The Heirs of Tre= garth.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 62

The Heirs of Tre= garth.

By Evelyx Gkogax

It was Christmas Eve. The snow fell lightly on Tregarth Hall, and the dead quiet of the old manorial building seemed strangely oppressive at the festive season. No sign of rejoicing, no coming and going as in years gone by. • Six James and Lady Tregarth sat watching the flames leaping up and licking the logs in the old-fashioned grate. Neither spoke. Both were absorbed in the fire-fancies 'they were picturing.

Sir James rose, pulled aside the ctirtain, and' watched the snowflakes, then returned to the carved oak chair by the fire. He displayed acute restlessness. The stony, fixed gaze of Lady Tregarth depicted a mental struggle equal to that of her husband.

At last he could no longer stand the silence.

• /l Anna," he said, "you should have taken my advice a«nd gone away —abroad —anywhere—rather than remain at Tregarth at Christmas time." " Noel," she • whispered dreamily — " Noel."

Sir James seized her cold "hands, which he chafed between his own feverish palms. " He —my Noel/' she wrent on, " was born on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Eve he left us."

" After behaving atrociously. We have never been able to forgive him, have Ave, Anna?"

She looked up pitifully into his face, and then, as if by an effort, the expression hardened.

" I cannot, bear to leave Tregarth at Christmas, and yet —and yet it is purgatory. Why has Noel never even asked to be forgiven?" " Because, Anna, he is my son. Obstinacy „is in our blood. When' he defied me, I would no more have forgiven him than he would have sued for pardon. An actress—a scheming actress !" " I sometimes wonder," said Lady Tregarth thoughtfully. "He said she was a lady." Sir James grasped the opportunity for working up Waning anger against the errant son. • .

" If she married him for anything more substantial than his empty future title she was disappointed." " Perhaps—perhaps, James, after all, we have been wrong." " Anna, you have never said that before. Why should we alter our feelings of resentment now?" " I don't know," she replied wearily, " but it seems as though something was in the air. I can't explain what I mean."

"It's just Christmas. We ought not to be here."

" Ghosts of the past and Christmas spirits haunt me. I can see him again with his merry face, grasping his* stocking full of toys, and the pony we gave him one Christmas galloping down the drive—and there in that far corner stands the tree—the Christmas tree he always had." "Anna, Anna, you are overwrought." "No, James, 4 but till this minute I have been, as the Pharaoh of old. The Lord hardened my heart, and I woidd not let my better feeling prevail. I have steeled myself to agree with you. _ We have worked up our anger till we believed it could not be overcome; but something has happened to-night, and at last I see things from Noel's point of view. Would ttytt he were here now." " I wish to God he were," said Sir James. »

With almost a scream Lady Tregarth threw herself into her husband's arms.

" Then you would forgive him! Oh, James, you would forgive my Christmas hoy!" The flocd-gates of tears were* opened. Together the parents wept and mourned. Thev knew not on what part of the globe Noel would spend his Christmas. At last, with hands clasped, they discussed plans for tracing their son. He had sworn to put half the- world between them, and they believed him. " How pleaded poor old Nannie will be," said Ladv Tregarth. " I know the enforced silence concerning her ' baby' has nearlv broken her heart. I think she, too, felt the terrible influence of Christmas, for she was quite strange to-day."

"I saw her," said Sir James, " and her face was so white that I inquired minutely about her health, but it seemed to only upset her." " She was fretting for Noel. I found her in ouite a queer state in tlj£ old night nursery, and she was turning out a box of his baby clothes. The sight upset me, so 1 fled," but I think, it was the sight of those clothes that made me feel as I did just now." " There "will be a heavy fall of snow to-night," said Sir James, " just like the Christmas Eve on which Noel was born." "Let us look out together and think again how happy we were then." Sir James drew the curtain aside, and they steiDped into the bay window; the draperv fell behind them, shutting out the "light so that thev might the better craze upon the whirling flakes. They stood looking out into the darkness -contemplating the storm. Suddenly Lady Tregarth gripped her husband's arm. in a paroxysm of fear. Silent upon the carpet of snow a dark horse, illumined only by the background of white, galloned up to the big arched porch. A cloaked rider was just visible. Neither Sir James nor Ladv Treearth could sppak the vision paralysed them both. The rider made n« if to descend, then changed his mind. With both arms extended he seemed to claim the old Hall and its inmates for his own : then, turning, galloped away as swiftly and silently as he came.

Lady Tregarth sank fainting to the ground. Sir James lifted her into the brightlylit room and would have rung the bell. "No, James," she whispered, "don't ring. No one must know. You saw it, too?"

" I saw it, too," he acquiesced with bowed head.

" The old story. Oh, James, James! We know what it means. He is dead — dead, and our forgiveness has come too late." * •

Sir* James tried to convince his wife it was imagination—a mere trick of the storm, but she looked reproachfully at him.

" Why try to deceive me? You believe, as I do, that we have seen the Death Horse. That was the feeling that oppressed us to-night. I might have known —oh, I might have known!" " I must go out and search," said Sir James. "I must prove it." " No, no." Latly Tregarth almost shrieked in her agitation. " I cannot bear to be left."

Sir James had no doubt that the story so well known and often discussed in their family had materialised on this occasion. He soothed his wife to the best of his ability and led her away from the room where they had witnessed this vision of ill-omen. " v

On the wall in Lady Tregarth's room a quaint frame surrounded a sampler, some hundreds of years old. Above the words inscribed on the canvas a blue ribbon tied in a lover's knot was embroidered. Cherubs peeped through the loops and rode astride the fluttering ends. Underneath the verse a black horse with shadowy rider rode forth into darkness. Lady Tregarth stood before the needlework picture as though hypnotised, and though she knew the" words by heart, she read them through mechanically. THE HEIRS OF TREGARTH. Born in. the Spring, 'tis a chequered career. Summer, his barque he'll successfully steer. Autumn is doubtful, he'll carve his own way, And have his full share of grave years and g a yBut the Winter Baba must be born at the Hall, Or the luck of the Tregarths is bound to fall. Sir James urged his wife to retire, but she would not, so together they sat talking of Noel, and paid no heed to the hours as they regularly rang out the watches of the night. At last, leaning against her husband's shoulder, Lady Tregarth dozed for a short time. Then with a desperate start she sprang up. "I had a dream," she "so vivid I can scarcely believe he was not here. Noel came and pointed to the verses, and he was dressed as the Gainsborough Blue Boy, the fancy dress he had when he was six."

Sir James tried to soothe her, for her manner was wild and strange; but she went on feverishly. "He laughed and waved his hand and cried out, ' Take the picture to the old wing, now—now—now!'" " Why the old wing?" asked Sir James. "Don't you remerffber? Oh, James, don't you recollect where Noel was born?" "In the Queen Mary room, of course,

in the oldest part of the building." "It was my wish, James. I longed for v the ' Winter "Babe ' to see his inheritance for the first time in that old room. Now he has come back from the" grave to bid me seek him there—now, now, now!" Sir James feared that his wife was on the verge .of a serious breakdown, and felt that what she desired must be granted. "We shall see him," she went on. "He has called from the -other world, and in the Queen's room we shall meet again. Let us go." She rose majestically and drew a fur wrap round Jier shoulders, preparatory to passing through the long, cold passages that led to the disused wing. "It will kill you, Anna." " I have superhuman strength, James. It will be worse than death not to go."

Silently he gave way and lifted the picture wall. An old wrought-iron lantern hung on the staircase, the light still burning. Sir James took it down, and together they went forth to meet—what ?

They stopped at a corridor window once more to look upon the snow scene over which the Death Horse had passed. The moon now shone clear, the Christma's stars twinkled unon frosty crystals, and no trace of a deathly rider was visible on the snow.- All was brightness. Was this not a night of commemoration, when the Babe°of Bethlehem brought that Goodwill and Peace to all nations? The old wing was visible from the window, for Hall was 'nuilt on three fides of a square, and Sir James and Lady Tregarlh stood in the furthest part of *he house from the Queen's room, which lay opposite to them. Again the watchers received a shock. " Did you see anything. James?" she asked, "or is it my brain?" "Come back,-' cried Sir James hoarsely. <v There are lights in the disused Queen's room."

"Of course there are." said Lady Trogarth in such a curiously cheerful, matter-of-fact tone that it. struck a chill to her husband's heart. He knew she was not normal at that moment. " Noel was born there/' she went on happilv. "He has come back and wants us. The lights nre readv to welcome our Blue Bov, our Winter Babe." Lady Tresrarth started forward with a smile on her face, and with outstretched arms. Sir James trembled with fear for the occult powers surrounding them, and the effect thev must leave upon Anna. She raced along: the passage, and still fa=ter fled down „the stone corridor which led to the closed wing. " Stop!" cried Sir James, as she neared the turn approaching the oak door which formed an entrance to the old nart. " Stoo. We have foreotten the key."

Lady Tregarth paid no heed. As he

overtook her he heard a rippling, elfish laugh. ' " See," she cried happily— se«, the door is open ready for us." They passed through the heavy portal; all was light and warmth. "And there is Nannie," ehe went on. "She, too, is waiting for Noel, as she did on his birthday." Nannie stepped forward as if to catch her mistress. But it was Noel, strong and bronzed, who caught her as she fell. " Mother—mother!" he cried. " How good of you to come, and it ie—it is a b °yi" * \ , , A Sir James staggered forward and gripped Noel as though to make sure he was real flesh and blood. m "You> have nearly killed your mother, he gasped; "but thank God you were here to do do it." Holding his father's hand, Noel smothered his mother's face with kisses. The living lips drove away all ghostly fears, and her joy was now gained from a human touch, and not from dream visions. She made as though to enter the Queen's room, but, Noel drew her aside into the ante-chamber adjoining "Not now, mother. Let me explain first. Ah! the picture. Why were you bringing it here?" ( "A long story," said Sir James. 'Tell us yours first." Noel drew his mother down into a tapestry chair by-the fire, and slipping into an old- familiar position at her feet, laid his head on her lap. "Is all forgiven, mother mine? he whispered. "Dad will answer that," she replied, and as Sir James put his hand upon his son's head, Noel knew that the past was forgotten with all those hot, turbulent words that had been spoken. He looked up tenderly at his mother. ' "I could not bear the thought of a winter heir being born to ill-luck," he said. "We were in Australia, and I had to be away for months from Zaida, for I have had to work hard for her. She thought her news would be such a grand surprise, and kept it from me till I returned. Then there was hardly time to get back, but we managed it." He laughed boyishly. "But why did you creep in unknown like this?" asked Sir James. "To tell you the truth, dad, I suddenly got a panic that you might tell me to go to the devil. Zaida and I were determined the little chap should be born here. I thought when we were once in I would come to you on Christmas Day, and. I trusted you would not turn us out. Zaida knew nothing of the picture and the verse till she told me her secret. T think if she had been prevented from coming here she would never have known peace with the babe." "The Death Horse!" said Lady Tregarth. "We saw the Death Horse last night." Noel threw back his head, and a ringino- laugh pealed forth. "It was a Birth Horse," he cried, "and I rode it for the doctor. You see, we had not expected a Christmas Eve baby; we had meant to get reconciled first. • I raided the stables. I expect I did look ghostly in that cloak, but it was snowing fearfully." "And you nearly came in, my own," said his mother. "Oh ! why didn't you?" "I don't know. I felt I wanted to hug the whole house, and then I remembered mv errand and made off." "I suppose Nannie was in this?" said Sir James. , "You could not have managed such a ,ecfet without her," said Lady Tregarth. "She must be severely reprimanded," raid Sir James. "Noel bid her come in-' and answer to me for this." Noel left the room. '.'Oh! James, James," cried his wife. "I am too happy for words." Noel returned, almost dragging Nannie through the door. There was a twinkle in his eye. "Come in, Nannie. The mater wants to have it out with you, but if he sacks you, come to me." "Nannie," said Sir James, very pompously, "bring in the future Sir Noel Tregarth of Tregarth Hall, and your present —a cheque for £520, I think it was—will be the same—well, the same as last time." And when Nannie brought the baby -in, with his little nightie tied up with blue ribbon, Sir James* touched him lightly on the brow and said : • "God bless him." But Lady Tregarth" said : "God bless Zaida." And Noel felt that was all that was wanted.