The Mystery of Old Chalkwell Hall.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 15, Issue 30, 15 April 1904, Page 2

The Mystery of Old Chalkwell Hall.

PART 1. A STORY OF NINETY YEARS AGO. CHAPTER I. . ; ’ THE OLD SHIP INN. A March evening, cold and bolsterous ; the bitter north-east wind seeming to pierce the very marrow of one’s bones. What a pleasant coiv trast is the flickering light showing through tb» crimson curtained win-, dows' of the Old Ship Inn at Leigh, telling as it dobs of warmth and comfort. The legend oyer the door “good accommodation for man and beast” is to be taken as literally true. F«v houses of entertainment were " w better ordered as to cloanliness and comiv. Its landlord, Sam Bridge, who had o«ea n»»—-’'*or about four years, and his wife w«o spoken of and respected far and near. Rumor made out that Sam had formerly been gunroom steward on board a man of war. Sam neither confirmed nor denied the .report, invariably stating that he had quite enough to do to mind his own business, adding that it would perhaps be as well if some people he know did the same. In the large cosy parlor, where a fire crackled and blazed cheerfully, about a dozen parsons were sitting, two of whom claim our notice more ' particularly than the rest. Tlab first is a little weak looking man who has possibly weathered life’s storms for sixty years or more. He is known to most of the resi- • dents of Leigh as little old Billy R4sby; by trade a barber, but for ■ ■ many years he had officiated as parish clerk. On the same side of the room, a single chair Intervening between them, sits the recently promoted supervisor of excise, Cornelius Grosslngham. His face la the reverse of an agreeable one. A low retreating forehead ; small restless bead-like eyes overhung by bushy eyebrows) which nearly meet a badly formed nose. Thin cruel lips. A square heavy lower jaw. Features deeply pitted by small pox and the whole crowned, by a bris'tlly crop of red hair, make the countenance an evil and forbidding one. He Is about fifty years of age, of medium height and very powerfully mada.. If ho possessed the qualities of courage sind endurance he would prove a very dangerous adversary fn a hand to hand conflict. Another ©f tfie group requires a passing notice. 'Thomas Fitch, owner of a small landed property called “Wahelings,” a very dictatbral and consequential personage. The new rector having chosen him for churchwarden, he never lost an opportunity of descanting bn church matters when he could obtain a Listener. On this particular evening Fitch was explaining some sweeping alterations which the rector contemplated making to the interior of the church. “Will ho interfere with any of the old monuments ? ” queried Crossingham. “Of course he will if they ore in the way,” replied Fitch. "If he removes them whore will he put them, or w-hat the devil docs ho intend doing, with them ? ” asked the supervisor. “I really cannot say ; possibly reerect them in : another part of the building." ; “Ah, I see,” said Croeaingham, “make liars of them. Look here Fitch, the first tkne I meet him I’ll tell him to let the dead rest and to leave their monuments alone ; that the old church is right enough as it is, and that if he wants to alter anything he’d better tackle the Prayer Book, and begin with the Athanasian Creed.” The angry retort which had risen to the Ups of the irate churchwarden • remained unspoken, for iAe parlor door opened and a atraijger entered. The newcomer was a strikingly - handsome man, not more than twenty seven years of ago. The handsomely fur-trimmed boat cloak, and the gold banded ottp which he wore, plainly indicated that he be* longed to the nautical profession. He howed slightly t© the assembled company and walked to the table; took the little handbell from off its stand and rang it somewhat noisily. The landlord answered the summons himself. “Can yon accomodate me with a ' bed ? I am owner and captain of tho bvig “ Queen of tho Waves,’’ which anchored, in the Swash some few hours ago. T should have landed in one of (ay own boats, but the cheek looked intricate and as I was ignorant a 3 to tho navigation, I landed at Southern! end tfirod.a trap and diivcr to bring me hor6.” , “A bedroom, certainly sir, and a r.img sitting room as well should you inquire it.” “Thank you, the one room will be 1 sufficient : unless,” he added itftqr a pause, “I should ha\s cOniyany. and that will depend, 1 suHpojw, in a’ great measure upon tho answers I recti ,e to a question cr two I am nINH»t to oak you.” Ailo.” a paw>e the stranger resuifcad. 1 “4 s thttvS an old fishwife naubd Ihfkter rdsidinjr here ? ” sir, oily Rfl«h£r‘still Uvos

here, and Is a hale and hearty woman, v«ry honest’ and very Industrious." I “If you send for her do you think ' she would come to the inn tonight ? " j “I am certain she would, and thht an quickly as possible.” “Can you give hie any information respecting ft fishermen named John Frost? Commonly called Jack Frost." “Yes, ho is alhr© and well and I believe is in the taproom at the present time.” “If not bothering ydu too much,” continued the captain, “ would you send to Mrs. Baxter and let her know that I have a message for her from her son 'Com, who left Leigh many years ago. -He has been a ■ shipmate of mine for a very long time. He would hah*) come on shore with ate but unfortunately sprained h’is aaele badly just as we came to an anchor. He is nvy second officer, and wished rao to find and deliver a message from him to his old orogjp Frost, If he was still living. Please. have a fire lighted In the sitting room, and let me know when Mrs. Baxter arrives. Tell Frost not to leave before I have seen him, and in the meantime send me in a glass ot hot grog." lord and If 1 had been carried on In ton** loutl onou « h tQ roach the j ears of t n 3 assembled company, and ag tue captain drew a chair closer to fire, after removing his cloak he became tha cynosure of al-1 eyes. He had scarcely seated himself when the little barber asked : “ Did you say, sir, that Widow Baxter’s son was aboard your vessel ? " “Yes, why do you ask V queried the captain. “Why do I ask, sir ? Because It can’t be him 1 Tom Baxter was murdered years ago—when he was a boy not more than thirteen years old. Nobftdy know for years what had really become of him. Beady, the matt he was apprenticed to, said that in jibing the boat, the boom knocked him overboard ; that he sank at once and never came to the surface again.” ' Encouraged by the evident interest with which the captain listened to these extraordinary revelations the little ex-barber continued : “Well, sir, about six years ago there was a tremendous storm, and a portion of the. sea-wall round Leigh Marsh was washed away. Sticking out on one side of tho breach which the waves had made, was a fish cask with Beady’s naafie' carved an one of the boards of the lid. Inside the cask, with a big bole in the skull, was the skeleton of Tom Baxter.” “Yes.” said the captain, "and what followed ? ” “There was an Inquest held,” continued Billy, “and a verdlot of wilful murder returned against Beady- The verdict didn’t affect him for he had died about a year before the remains were found. So you see, sir, your second officer mush be some other Dexter. It is impossible that he can be Molly Baxter’s son. Mr. Yowng, the gentleman who has just entered the room, was fereman of the jury and knows that I am speaking the’ truth.” "Your statement is correct, so far as It goes,” said Mr. Young, who' had hoard Billy’s closing remarks, “but if you remember I expressed my doubts as to the remains being thdSo of young Baxter, and pointed out to the Jury that the hair was- many shades lighter than Baxter’s was said to have been. I openly started my conviction that the skeleton was that of an Albino boy who had been in Beady’s service, and who disappeared in a very mysterious manner.” After a brief silence he continued. “Had Beady been living I should certainly os a magistrate have issued a warrent for his apprehension, on acharge of having murdered -the Albino.” “Well, it’s a wonderful piece of business, and I can’t believe it’s. Tom, Molly , Baxter’s son,” said liisby. “Perhaps It's his ghost Billy, X hpord you saw a couple once In oAe' of the passages of I the Old Chalkweii Hall.” sneered Crossingham. “I know you s.ay you doh*t believe in such things, b.ut if yqu had had my experience, you might alter' your opinion, Crossingham.” Quietly rejoined the barber. “Bah -! It’s only old woman and a pack of fools who believe in them.” snarled the half-drunken exciseman. “You forget,” said the,captain, looking Crossingham squarely in the face, “that It la impossible for you to prove that ghosts are nothing more than the creation of a disordered imagination. The weight of evidence Is as much in favor of their existence em their non-existence." “Qumo tho weight of evidence ; ” replied tho supervisor, “when I s,eo ®h£) myself I’ll believe there are such tilings and not before.” “Why ; Billy, you have nevsr told us your adventure in the old hall," sakl Goring—another 6f the party who had. followed the little ex-barker with marked attention*—"let *5 hear it to-night 'for the first time,” and noticing the clerk’s glass was £mpty, he rang the beil and. told tl;o v waiten who answered tfib summons to replenish it, and to bring him a glass _ of negus at thp same time. On sie return of tho waiter, Rigby/with a preliminary .cough, commence;! the narrative of his adventure as follows ; tfHE BARBER’S STOITS. was about four years after Squire Mqbon moved into the new Rail, •leav-ing'the old one aalnhabited— save by £he ghdSts that were said to hatint it, —and a .little more Ihdn two months fiefdre the goo'd kinti-heartod gentleman Broke his ruck foxhunjfipg, tWat his man came to my shop with a message, elating

' that the squire tikd a bad hand, and that I was to go to tho hall and i shave him, os he couldn’t ohavo him--1 self.” I “The day was terribly hot, and on account of the heat I delayed starti tog as long as possible." "I got to the hall about three o’clock in the afternoon, did the j business I had to do, and sat chatting, with Mr. Mason for some time.” | “I forgot to say that os soon as I Sad finished tho shaving, and the squire had made himself comfortable, he went to the buffet ; placed the decantors and glasses on the table, and rang the bell for cold watfef.” “After about an hour, and while we were still talking, the room became suddenly almost dark.” “Looking out of tho window to discover the cause, I saw that a storm was brewing.” “I immediately gojt ready to depart, and although the squire hogged mo to remain, I started on my homeward Journey.” “Before I reached the old hall the storm broke. The rain oamo down in torrents ; the peals of thunder wer* Incessant arid deafening and the heavens seemed to be a sheet of livid flame.” “I npw? wifnessod anything like it before and sincerely hope I | may never sc® or rioojr tho ilk.® «- j gain.” “1 gained the old hoii at ISst, and sought shelter under the verandah. Finding it no protection, I entered the house and sat down in the main passage or cqrrldon/’ “The wind now began to rise ; Shrieking and howling through the deserted building, like the wailing of lost spirits. The old plase racked to its foundations, and I believed my last hour had come.” “There was a short lull, and then a daazling flash of lightning!—which lit up the place so that you could have seen a pin upon the floor-—at that moment, I saw as plainly as I see you now, a man dressed in light clothing gtaaclm® close to me, resting In his arms was what appeared to be the body, cold and lifeless, of a young and beautiful! girl.” “Frightened as ! was, I spoke to the man. He gave me no answer, but looked back angrily, and then glided noiselessly with his burden through the , third door on the left side of the corridor." “Th's sight of the ghostly apparition terrified ‘me. I was bewildered, and rushed out into the night. How I reached home I know not, A serious attack of brain fever followed, which utterly prostrated me for three long and whacy months.” "I have never told any one about the phantom of old -Chalkweii Hall. I must, however, have raved about it when delirious with the fever, for the incident become known.” “Perhaps If Mr. Crossingham had passed through a similar experience he would speak less harshly of those who believe there are such things as ghosts.” “It yroa a startling experience, certainly,” said Mr. Young, “and would have dismayed any man. As for myself, I fervently hope I may never have to pass through such an ordeal.” “It’s easily explained,” said the supervisor, “the storm frightened him out af Ws wits, and being pretty full of Mason’s brandy he fancied he saw the ghosts.” “I say, old man,” ho continued, “did the face remind you of any face you had ever seen before ? ” “Yes. I had seen a face like it before." “Toll us who It was like,” called out several of the company. “I had much rather not do so,” remarked the old clerk. "Don't be squeamish, Billy,” was the neply, “out with it at once.” “Whom did you faney ypu saw ? ” jeered excise officer. “I said I saw the spirit ; not that I fancied I s.aw it,” replied Risby, looking full at Crossingham, “and if such a thing were possible, I should say the face was yours, for it was as much dike it as two peas Mr. Croesingfaam.” A roar of laughter from the company followed this unexpected answer. “ You ar,e quite euro the apparition was like Orossingham?” the captain enquire*!. “Yes, sir, even the dress It wore; reminded mo of one I had seen him wear before be became a supervisor.” “ Ha, ah ! ” laughed Crossingham, “your yarn won’t go down with me, I’ve a geo.d mind t,o camp in the old hall some night and see if I can meet my double.” “You’re not plucky enough, you dan boost and bully, but you are net game to face the ghost," replied, a voice. This threat so exasperated the excise officer that ha offered to bet anyone in the room ten pounds that if he a quid got to the hall that night he would consent to be locked, or fastened in tho hauptod room until eight o’clock the next mornb*g. Alter a sh®r.t pause tho captain of the brig produced a well filled purse, and taking, ten sovereigns from it, placed them on the ton pound note which the excise man had ostqnta-. tip,usly laid upon the table. “AH right, hut how; the devil am I to gat there to-jiight ? ” said Crosstrigham, 1 hing, who’ll I lock or fasten me In ? " j “I wiU toll them, to put my maceI Ih and drive you over In my dogcart,” replied Mr, Young, “and I*ll— see you a-ro l£t out at eight o’clock, sharp, to-morrow morning, that Is 4f the ghosts or his satanlc majesty haven’t carried you oft during the night.” “Fltel and I will attend to the looking in and lefiting out,” said 1 Mr. Willingate—another of the company. 1 “You will want blankets and other things you knew, so make Haste and get them ready, and I'.U go' and see the bay mare harnessed,”

laid Goring, rising fl) leave. Sam Bridge came in and informed the captain mf the brig that Mr*. Barter had arrived. There is no need to recapitulate their conversation. Naturally the I old lady was much excited and wept and laughed alternately. She pleaded eo earnestly to be allowed to go on board the brig at once to see her poor Tom, that the captain con- j sented—provided she could find some trustworthy man to take her to the vessel. “Jack Frost would do it willingly, if he was asked,” she affirmed. That worthy readily consented to ; do SO. j The captain wrote a note to the j commanding officer, which he en- j trusted to Frost, desiring him to deliver- it as soon as he got on board, and the pair left supremely happy. Mrs. Baxter and her escort had no 1 sboner taken their departure, than the captain returned to the question of the ghost of Chalkwell Hall. Croesingham saw he had gone too fa* to retract, and put on as jaunty a manner as possible ; but he would gladly have cried the bet off. The preparations were soon made—the party took their seats. Goring ; touched the hay mare with the whip, j and 1 they passed through the main street of Leigh at a rapid pace. The old hnll looked weird and ghostly in the moonlight. The wind soughed - dismally as it swept through the deserted building ; shrieked and whistldd through the broken windows and high up among the rafters. The light from their lantern .enr abled them to find the room they sought without 1 much difficulty. The key was in the lock, and to their, surprise unlocked thfe’ door easily. Lighting a lamp that they had brought they saw that the apartment was in fairly good repair, and that it contained a solitary chair and table. There was a capacious fireplace in which still remained a log which had burnt itself out or bean purposely extinguished perhaps years before. A fire was soon kindled and a sufflceney of firing gathered to last the | night ; they then examined the | wainscot for secret panels, and bo-; ing convinced that the door was the % | only means of ingress or egress they wished him a pleasant night, locked him in, and departed. ‘ On their return to the inn one of the waiters handed Mr. Goring a letter form the captain, which ho roah and reread several times, and niter reminding Fitch and Willingale that the supervisor was to bo let out at eight o’eSock, and requesting them to be punctual, he wished the company good-night and left the room. J. CHAPTER 11. EUGENE DE BURGH. On leaving the parlor Mr. Goring directed his steps to the apartment occupied by the young captain, and tapping gently, he was invited In a cheery voice to "come in." As he entered the room, the captain rose from the eomfortable couch he occupied and advanced to meet his visitor with extended hand, which the other took and shook heartily. "And you are Eugene de Burgh,” he said, "the, son of my old playfellow and companion Gertrude Mason ? ” "The same,” replied the captain. "When I saw you in the parlor your face reminded me of someone I had seen or know'n, but I was unable to recall you. Please tell me about your mother, and yourself. If yo.ur mother should require the services of a sincere friend ” "Thank you, most sincerely, sir,” broke in Eugene, "mother has known much trouble and real sorrow, but she hqs borne it bravely and patiently and is ever looking forward to tlio dawning of brighter and happier times,” "Heaven grant that she may not bo disappointed ! ” Bjeculated his listener. “My father, as you are perhaps aware, was a captain in the Frenoh navy He was a naan of good family, and his mother —like my own l —was, an English lady. She died when father was a mere child, and' in the couaee of a year my grandsire married the only daughter of the Comte de Fleury, an impecunious and spendthrift noEleman. The haughty and fiery temper of the lady led to domestic quarrels of frequent occurrence and sad import. One child, a boy, was the fruit of this unhappy union. Matters went on from bad to worse, and ended m her leaving my’ g-randsire. Taking her child with her, she returned to the shelter of her father’s roof. All correspondence between her and my grandfather ceased anil they never met again. After the death of my grandfather, which took place some years later, my father, caused enquiries to bo made respecting his step brother, and ascertained that on the death of his maternal grandfather, he had succeeded to the title and what was left of a once largo estate ; also that he bore a very unenviable reputation. At this time we resided near Dieppe. And I now. come to a point in my narrative that will greatly surprise you, Mr. Goring.” "Ihde’ed ! ‘ I shall listen with interest.” "One day," continued Eugene, "my mbther, who had been to the town on business brought an English boy of very forlorn appearance home with her, he remained with us, and soon became an especial favorite with my parents, my only sister, and myself. rThat boy was Tom Baxter.” 1 "Tom Baxter ■! ” exclaimed Mr. ' Coring. j "Yes, Tom Baxter, .upon whose | supposed remains the inquest was ■held, and of whose existence at the present tifno the little barber Is extremely doubtful. ’ ’ ! (To_be Continued.) 885.

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BY HEB'iSR GL LOTIN. J