SOME STRANGE STORIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9581, 4 August 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

SOME STRANGE STORIES.

EVIDENCES OF THE SUPERNATURAL. , Those of us who stumble at believe in the supernatural, may find it easier to discuss mysteries when the term super-material is used. Those who are nob ashamed to acknowledge that inexplicable tilings do happen, can claim fellowship with a goodly host. The writer of this paper will relate nothing herein that is nob true and absolutely worthy of trust, within personal experience or that of well-known and excellent friends. ' .■ .. .. y a PARSON'S SURPRISE. : - , ■ A clever divine was for many years rector of a country parish, and built, for his own convenience, a handsome parsonage, fitting up therein a library replete with every literary luxury, and rich" in comfortable appliances. Here he, for the most part, lived for a long period, and within those four delightful walls were written the books and pamphlets which eventually raised him to the dignity of a bishop. A new and more stately house became his happy home again, while the parish he had vacated fell into the hands of another. Some years passed. The new vicar of the country parish was one day writing his sermon within the closed doors of the bishop's old library, now more modestly called "the study *' He was dieturbed by hearing a hoarse distressed' voice exclaiming " Mary ! Mary 1" The speaker seemed at his elbow, yet tho room bad no second occupant; and the double doors shut off extraneous noises. As he looked about in surprise, the call for " Mary ! Mary j" came more urgently still. He rose and went to the window. The sun was shining. All was quiet without. No one was in sight. He resumed his work. Ib did nob progress, however. He had hardly taken up his pen when he laid ib down again. Drip, drip, drip, as of some liquid slowly flowing, disturbed him now. Rain dropping off the eaves, and I thought it had been fine all the morning !" he muttered, again going to the window. His impression had been correct. The day was glorious, and he could nob discover whence or where the dropping came from. Yet he distinctly heard this drip, drip, drip. A little later he learned that, at this same hour, on this very day, his predecessor had committed suicide under the stress of some sudden brain pressure; that he had hoarsely called his wife Mary, and thab she, alas! had not come bo his assistance until the life blood had drip-dripped away. This most strange occurrence was related direct to the narrator by the person to whom it ocrurred. INTIMATION OF A DROWNING. There is a lonely, lovely, shadowed lake in Ireland called Loch Derg, famous alike for good fishing and sudden squalls. My friend went to spend a fortnight with an aunt, whose house was near the water. Her rector lived on the opposite shore. They were all at lunch one wild October day, when the lady, looking up from her plate, suddenly exclaimed, " Why, there are the C. boys coming up the drive I what a day for them to venture across the lake; and "we have eaten up everything !" She left the tableland went to the kitchen to order the hasty' preparation of some fresh dish for the coming guests. Her daughter and nephew crossed the room, stood at the window, watching the young men approaching, and commenting upon the habit the elder youth had of swinging his arm as he walked. My friend then went and opened the hall door- to admit these frequent guests, that there might be no delay in their entrance an such a blustering day, the servants being occupied with their mistress, who at this moment came xorward from the back of the house. •' Well, where are they l" she inquired, going to tho door ''Not here! ■ Oh, know their tricks I They are hiding round the corner ,jusb to make us hunt and feel foolish. They are » pair of scamps i" Bub they were aob round the corner, nor visible any longer in any direction. The home party bad finally bo conclude than their young friends had changed their minds and given up the proposed visit for some other expedition. However, in a couple of hours they were Horrified no hear of a terrible boat Accident. The rector's sons had been rowing themselves across the lake, intending Co lunch «mth their triends, when a sudden squall overturned their boat, and both were drownea. ,~ • A HAUNTED OHAMBKB. ■ , There is an old town in Ireland still surrounded with walls, ' ib is noted as the centre of a rebellious district. Ib was also in ancient days a favourite spot for concealing smuggled goods, being intersected with secret passages and underground rooms. Ruined castles and modern aobeys, monasteries and convents abound. •?, It is perhaps as well to make this statement, although ib has, 80 far as we," 1 the leading actors in the fatter are aware, nobbing to do'with the jifcory. One of our home party was ordained and became the curate of a rich , and kind old rector here. t A local banker formerly had this house, but was shot dead on his own doorstep in the midsb of a Fenian outbreak. V Having- -been nearly a : month * in residence the curate called: one day at the

police station to ask that some patrolling should be done outside his dwelling, as runaway knocks annoyed the servant at night. " A.ll right, sir. I'll look after them boys," was '; the ' cheerful „ response. Meeting the constables a few days later, however, the curate reproached them. st I really wish you would come our way sometimes at night," he said. "We are quite tormented. | The annoyance goes on up to near midnight." The sergeant stared. , " Why, sir," he said, 'my men have been about every evening since, and have seen no one. Tonight I,will put one of them indoors if you like.; With two outside we are sure to catch them." They did not, however, although the knocking was kept up vigorously. The knocking soon changed its venue as well as its . character. Four bedrooms opened off a small landing. Some frightened person seemed to be within one or another of the rooms, usually within one occupied by ' the curate's sister and , the young domestic, who refused to remain under present circumstances if compelled to sleep alone. The; knocking began now on the door with a tone as of one anxious to get out. The urgency and sound of the entreating knocks increased until the noise seemed created by an iron hammer vigor- | ously used. On opening the door no cause could ever be discovered. Fifteen persons were assembled one night endeavouring to catch the ghost by systematic search, bub all in vain. This disturbance would go' on' until two and three o'clock on some occasions. Soft footsteps were also Heard pattering up and down the short Bteep stairs, down which also tumbled at intervals cartloads as of invisible coal or stones. A young policeman fled from the house one night in pallid terror, declining ever again to seek •to unearth unearthly enemies. Through it all the young curate and his sister endeavoured to keep a brave heart, even going so far as to hold a service within the walls to exorcise the spirits, if spirits they were. He wrote to his predecessor in office, and learned from him that the house had been so uncanny that it was quite too much for him and his wife. They had left the place as soon as possible. While this went on the old rector came down one day on a tour of inspection, certain that he could track the ghost. He could not, but advised the curate to make his sister change her bedroom ; as within her present apartment he had visited a former tenant dying a very terrible death. This advice was taken, and undoubtedly when this particular chamber was vacated the disturbances abated, although the house was never as other houses.