locks, or shew an "Ssion for soap and wafer. On she cona v I don't think you will find a more *Mv old bachelor in dress and person than -elf anywhere. My eccentricity is shown ?°y b inordinate love of the mysterious. An in hoT I ruined my eyesight by reading ter-a-ul t.r-<*edies, horrible histories, hideous ifmicides. and strange stories. These I nld repeat to my nurse, Janet Gruesome, l'in and simple—l might say, very plain 8 Wmple—country girl, holding her by r bedside of a night, shivering with cold nl\ telTO r as she listened. T ife was full of misfortune for me until I -turned forty, when a mysterious uncle Tmiue who had left England while I was HI a baby, died in Australia, and left me the soleheir to his vast wealth. I instantly cpttled with my creditors, and, taking my ''nurse" and my romances, started for the un frv determined to wander about and Sek for the marvellous. One day I came across a vast, gloomy mansion that exactly suited my fancy. It wi3 a weird and ghostly building, with whispering voices m its ivy-clad walls, Lore that opened directly they were shut, and shut directly they were opened. Long jnrridorSj lighted by narrow windows, led tato recesses, so that on moonlight nights +1 c shadows of the tail trees outside took Le'jtral .shapes, and seemed pointing with bony fingers to spots where deeds of violence had been done, while the withered branches tapped eagerly against the window panes as 2 they were houseless ghosts, wishing to take rip 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 T did not like ; it was even too mysterious to rtlease me. By it the superior landlord, 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 tiais, but the agent could give me no positive information. He believed the room contained the family papers and portraits, and that Mr Balcombe Lad locked them up there for security. "But." said 1, "it is mysterious to have 3 sort of Bluebeard chamber in your house," "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 years now since that room was locked up. At first it made a great noise in the village, and strange stories were circulated ; but that soon died out and, except telling these stories at a Christmas-time, or when a stranger asks for them, they are never heard. Sometimes people come for a picture in the woods yonder, and go to see the 'haunted house,' as they call it, but I never let them in. I never heard it was really haunted!" We agreed eventually as to terms, and in a couple of weeks I arrived from London, bringing with me Janet Gruesome, two maid servants, and some fine old plato and jewellery my uncle had left me. It was a dreary night when I arrived at the "Yews," as my new abode was called. But I was happy enough. A cheery lire was lighted in the oak-panel room, and while the servants prepared my supper I unpacked the plate iand arranged it an th»sideboard to make the place look blighter. When i had 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 began reading one of my favourite tales of terror and imagination. I had just reached the most thrilling situation, when the parlour door was thrown violently open and Janet Gruesome rushed into the room. " Master," she whispered, in trembling tones, "the secret room is open, and it's coining out." •' It's coming out ?" I cried. " What is coming out t" " The ghost, master. it's coming down staire, a following of me." " 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 my orders, but was toolate,for at that veiymomenta venerable white-haired old man, clad in a velvet dressing gown and scarlet slippers, entered the room. •'I beg your pardon," he said, rather nervously. "I hope I don't disturb you. I was not aware you haunted to-night. I believe you are fresh ghosts, or—" here he lowered his voice—"are you ghosts in embryo ?" "Sir!" I exclaimed, "you know that this house is mine."

11 Indeed !" said the creature, _ sitting down in my arm-chair, and drinking my grog. " Has my cousin Tom let it to you, or are you a Balcombe ?" "I am not a Balcombe," I cried impatiently, for I knew he could not be a ghost—spectres don't drink spirits. " Still this house is mine, from the chimney-pots to the cellars, all —" " But one room," interrupted my mysterious guest; "that Tom could no£, would not, let. You -would not have been happy had he done so. I keep the ghosts in there. 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 take a little more 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 be cheerful." Man or ghost, the creature evidently blew the art of making himself at home. He mixed some more brandy and water, then took up my pipe, lit it, and began smoking. "Jane," I whispered, " he is not a ghost —he is a madman." " Madman !" cried 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 tierce passion, and tried to strangle him ; but the change came—and I was light —ethereal—a spirit. Tom said this, and knowing that I talked to the ghosts of our ancestors, gave me a room to collect them in. That's the r?om. Get us some more glasses," he continued, turning to Janet, " more glasses aad pipes j we will be merry." "He is mad," I whispered. "Doas he his you ; we must humour him. But make taste hack, Janet." "Come, that looks well," he cried, when ?e all had some hot grog, and I was smokfS- " Your health, Mr. ; I beg pard°n, what name ?" "Judberry, sir, I replied sternly, "Judberry." "Judberry, Judberry," he muttered absently; "don't know'the name. Perhaps "c is a butler." . "No, sir]" I exclaimed, swelling with "lam not abutier. This house "mine, sir, aud the pipe you are smoking a mine, sir," ■ T "All of them very nice, too, Mr Judberry, lam sm . e> » he answere a calmly, puflmg out his smoke and closing his bright ? J^s m luxurious en j oyment. '' Very nice, fked. So you are Judberry. lam Bnare *s Balcombe. You know me of course ? f I can't say I do, sir,. To tell you the I never saw or heard of you until Sj»-and,» I added Ho myself, "I never again.." . ~ ever heard of me The cried, i" astonJJnent Then, lowering his voice to a JT** melancholy, he added: "Then I ??U tell you my History. Be silent to the J'tay of Briareus, the poet of the Bal-wmbes-the betrayed lover—he of the Dr°ken heart." „ l *as in my glory—l was about to hear ..SPtery of the Bluebeard chamber. * . When I -was but a youth," comraeneed ?»areas, "my uncle , w ho then owned this ■^lon, returned from Italy, bringing with

him a lovely girl. How can I describehhre r beauty ? It is impossible ? It was the beauty of a dark, wild night, wherein the placid moon and gentle stars are shining, yet the sighing of the wind proclaims the corning storm. So shone her glorious face, calm and pure, yet ever and anon the flashes from those wondrous orbs, her eyes, told of the lire witluu her soul. I loved her. Time passed on, and at last she owned that she returned my passion, but bade me keep my love secret, as she dreaded my uncle's wrath. Just at this time my cousin Tom procured me a lucrative berth in India, and with a light heart I started for that laud of fortunes, for I believed I should soon amass riches and be able to claim Elvina.

"On my arrival in India I learned that my uncle had died, and that Tom had come into his estate. 'My uncle dead, one obstacle to my marriage is removed,' I cried ; and I worked on with renewed vigour. But, alas, I was struck down by a sunstroke—fever followed, and t was ordered home.

" How long we were making the passage I know not. A gentleman—rather a rough fellow, though—who volunteered to be my constant companion, sr.id it was a short voyage ; to me it seemed years. At length we arrived, and taking a post-chaise, we drove to the ' Yews.' I told my companion at Southampton that I did not require Ms company any more, but he would not leave until he saw me, he said, ' safe in my cousin's care.' But why dwell upon this painful history ? I rushed into this very room, and embracing Elvina, cried': ' Elvina ! 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. "Madam/ I cried "are you not my affianced ?" "Briareus," exclaimed Tom, "you are mad ; this is my wife !' "I saw it at a glance," moaned the poor mad creature, making my heart bleed for 1 him. " I knew theu why I had been sent to India —why this woman had made me keep our engagement secret. She loved my cousin's gold. " My passion rose : I could not control myself. When a cry more like a wild beast than a man, I had him by the throat and would have killed him but the man who called 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 lip in a chamber. Not alone ; no, no, not alone ; they cannot shut out the ghost. They come and tell me stories—wild, horrible stories. I will tell them to you some night. Hark ! the ghosts call me. I must go at once, or thoy 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," I said, "we will go to bed. He, poor fellow, is harmless ; but to-morrow I will see the agent, who must provide a keeper. I do not want Mr Briareuts removed until I have heard his stories. It will save my eyesight not read- ; ing at night. Good night, Janet. Say nothing of this to the servants, and do not j be afraid. He is quite a gentleman and harmless. I retired to my apartment, double-locked the door and barricaded it, in case of accidents. Next'morning I aroso late and des--cended to breakfast, which ought to have been ready at least an hour earlier. Judge of my astonishment at finding the roomiin confusion, and Janet Gruesome in even greater confusion than her apartment;. " He has gone, sir 1" she cried as I entered the parlour. " Who has gone ?" I demanded. " The mad gentleman. He must have left the house in the middle of the night/ " Well, well," I replied. "' Perhaps it is hotter so ; he was a nuisance. If he has drowned himself it is no fault of curs ; we are not his keepers. So let me have breakfast. Get the tea and coffee .service my uncle left me." " Your uncle left them, sir, but the mad gentleman ain't," sobbed Janet. " He's taken 'em, =,ir, and the silver spirit-stand as well." " What ! taken my silver service ?" " Yes, sir ; and every other piece of silver and jewellery he could find, as Avell as I could hear no more, but rushing to the house agent told him all about it. " You have been done," he said, quietly. " There was no Briareus Balcombe. The room only contained pictures and somo old furniture of no particular value, but favourites of Mr Balcombe, and so he locks them up. Come to the police." Ho hurried me off to the police inspector, to whom I related this sad history. "Thai's Solemn Smith's work, for a pound," cried the inspector, laughing. " I heard he had been in this neighbourhood. Deuced clever fellow ; could have made a fortune on the stage if he liked. No doubt he found out all about the room, and also heard —asking your pardon, sir—that you had queer crotchets, got into the house when it was empty, picked the lock of the room, and played the madman. I know him. sir, and will be after him." This was years ago. And the police are after my Mad Tenant yet.