THE GHOST AT BEECHOVER HALL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 835, 16 March 1867, Page 3

THE GHOST AT BEECH OVER HALL.

(Prom the Christmas number of Once a Week.') I have no hesitation, Captain Arden, in asserting that you tire an infidel and a heretic." i Miss Dampier preferred this grave charge against me solely because I had expressed an utter disbelief in spiritual manifestations. The attack was made in the long draw-ing-room at Beechovor- Hall, where a large party were gathered round the old-fashioned fire-place; and never did the "jolly dogs" i -which supported the blazing wood, grin upon a pleasanter circle — at least, I thought so ; but perhaps my opinion may not be considered unbiassed, when I say that I should have found the society in an Irish cabiu or an Esquimaux hut just as agreeable, so long as the firelight was reflected in Ethel Dampier's eyes. My brother officer, Jack Beresford, and myself were, I believe, the only members of the party who could not claim ties of kinred with either Sir Harry or Lady Dampier; and both of us were earnestly desirous of enrolling our names amongst their connections, for Jack was as much in love with Laura as I was with Ethel Dampier. We had both lost our hearts at the same time. We happened to be on guard the day the Miss Dampiers made their first curtseys to her gracious Majesty, and of all the young and fair debutants who passed before us, wo agreed that not one could bear comparison with the sisters. Our verdict was soon indorsed by public opinion, for (hey left St. James's Palace the acknowledged belles of the season. We were not long before we were introduced to the beauties, nor were opportunities lacking for becoming intimate, as there wore few evenings that we did no meet at some gay reunion. Our attentions must, I suppose, have been remarkable, for before the season was over we found ourselves tacitly acknowledged as the Miss Dampiers' cavaliers. Ethel was the eldest by a year, though she was usually taken for the younger, her sister's style of beauty being of a statelier order and her manner more composed. Ethel was all life and animation, and her eyes spoke even more than her lips. Her hair, of that peculiar shade called by our neighbours " hrun cendre" seemed a very burden to her, for great rolls were constantly slipping out at wrong places, and bringing blushes to her cheeks as she tried to push the rebels back. Her figure was perfect, though small, and every movement had a nameless grace of its own. Laura was taller, and her presence more commanding ; her hair and eyes, too, were darker. By many she was thought the handsomer : but she wanted that provoking fascination, which Ethel possessed — at least, I thought so ; probably Jack was of a different opinion, The " season " for both of us was unusually pleasant, and passed more quickly than ever ; but the regret that came with its close was mitigated by an invitation to Beechover, Sir Harry's country place. The invitation pleased us all the more because it seemed to indicate that Sir Harry did not disapprove of our attentions to his daughters, and that the young ladies had no particular aversion to their admirers. In London our intercourse had not gone further than the limits of flirtation, and neither of us felt sure that it

would, ever be permitted to outstep those bounds. We had plenty of time to canvass the question, as Sir Harry was sent to Vichy,, and a round of visits had to be got through after his return, before we could be received at Beechover, This was the state of affairs when we found ourselves at Christmas under the same roof with the objects of our affections. Shouts of laughter of course hfiled Miss Dampier's attack upon my incredulity. " Did you ever see a ghost, Miss Dampier?" I retorted. " I am thankful to say," she answered, "that I can believe without seeing 5 but as you are not gifted with the same amount of faith, I only hope you may be convinced by ocular demonstration." "There is nothing I should like better," I replied. "Let us advertise for a ghost; but perhaps, Miss Dampier, you have one on the premises,- which will save us the trouble ?" "Of course we have. Did you ever hear of a respectable family that had not ? It is only your nobodies who are ghostless." " I should have said that it was your no bodies who are ghosts." " For shame, Capt. Arden ! I did not think you would condescend to a pun, and such a one !" " I will try and blush, if you will only tell us all about this family ghost. I hope it is a female, and young and pretty, if I am to make its acquaintance." "I shall not waste my breath upon an unbeliever ; you would only laugh at me and my story." " Give me the chance, Miss Dampier. Think what a triumph it would be if you were to convert me. I promise to do my best to believe. Indeed I will if I can. So, pray tell us all about your ghost." "Do tell us, Ethel," echoed a chorus of pretty cousins. After a little more pressing Miss Dampier complied with our request, and told her tale so well, that I should only spoil it by attempting to repeat its words. It was the stereotyped ghost story. There were rustling silks heard in the corridors ; the wearer was deadly pale, and was dressed in a Court costume (why is it that ghosts are always dressed for Court ?) The only thing which gave this ghost any individuality was, that though her silks were often heard, she was only seen on Christmas-eve, . and that on those occasions she carried a baby in her arms to the centre window in the picturegallery, and, after a succession of cries from the infant, returned without it. This evidently hinted at a murder, and caused great excitement amongst the audience, which became intense when some one remarked that the following night was that of the annual infanticide. Miss Dampier's tale was only the first of a series. Every one has really a true history to relate of a ghost, seen by a friend or a friend's friend, but strange to say, eyewitnesses are never forthcoming. Some of those related that night were very thrilling, and seemed well authenticated ; but as they have nothing to do with our story, they are not repeated here. They would have gone on all night, I believe, liad not Lady Dampier at length made a move, and carried off the young ladies. I accompanied them to the foot of the stairs, and thought I had never looked upon a prettier group than our hostess in her mature beauty, surrounded by her fair relations, amongst whom her daughters shone out as the moon "interstellas minores." We men remained behind, and a smoke in the billiard-room drove the subject of our evening's conversation entirely from my mind. " Will you meet me in half an hour in the picture-gallery ?" said Misa Dampier, after breakfast next morning. " I have something very particular to talk to you about. I will bring the battledores and shuttlecocks as an excuse for a tete-a-tete. I need not say how gladly I promised to meet Miss Dampier at the appointed hour and place. To be taken into her confidence upon a matter however slight was a step in the right direction : there was no knowing what might come of a private interview 5 a word might fall or a glance be given which might serve as a clue to the feelings of her heart. The intervening half hour was spent in vain conjectures as to what could be the purport of Miss Dampier's communication. At its expiration I made my way to the gallery, and while waiting for Miss Dampier had ample time to look around me. The gallery was very long and low, running the whole length of the house. It was lighted by fifteen oriel bay-windows, upon which were various coats of arms in coloured glass. The space between the windows and the whole of the opposite wall, except where doors led into the principal bed-rooms, was entirely concealed by family portraits, so closely packed together that it was impossible to discover the colour of the wall. The chief portion of the mansion had been refurnished of late years, but the gallery evidently had not been touched since the day it was first fitted vp — probably in the time of Elizabeth, as the groundplan of the house took the form of the letter E, a compliment often paid by architects to the Maiden Queen. Many of the portraits and some stands of arms were of an earlier date than the Elizabethan period, so that the present house was probably built upon the remains of one still older. The gallery had an ancient savour, which carried me back to bygone days — and Wardour Street, and my thoughts took a practical turn as I calculated what a large sum of money the antiquities around me would fetch at Christies'. After making the tour of the room, and endeavouring to trace a likeness to Ethel amongst her ancestors, I turned into one of the bays, and took a seat. " I know I am late, Capt. Arden," said Miss Dampier, running up to my restingplace with the battledores in her hand, " but you must excuse me, as I could not effect my escape before from the drawing-room. Of course you are burning to know what I have to communicate. Talk of woman's curiosity — it is nothing to man's. Take a battledore, ond I will let you into my secret. I have got a capital idea in my head, and I want your help to carry it out. You remember, perhaps, that this is the ghost'a night ? Well, I mean to play the ghost ! Won't it be fun to frighten them all out of their senses ? I only wish I did not require your protection, for I should have enjoyed seeing you shaking with terror ; but I really am afraid to come into the gallery by myself, and this night above all nights in the year." I looked my thanks, but before I had

time to express them in words, she continued — . „ . "I know I could have asked one of the girls to accompany me, but if there was any cause for alarm, she would be sure to faint or run away. Now I think, Capt. Arden, you would stay and protect me, wouldn't you?" "Protect you, Eth — Miss Dampier, I mean ! I would protect you with my life— against all comers, ghosts included !" " Don't be rash ! but listen to my plans. Up -stairs there is an old wardrobe filled with costumes worn by our great-grahd-mothqrs. I have taken the key off the housekeeper's bunch, and intend this afternoon to abstract a dress of the stiffest silk 1,. can find ; one that will rustle well. I think I remember a blue silk that will suif; exactly. I shall powder my face and look very ghastly, and when all have retired for the night I will join you here. Is it not a glorious idea ? Every one will be on the gui vive to-night, and the first rustle of my silk will be sure to be heard." I agreed that the idea was capital, and laughed with her at the thought of the terror which her ghost-like appearance would inspire, my conscience all the while telling me that I was wrong to encourage a practical joke, which might be followed by bad effects. But how could I give up the sweet pleasure of pleasing Ethel, and of sharing a secret with her? " But you have forgotten the baby," I suggested. "No, indeed, I have not," she replied. " There is a young puppy in the stables, which I shall carry to my room ; an old doll's dress arid cap will convert it into a first-rate infant ; and a judicious pinch, administered at the right moment, will extract a cry not unlike a baby's. Everyone will be too frightened to be critical." Business concluded, we commenced our. game. For showing off a woman's gracefulness there is nothing 'like battledore and shuttlecock. I had never known half Ethel's beauty till I saw her, with arm extended and cheek flushed, springing now here, now there, in the excitement of the game, every curve seeming doubly graceful, every movement doubly fascinating. Fatigued at last, after keeping up the shuttlecock some incredible number of times, she sunk upon a neighbouring sofa, panting and out of breath. The enemy is exhausted, thought .1; now is the time to go in and win. And, taking a seat by her. side, I ventured a preliminary remark of rather a romantic character ; . but before I had time to make any further advances, Ethel had taken fright, and was on her feet again. " I don't think you have been introduced to my ancestors, have you, Oaptain Arden ?" she asked at once. "As a military man you might perhaps like to become acquainted with some of the fighting. Dampiers." " This suit of armour belonged to one Roger de Dampier ; it is dented with arrows shot at Agincourt. Can't you stand straight, Mr. Roger ; one would think your knees were shaking with fear of the French. "This dandy, with long hanging sleeves, and pointed shoes, like elongated beet-roots, is not the sort of man you would think likely to stick to a losing cause ; and yet he followed Margaret of Anjou till he fell at Tewkesbury. " This is his wife, the lady with the heartshaped head-dress and a Lancastrian rose at her breast. Poor woman, that rose had thorns for her ! l - " There is their son, who fled over seas, and returned with Richmond to die on Bosworth Field. "The inscription over the back-ground of this picture proclaims that cluster of tents to be the field of the cloth of gold, so I suppose this gay gentleman with the jewelled cap and feathers was one of Henry's party to Calais. They were longer in crossing the channel, I expect, than we were the other day. " Here is good Queen Bess herself. You cannot mistake her red hair and starched ruff. She looks rather worn after her journey to the Loan Exhibition at South Kensington, where she found her auburn locks all the fashion. The old lady passed a night at Beechover on one of her pleasure- . trips. " This is her host, Sir Jasper Dampier. His bill for a night's board and lodging was paid with a baronetcy. Well, I have known . higher titles given for less. At all events, there is nothing to be ashamed of in the way wd gained our red hand. " Here is a sailor, a comrade of Raleigh's. He must have found it rather difficult to dance the hornpipe in that tight body and ; those puffed-out knickerbockers. " This is evidently a Dundreary of the period. What a lovely dress ! grey satin . and cherry colour. His top-boots, with ; their deep full of point-lace, look as if they were expressly made to catch the water. I would order a pair like them, Capt. Arden ; they would be very suitable for the bunting field. You guardsmen are great swells, but they say you don't fighfc badly. Philip Dampier was not in the Guards, but he fought like a Guardsman in every battle from Edgehill to Naseby. " This is supposed to be the ghost, but no one knows who she is ; certainly not Philip Dampier's wife, for he died a bachelor. I shall never be able to dress my hair with those cork-screw curls, unless I cut it, which I have no intention of doing ; in all other respects my make-up will be perfect. " This gay young man, with long embroidered waistcoat and stockings with gold clocks, was one of Marlbro's colonels. " But this is the ladies' pet, Capt. Arden. Did you ever see such melting eyes ? He gave up everthing to follow the fortunes of Charles Edward — 'the Pretender' I dare say you call him ; conquered with him at ; Preston Pans aud died for him at Culloden. And now I think you have had enough of me and my ancestors, so mi revoir"and.before I had time to utter a word the provoking beauty was half-way down the gallery, leaving me discomfited before a bevy of hoop-petticoated, stackecl-up haired, : very decollete ladies, who followed me with their ogling smiles ; while a crowd of pig-, tailed, shoe-buckled, and knee-breeched, gentlemen cocked not only their eyes, but ; their hats at me. We did not meet again alone, the subject of our morning's conversation was not therefore renewed, but though there was no verbal communication, our eyes kept telegraphing. There was a secret between. us, and I wonder that no one discovered the fact,. The snow was falling fast and kept us all prisoners to the house, but for once in my life I did not abuse the. weather. . The afternoon passed quickly in the bil-liard-room, where the ladies joined us in a

game of pool and grew excited over penny lives. The evening was devoted to games in which the younger portion of the party could participate, and a noisy game of blind-man's-buff brought the amusements to a close. By half-past twelve the house was still, and at a quarter to one, having put on a pair of noiseless slippers, I made my way to the picture-gallery. There was no need of a oandle to find the way, for the moon was shining brightly ; in the gallery it was almost as light as day. There were no curtains to the windows, and the moonlight, rendered more powerful by the reflection from the snow, photographed every line upon the polished floor, even reproducing in colours the armorial bearings on the glass. It was the beau-ideal of a scene in which a ghost might play a part; the very smell of the room had something supernatural about it, and to an imaginative mind many of the piotures on tjje wall might have appeared possessed with life, as the branches of ivy which dangled over the windows cast moving shadows across their faces. The clock struck one, and Ethel had not arrived. I began to think she had taken fright at meeting the Lady in Blue. I seated myself in the window where I had promised to wait her arrival, and wiled away the minutes in looking at the wintry landscape. Beneath me lay a broad terrace, divided by stone balustrades from the garden, which was on a lower level. At intervals on ihe coping of the balustrades were urns wreathed about with creepers, whose branches, shorn of leaves, might well have been taken for a tangle of snakes. On either side the broad steps into the garden strange animals stood on their hind legs and held up shields bearing the Dampier arms ; and in the garden below, yew trees clipt to. resemble fanciful monsters added to thl weirdness of the scene. I was beginning to feel drowsy with the cold, and in a half sleepy state was peopling the garden and the gallery with the old Dampiers whose acquaintance I had made in the morning, when Ethel's voice close to my ear startled me from my reverie. "Asleep, and on duty, Capt. Arden ? I must report you to your colonel ; but I suppose it is my fault for keeping you waiting in the cold. Am not I a first-rate ghost P I was quite terrified at looking at myself in the glass. I really believe I should frighten the ghost herself." There was a tremor in her voice which betrayed agitation. I saw that she shivered slightly as she seated herself in the bay window, all the animation which had glistened in her eye in the morning at the prospect of her midnight walk had vanished, and the smile with which she asked what I thought ot her " get up " was only a counterfeit. She was not a girl to give up an enterprise, but it was evident that she was frightened at what she had undertaken. I knew her too well to think of recommending her to abandon her project, so I did my best to remove her nervousness by ignoring it, and by talking in a cheerful strain. The costume was of course perfect, not being an imitation but a real antique. It consisted of a robe of blue Bilk, brocaded with, bouquets of flowers in their natural colours, the skirt was opened in the front to display a petticoat of yellow satin stiff with gold embroidery, and round the neck and sleeves hung a profusion of old point lace. It could hardly have been possible to make a closer copy of the dress in the portrait. We talked in whispers for a few minutes, for Ethel seemed to wish to have an excuse for not starting on her expedition immediately. I had no desire to hurry her, but could have sat there all night joyfully, forgatting altogether the object of our meeting, in the happiness of gazing into her eyes, and feeling her breath upon my cheek. At last, however,' she declared it was too cold for sitting, and proposed starting on her walk. Taking the puppy in her arms, with a laugh she . stepped into the gallery, and left me with a caution not to lose sight of her. She walked slowly up the room, and slowly down again ; but although her silks rustled loudly, no doors were opened, no noise was heard. She returned to her old seat in the bay, to arrange, she said, her baby, before making it cry on her next turn ; but really to regain her breath which had been lost through fright. I tried to cheer her again in whispers, but with no result ; her spirits were quite gone — gone past recall. I stood leaning against the wall, with my face to the window, my back to the room, my eyes wandering now over the moonlit landscape, now over Ethel's form. A sudden impulse caused me to lean back and look down the gallery — why, I cannot tell, unless some sound almost inaudible may have reached my ear. To my amazement I thought I saw a figure at the farthest end of the room — whether man or woman I could not tell — I only saw that something moved. It approached very slowly, and at last came full into the moonlight — it was a woman ! though a long way ' off, I could see ihat she was dressed like Ethel, in an ancient costume, and I could see that she carried something in her arms —something white. It was the real ghost and her infant ! There could be no doubt of it. I could see her now more distinctly, for she had advanced as far as the second •window. This was a Roland for an Oliver with a vengeance ! I did not feel nervous, but awe-struck. I believed at once in spiritual manifestations. On it came, gliding slowly with an almost imperceptible motion, pausing constantly and looking back ; it had reached the fifth window, the rustling of the silk was growing quite audible. I wondered that Ethel did not catch the sound ; what was Itodo ? Was I to tell her P she must hear the sound before long. My brain was in a whirl. I had heard of the terrible effects of sudden frights — of people turning gray in a single night ; nay, even of becoming raving mad. God knows I would have died to save my darling from such a fate ; I was helpless, powerless ; I felt like one in a nightmare — the danger was approaching, but I was spellbound ; like the poor rabbit, I was fascinated, through the serpent's fangs were close upon me. The ghost was now at the seventh window ; it stood still for a second, and then disappeared in the bay. Thank heaven .! now I might be able to persuade Ethel to leave the gallery, but how to do it was the question. I was just going to take her up in my arms and rush with her from the gallery, when the ghost emerged again and stood full in the moonshine. Too late ! ToO late J . She had now reached the eighth window { she stopped again and disappeared in, the recess. There are fifteen windows, thought I, then the eighth must be the cen-

tre 5 we shall hear the baby's cry in a minute ; Ethel must hear that. I was distracted-— in despair. The ghost was again in the moonlight, she had put off the murder for a time; the rustling became more distinct. I was in an agony, half maddened ; my face must have betrayed my emotion, for Ethel jumped from her seat. " What is the matter, Harry ?" she cried ; " are you ill ? your face is so strange." It was too late — I could not save her 1 She pushed past me, and stood face to face with the ghost, who was now only four windows distant. Uttering a piercing shriek, she cried— "Harry! — dear Harry, save me!" and fell fainting into my arms. "Help l—help 1" I called; but before the words were past my lips, another cry rung through the gallery. Was it the echo ? No ; it was in a different key to Ethel's. I looked up, and saw the ghost upon the floor — fainting too 1 In a second more Jack's strong arms were supporting the inanimate form. He, like myself, had been concealed in one of the bay windows. My eyes were opened : my disbelief in ghosts returned stronger than ever. The ghost was not a ghost after all, but flesh and blood. The ghost was Laura Dampier! and now the rival ghosts were fainting each with terror at the other— each fully believing that the other was the Lady in Blue, who haunted the pioture gallery. The two successive shrieks had more effect than the rustling of the rival silks. Bolts begun to unbolt, locks to unlock, and doors to open, displaying startled faces. Eyes scarcely open from their first sleep peered into the gallery, and drowsy voices asked what was the matter? Women's cries, muffled by the bed-clothes, sounded from some chambers; "The ghost!— the' ghost !" echoed wildly from others. " Water !" I cried. "Salts!" called Jack. Sir Harry seemed the only practical man in the house, for in a second he was with us holding a water jug in his hand, which I seized and sprinkled Ethel's face with its contents, and then passed it on to my friend, who performed the same operation upon her sister. " What ia the meaning of all this ?" asked their father, "I insist on an explanation, Capt. Beresford— Capt. Arden ! Answer me at once : who are these masqueraders ?" " Your daughters, sir. They have both fainted ! Help us to bring them round, and all shall be explained to your satisfaction." We were now the centre of a crowd, carrying bed-room candles, who had plucked up courage to leave their rooms. Salts and sal-volatile poured in on all sides. There were plenty of volunteers to rub the young ladies' hands, and plenty more to suggest impracticable remedies. The old-fashioned remedies, however, salts and cold water, soon did their work. " Where am I P" whispered Laura, whilst a deep sigh heralded Ethel's return to consciousness. They looked rgjjind inquiringly, and both seemed bewildered at the circle of faces which hemmed them in. At last the eyes of the sisters met ! — For an instant they scanned each other curiously, and then a j look of relief appeared upon both counten- j ances. " Were . you the ghost ?" they cried, ! simultaneously, and a feeble laugh from each proclaimed that they were satisfied. The laugh was contagious and became general. Had I not been so anxious about Ethel's recovery, I should have found it very hard to control my laughter within moderate bounds when I first glanced round the group of bystanders. The costume for the dress-ing-room is seldom becoming, but when that costume is huddled on without any regard to appearance, the effect may be imagined better than described. It would be impossible to describe the deshabilles that appeared in the gallery that night. There were wraps of all sorts, shawls of all colours, cloaks of all shapes, night-caps of all patterns, forming a tout-ensemble truly grotesque. We four, who felt ourselves to be properly equipped at all points, could afford to laugh at the ridiculous figures cut by our friends,— and we did laugh ; and as Ethel and Laura regained their strength, their merriment became louder and longer. The rest, of course, could not refrain from laughing at each other, but the; could not laugh with a will as we could. We had decidedly the best of it; but there was one mouth that did not relax even into a smile. Sir Harry's anger was in no whit appeased, and he called again for an explanation of this unseemly disturbance. "Don't be angry, dear papa," pleaded Ethel ; "we have been foolish, very foolish, but we have been punished enough for our folly. It appears that the same idea struck Laura and myself; we both thought it would be fun to play the ghost, and frighten you all out of your senses. The tables have been turned; instead of terrifying you, we have half killed each other with fright. I was afraid that I might meet the real ghost, and accordingly I asked Capt. Arden to be present. I suppose Laura invited Capt. Beresford for the same reason. There, papa, you have the whole truth;" but, really, if you wish me to preserve my gravity you must put your night-cap straight ; it does give you such a comical look." Sir Harry did not join in Ethel's laugh, on the contrary, he looked very glum; but at this stage of the proceedings an event occurred providentially which restored him to good humour. Ethel's baby, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly awoke and quietly walked off — barking violently ; the noise aroused Laura's infant, who sprang off her lap, and mewing piteously, hurried away as fast as her robes would permit. This was too much even for Sir Harry — he joined in the universal shout of laughter, and afterwards kissed and forgave his daughters. Lady Dampier followed his example, and then carried off the rival ghosts, recommending at the same time every one to return at once to their warm beds lest a third, and a real ghost, should make her appearance, and cause another disturbance. We all took the hint, and left the gallery to silence and the moon. I went to bed, but think you that I slept ? No, not a wink. Ethel's exclamation as she fell into my arms kept ringing in my ears like an endless chime, very sweet and very musical. The fright had been my friend : and had saved me some anxiety and trouble. " She loves me — yes, she loves me," I whispered to myself, as I tossed about, and'the chime became a wedding peal.