THE GHOST OF HARDE MANOR

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 20

THE GHOST OF HARDE MANOR

(Original, by Moira McDennott, 14, City.)

THE wind -whistled and moaned round tho old castle and the rain blew down in icy torrents. Insido tho castle it was cold and draughty, and the shivering occupants of the largo tapestry-draped room drew their chairs closer round the fire. It was indeed a wild night. Grim portraits of the ancestors of Sir Jeffrey Hardo hung on tho walls. Some of them seemed more grim and forbidding than usual. Little did Sir Jeffrey and Lady Harde and their two daughters, Anne and Penelope, dream of what would happen in tho next hour or so. Everything insido was calm and peaceful save for the gentle breathing of a man. who lay stretched out asleep on the large ■couch. His hair was long and elegantly curled, and his blue eyes were heavily fringed with drooping tilaek Jashes. Ho was indeed very beautiful. Now and then ho starred in his sleep and'muttered some incoherent words. Presently Penelope'a sharp ears caught the sound of hoof-beats on the road outside. ... "Papa, Mama; horses," she whispered, her little face turning white. "Quick, save the King!" whispered her excited father. Very gently they awoke the man from his sleep. ""Quick, the soldiers arc come; you must hide in the picturo gallery. And the beautiful, sad-eyed man left the room. .. ; . Soon a loud knock was heard at tho door and an imperious voice was heard calling, "Open, in the name of Cromwell." ■ "A trembling servant opened the door, and with a clank ot metal, in walked a dozen Roundhead troops. ""Why are these wine stains on tho table?" demanded their burly Jeador. "My family and I always dine late here in the evening," said Kir Jeffrey with great calmness. "Confound you, scoundrel, wo have certain knowledge ihixt the rebel Charles Stuart fled this way. I tell you we mean to search this house, particularly tho picture-gallery," he added, with a meaning glance at his enemy. The' cunning roguo knew of a secret room in the gallery. "Search as you will, but I tell you that the gallery is haunted by a spectre who walks every New eYar's Eve," said my lord. The Boundhead leader turned on his heel and strode away. '\ "If one of yon turns back I shall report you to the captain as a ihirker." With'this threat ringing in their ears the men begau their search. The'rain came down worse than ever and the wind whistled and shrieked go that this alone was enough to strike terror into the hearts of the men. ■' . tfow they were near the window at the end of the gallery when all of a, sudden a whito figure glided from the door beyond the hidmg-placo ot his Majesty tho ■ King of England. ■ "The ghost!" they shrieked, and fled in terror. ■Tho'captain alone stayed on. He whipped out his gun and fired a shot, but the spectre did not waver. It came on, and the captain, like the others, fled • When Sir Jeffrey tan into tho gallery he beheld the King bending over a ,>rinte> prostrate figure. It was Anne. ' v "They fifed a shot at her," he faltered, "but she kept on. I suppose she knew that if she stopped the men would know it was not a ghost. ' ••■•''• Anne was carried away, and'the King went to a safer hiding-place. Some weeks later Anno received a'tiny parcel. ' It had passed through many: strange hands, but it had at last reached England. Inside was a little brooch set with brilliants, and accompanying it, on a slip of paper, were written these.simple words: — ' '■ "In Memory of a Brave Deed."