Chapter VII
A GHOSTLY REVEL
"Bless me, how dull we are tonight!" exclaimed Rose, as the youngerportion of the party wandered listlessly about the drawing rooms thatevening, while my lady and the major played an absorbing game of piquet,and the general dozed peacefully at last.
"It is because Maurice is not here; he always keeps us going, for he isa fellow of infinite resources," replied Sir Jasper, suppressing a yawn.
"Have him out then," said Annon.
"He won't come. The poor lad is blue tonight, in spite of hisimprovement. Something is amiss, and there is no getting a wordfrom him."
"Sad memories afflict him, perhaps," sighed Blanche.
"Don't be absurd, dear, sad memories are all nonsense; melancholy isalways indigestion, and nothing is so sure a cure as fun," said Rosebriskly. "I'm going to send in a polite invitation begging him to comeand amuse us. He'll accept, I haven't a doubt."
The message was sent, but to Rose's chagrin a polite refusal wasreturned.
"He _shall_ come. Sir Jasper, do you and Mr. Annon go as a deputationfrom us, and return without him at your peril" was her command.
They went, and while waiting their reappearance the sisters spoke ofwhat all had observed.
"How lovely Mrs. Snowdon looks tonight. I always thought she owed halfher charms to her skill in dress, but she never looked so beautiful asin that plain black silk, with those roses in her hair," said Rose.
"What has she done to herself?" replied Blanche. "I see a change,but can't account for it. She and Tavie have made some beautifyingdiscovery, for both look altogether uplifted and angelic all of asudden."
"Here come the gentlemen, and, as I'm a Talbot, they haven't got him!"cried Rose as the deputation appeared, looking very crestfallen. "Don'tcome near me," she added, irefully, "you are disloyal cowards, and Idoom you to exile till I want you. _I_ am infinite in resources as wellas this recreant man, and come he shall. Mrs. Snowdon, would you mindasking Mr. Treherne to suggest something to wile away the rest of thisevening? We are in despair, and can think of nothing, and you areall-powerful with him."
"I must decline, since he refuses you" was the decided answer, as Mrs.Snowdon moved away.
"Tavie, dear, do go; we _must_ have him; he always obeys you, and youwould be such a public benefactor, you know."
Without a word Octavia wrote a line and sent it by a servant. Severalminutes passed, and the gentlemen began to lay wagers on the success ofher trial. "He will not come for me, you may be sure," said Octavia. Asthe words passed her lips he appeared.
A general laugh greeted him, but, taking no notice of the jests athis expense, he turned to Octavia, saying quietly, "What can I do foryou, Cousin?"
His colorless face and weary eyes reproached her for disturbing him, butit was too late for regret, and she answered hastily, "We are in want ofsome new and amusing occupation to wile away the evening. Can yousuggest something appropriate?"
"Why not sit round the hall fire and tell stories, while we wait to seethe old year out, as we used to do long ago?" he asked, after amoment's thought.
"I told you so! There it is, just what we want." And Sir Jasper lookedtriumphant.
"It's capital--let us begin at once. It is after ten now, so we shallnot have long to wait," cried Rose, and, taking Sir Jasper's arm, sheled the way to the hall.
A great fire always burned there, and in wintertime thick carpetsand curtains covered the stone floor and draped the tall windows.Plants blossomed in the warm atmosphere, and chairs and loungesstood about invitingly. The party was soon seated, and Treherne wasdesired to begin.
"We must have ghost stories, and in order to be properly thrilling andeffective, the lights must be put out," said Rose, who sat next him, andspoke first, as usual.
This was soon done, and only a ruddy circle of firelight was left tooppose the rapt gloom that filled the hall, where shadows now seemed tolurk in every corner.
"Don't be very dreadful, or I shall faint away," pleaded Blanche,drawing nearer to Annon, for she had taken her sister's advice, and laidclose siege to that gentleman's heart.
"I think your nerves will bear my little tale," replied Treherne."When I was in India, four years ago, I had a very dear friend in myregiment--a Scotchman; I'm half Scotch myself, you know, and clannish,of course. Gordon was sent up the country on a scouting expedition,and never returned. His men reported that he left them one evening totake a survey, and his horse came home bloody and riderless. Wesearched, but could not find a trace of him, and I was desperate todiscover and avenge his murder. About a month after his disappearance,as I sat in my tent one fearfully hot day, suddenly the canvas doorflap was raised and there stood Gordon. I saw him as plainly as I seeyou, Jasper, and should have sprung to meet him, but something held meback. He was deathly pale, dripping with water, and in his bonny blueeyes was a wild, woeful look that made my blood run cold. I stareddumbly, for it was awful to see my friend so changed and so unearthly.Stretching his arm to me he took my hand, saying solemnly, 'Come!' Thetouch was like ice; an ominous thrill ran through me; I started up toobey, and he was gone."
"A horrid dream, of course. Is that all?" asked Rose.
With his eyes on the fire and his left hand half extended, Treherne wenton as if he had not heard her.
"I thought it was a fancy, and soon recovered myself, for no one hadseen or heard anything of Gordon, and my native servant lay just outsidemy tent. A strange sensation remained in the hand the phantom touched.It was cold, damp, and white. I found it vain to try to forget thisapparition; it took strong hold of me; I told Yermid, my man, and hebade me consider it a sign that I was to seek my friend. That night Idreamed I was riding up the country in hot haste; what led me I knownot, but I pressed on and on, longing to reach the end. A half-driedriver crossed my path, and, riding down the steep bank to ford it, I sawGordon's body lying in the shallow water looking exactly as the visionlooked. I woke in a strange mood, told the story to my commandingofficer, and, as nothing was doing just then, easily got leave ofabsence for a week. Taking Yermid, I set out on my sad quest. I thoughtit folly, but I could not resist the impulse that drew me on. For sevendays I searched, and the strangest part of the story is that all thattime I went on exactly as in the dream, seeing what I saw then, and ledby the touch of a cold hand on mine. On the seventh day I reached theriver, and found my friend's body."
"How horrible! Is it really true?" cried Mrs. Snowdon.
"As true as I am a living man. Nor is that all: this left hand of minenever has been warm since that time. See and feel for yourselves."
He opened both hands, and all satisfied themselves that the left wassmaller, paler, and colder than the right.
"Pray someone tell another story to put this out of my mind; it makes menervous," said Blanche.
"I'll tell one, and you may laugh to quiet your nerves. I want to havemine done with, so that I can enjoy the rest with a free mind." Withthese words Rose began her tale in the good old fashion.
"Once upon a time, when we were paying a visit to my blessed grandmamma,I saw a ghost in this wise: The dear old lady was ill with a cold andkept her room, leaving us to mope, for it was very dull in the greatlonely house. Blanche and I were both homesick, but didn't like to leavetill she was better, so we ransacked the library and solaced ourselveswith all manner of queer books. One day I found Grandmamma very low andnervous, and evidently with something on her mind. She would saynothing, but the next day was worse, and I insisted on knowing thecause, for the trouble was evidently mental. Charging me to keep it fromBlanche, who was, and is, a sad coward, she told me that a spirit hadappeared to her two successive nights. 'If it comes a third time, Ishall prepare to die,' said the foolish old lady.
"'No, you won't, for I'll come and stay with you and lay your ghost,' Isaid. With some difficulty I made her yield, and after Blanche wasasleep I slipped away to Grandmamma, with a book and candle for a longwatch, as the spirit didn't appear till after midnight. She usuallys
lept with her door unlocked, in case of fire or fright, and her maidwas close by. That night I locked the door, telling her that spiritscould come through the oak if they chose, and I preferred to have a fairtrial. Well, I read and chatted and dozed till dawn and nothingappeared, so I laughed at the whole affair, and the old lady pretendedto be convinced that it was all a fancy.
"Next night I slept in my own room, and in the morning was told that notonly Grandmamma but Janet had seen the spirit. All in white, withstreaming hair, a pale face, and a red streak at the throat. It came andparted the bed-curtains, looking in a moment, and then vanished. Janethad slept with Grandmamma and kept a lamp burning on the chimney, soboth saw it.
"I was puzzled, but not frightened; I never am, and I insisted on tryingagain. The door was left unlocked, as on the previous night, and I laywith Grandmamma, a light burning as before. About two she clutched me asI was dropping off. I looked, and there, peeping in between the darkcurtains, was a pale face with long hair all about it, and a red streakat the throat. It was very dim, the light being low, but I saw it, andafter one breathless minute sprang up, caught my foot, fell down with acrash, and by the time I was around the bed, not a vestige of the thingappeared. I was angry, and vowed I'd succeed at all hazards, though I'llconfess I was just a bit daunted.
"Next time Janet and I sat up in easy chairs, with bright lightsburning, and both wide awake with the strongest coffee we could make. Asthe hour drew near we got nervous, and when the white shape came glidingin Janet hid her face. I didn't, and after one look was on the point oflaughing, for the spirit was Blanche walking in her sleep. She wore acoral necklace in those days, and never took it off, and her long hairhalf hid her face, which had the unnatural, uncanny look somnambulistsalways wear. I had the sense to keep still and tell Janet what to do, sothe poor child went back unwaked, and Grandmamma's spirit never walkedagain for I took care of that."
"Why did you haunt the old lady?" asked Annon, as the laughter ceased.
"I don't know, unless it was that I wanted to ask leave to go home, andwas afraid to do it awake, so tried when asleep. I shall not tell anystory, as I was the heroine of this, but will give my turn to you, Mr.Annon," said Blanche, with a soft glance, which was quite thrown away,for the gentleman's eyes were fixed on Octavia, who sat on a low ottomanat Mrs. Snowdon's feet in the full glow of the firelight.
"I've had very small experience in ghosts, and can only recall a littlefright I once had when a boy at college. I'd been out to a party, gothome tired, couldn't find my matches, and retired in the dark. Towardmorning I woke, and glancing up to see if the dim light was dawn ormoonshine I was horrified to see a coffin standing at the bed's foot. Irubbed my eyes to be sure I was awake, and looked with all my might.There it was, a long black coffin, and I saw the white plate in thedusk, for the moon was setting and my curtain was not drawn. 'It's sometrick of the fellows,' I thought; 'I'll not betray myself, but keepcool.' Easy to say but hard to do, for it suddenly flashed into my mindthat I might be in the wrong room. I glanced about, but there were thefamiliar objects as usual, as far as the indistinct light allowed me tosee, and I made sure by feeling on the wall at the bed's head for mywatchcase. It was there, and mine beyond a doubt, being peculiar inshape and fabric. Had I been to a college wine party I could haveaccounted for the vision, but a quiet evening in a grave professor'swell-conducted family could produce no ill effects. 'It's an opticalillusion, or a prank of my mates; I'll sleep and forget it,' I said, andfor a time endeavored to do so, but curiosity overcame my resolve, andsoon I peeped again. Judge of my horror when I saw the sharp whiteoutline of a dead face, which seemed to be peeping up from the coffin.It gave me a terrible shock for I was but a lad and had been ill. I hidmy face and quaked like a nervous girl, still thinking it some joke andtoo proud to betray fear lest I should be laughed at. How long I laythere I don't know, but when I looked again the face was farther out andthe whole figure seemed rising slowly. The moon was nearly down, I hadno lamp, and to be left in the dark with that awesome thing was morethan I could bear. Joke or earnest, I must end the panic, and boltingout of my room I roused my neighbor. He told me I was mad or drunk, butlit a lamp and returned with me, to find my horror only a heap ofclothes thrown on the table in such a way that, as the moon's pale lightshot it, it struck upon my black student's gown, with a white card lyingon it, and produced the effect of a coffin and plate. The face was acrumpled handkerchief, and what seemed hair a brown muffler. As the moonsank, these outlines changed and, incredible as it may seem, grew like aface. My friend not having had the fright enjoyed the joke, and'Coffins' was my sobriquet for a long while."
"You get worse and worse. Sir Jasper, do vary the horrors by a touch offun, or I shall run away," said Blanche, glancing over her shouldernervously.
"I'll do my best, and tell a story my uncle used to relate of his youngdays. I forget the name of the place, but it was some little countrytown famous among anglers. My uncle often went to fish, and alwaysregretted that a deserted house near the trout stream was not occupied,for the inn was inconveniently distant. Speaking of this one evening ashe lounged in the landlady's parlor, he asked why no one took it and letthe rooms to strangers in the fishing season. 'For fear of theghostissess, your honor,' replied the woman, and proceeded to tell, himthat three distinct spirits haunted the house. In the garret was heardthe hum of a wheel and the tap of high-heeled shoes, as the ghostlyspinner went to and fro. In a chamber sounded the sharpening of a knife,followed by groans and the drip of blood. The cellar was made awful by askeleton sitting on a half-buried box and chuckling fiendishly. It seemsa miser lived there once, and was believed to have starved his daughterin the garret, keeping her at work till she died. The second spirit wasthat of the girl's rejected lover, who cut his throat in the chamber,and the third of the miser who was found dead on the money chest he wastoo feeble to conceal. My uncle laughed at all this, and offered to laythe ghosts if anyone would take the house.
"This offer got abroad, and a crusty old fellow accepted it, hoping toturn a penny. He had a pretty girl, whose love had been thwarted by theold man, and whose lover was going to sea in despair. My uncle knew thisand pitied the young people. He had made acquaintance with a wanderingartist, and the two agreed to conquer the prejudices against the houseby taking rooms there. They did so, and after satisfying themselvesregarding the noises, consulted a wise old woman as to the best means oflaying the ghosts. She told them if any young girl would pass a night ineach haunted room, praying piously the while, that all would be well.Peggy was asked if she would do it, and being a stouthearted lass sheconsented, for a round sum, to try it. The first night was in thegarret, and Peggy, in spite of the prophecies of the village gossips,came out alive, though listeners at the door heard the weird humming andtapping all night long. The next night all went well, and from that timeno more sharpening, groaning, or dripping was heard. The third time shebade her friends good-bye and, wrapped in her red cloak, with a lamp andprayer book, went down into the cellar. Alas for pretty Peggy! When daycame she was gone, and with her the miser's empty box, though his bonesremained to prove how well she had done her work.
"The town was in an uproar, and the old man furious. Some said the devilhad flown away with her, others that the bones were hers, and all agreedthat henceforth another ghost would haunt the house. My uncle and theartist did their best to comfort the father, who sorely reproachedhimself for thwarting the girl's love, and declared that if Jack wouldfind her he should have her. But Jack had sailed, and the old man 'wasleft lamenting.' The house was freed from its unearthly visitors,however, for no ghost appeared; and when my uncle left, old Martin foundmoney and letter informing him that Peggy had spent her first two nightspreparing for flight, and on the third had gone away to marry and sailwith Jack. The noises had been produced by the artist, who was aventriloquist, the skeleton had been smuggled from the surgeons, and thewhole thing was a conspiracy to help Peggy and accommodate thefishermen."
"It is evident that roguer
y is hereditary," laughed Rose as thenarrator paused.
"I strongly suspect that Sir Jasper the second was the true hero of thatstory," added Mrs. Snowdon.
"Think what you like, I've done my part, and leave the stage foryou, madam."
"I will come last. It is your turn, dear." As Mrs. Snowdon softlyuttered the last word, and Octavia leaned upon her knee with anaffectionate glance, Treherne leaned forward to catch a glimpse of thetwo changed faces, and looked as if bewildered when both smiled at him,as they sat hand in hand while the girl told her story.
"Long ago a famous actress suddenly dropped dead at the close of asplendidly played tragedy. She was carried home, and preparations weremade to bury her. The play had been gotten up with great care andexpense, and a fine actor was the hero. The public demanded arepetition, and an inferior person was engaged to take the dead lady'spart. A day's delay had been necessary, but when the night came thehouse was crowded. They waited both before and behind the curtain forthe debut of the new actress, with much curiosity. She stood waiting forher cue, but as it was given, to the amazement of all, the greattragedienne glided upon the stage. Pale as marble, and with a strangefire in her eyes, strange pathos in her voice, strange power in heracting, she went through her part, and at the close vanished asmysteriously as she came. Great was the excitement that night, andintense the astonishment and horror next day when it was whisperedabroad that the dead woman never had revived, but had lain in her coffinbefore the eyes of watchers all the evening, when hundreds fancied theywere applauding her at the theater. The mystery never was cleared up,and Paris was divided by two opinions: one that some person marvelouslylike Madame Z. had personated her for the sake of a sensation; the otherthat the ghost of the dead actress, unable to free itself from the oldduties so full of fascination to an ambitious and successful woman, hadplayed for the last time the part which had made her famous."
"Where did you find that, Tavie? It's very French, and not bad if youinvented it," said Sir Jasper.
"I read it in an old book, where it was much better told. Now, Edith,there is just time for your tale."
As the word "Edith" passed her lips, again Treherne started and eyedthem both, and again they smiled, as Mrs. Snowdon caressed thesmooth cheek leaning on her knee, and looking full at him began thelast recital.
"You have been recounting the pranks of imaginary ghosts; let me showyou the workings of some real spirits, evil and good, that haunt everyheart and home, making its misery or joy. At Christmastime, in a countryhouse, a party of friends met to keep the holidays, and very happilythey might have done so had not one person marred the peace of several.Love, jealousy, deceit, and nobleness were the spirits that played theirfreaks with these people. The person of whom I speak was more hauntedthan the rest, and much tormented, being willful, proud, and jealous.Heaven help her, she had had no one to exorcise these ghosts for her,and they goaded her to do much harm. Among these friends there were morethan one pair of lovers, and much tangling of plots and plans, forhearts are wayward and mysterious things, and cannot love as duty bidsor prudence counsels. This woman held the key to all the secrets of thehouse, and, having a purpose to gain, she used her power selfishly, fora time. To satisfy a doubt, she feigned a fancy for a gentleman who oncedid her the honor of admiring her, and, to the great scandal of certainsage persons, permitted him to show his regard for her, knowing that itwas but a transient amusement on his part as well as upon hers. In thehands of this woman lay a secret which could make or mar the happinessof the best and dearest of the party. The evil spirits which haunted herurged her to mar their peace and gratify a sinful hope. On the otherside, honor, justice, and generosity prompted her to make them happy,and while she wavered there came to her a sweet enchantress who, with aword, banished the tormenting ghosts forever, and gave the haunted womana talisman to keep her free henceforth."
There the earnest voice faltered, and with a sudden impulse Mrs. Snowdonbent her head and kissed the fair forehead which had bent lower andlower as she went on. Each listener understood the truth, lightly veiledin that hasty fable, and each found in it a different meaning. SirJasper frowned and bit his lips, Annon glanced anxiously from face toface, Octavia hid hers, and Treherne's flashed with sudden intelligence,while Rose laughed low to herself, enjoying the scene. Blanche, who wasgetting sleepy, said, with a stifled gape, "That is a very nice, morallittle story, but I wish there had been some real ghosts in it."
"There was. Will you come and see them?"
As she put the question, Mrs. Snowdon rose abruptly, wishing to end theseance, and beckoning them to follow glided up the great stairway. Allobeyed, wondering what whim possessed her, and quite ready for any jestin store for them.
Chapter VIII
JASPER
She led them to the north gallery and, pausing at the door, saidmerrily, "The ghost--or ghosts rather, for there were two--whichfrightened Patty were Sir Jasper and myself, meeting to discuss certainimportant matters which concerned Mr. Treherne. If you want to seespirits we will play phantom for you, and convince you of our power."
"Good, let us go and have a ghostly dance, as a proper finale of ourrevel," answered Rose as they flocked into the long hall.
At that moment the great clock struck twelve, and all paused to bid theold year adieu. Sir Jasper was the first to speak, for, angry with Mrs.Snowdon, yet thankful to her for making a jest to others of what hadbeen earnest to him, he desired to hide his chagrin under a gay manner;and taking Rose around the waist was about to waltz away as sheproposed, saying cheerily, "'Come one and all, and dance the new yearin,'" when a cry from Octavia arrested him, and turning he saw herstand, pale and trembling, pointing to the far end of the hall.
Eight narrow Gothic windows pierced either wall of the northgallery. A full moon sent her silvery light strongly in upon theeastern side, making broad bars of brightness across the floor. Nofires burned there now, and wherever the moonlight did not fall deepshadows lay. As Octavia cried out, all looked, and all distinctlysaw a tall, dark figure moving noiselessly across the second bar oflight far down the hall.
"Is it some jest of yours?" asked Sir Jasper of Mrs. Snowdon, as theform vanished in the shadow.
"No, upon my honor, I know nothing of it! I only meant to relieveOctavia's superstitious fears by showing her our pranks" was thewhispered reply as Mrs. Snowdon's cheek paled, and she drew nearerto Jasper.
"Who is there?" called Treherne in a commanding tone.
No answer, but a faint, cold breath of air seemed to sigh along thearched roof and die away as the dark figure crossed the third streakof moonlight. A strange awe fell upon them all, and no one spoke, butstood watching for the appearance of the shape. Nearer and nearer itcame, with soundless steps, and as it reached the sixth window itsoutlines were distinctly visible. A tall, wasted figure, all in black,with a rosary hanging from the girdle, and a dark beard halfconcealing the face.
"The Abbot's ghost, and very well got up," said Annon, trying to laughbut failing decidedly, for again the cold breath swept over them,causing a general shudder.
"Hush!" whispered Treherne, drawing Octavia to his side with aprotecting gesture.
Once more the phantom appeared and disappeared, and as they waited forit to cross the last bar of light that lay between it and them, Mrs.Snowdon stepped forward to the edge of the shadow in which they stood,as if to confront the apparition alone. Out of the darkness it came, andin the full radiance of the light it paused. Mrs. Snowdon, beingnearest, saw the face first, and uttering a faint cry dropped down uponthe stone floor, covering up her eyes. Nothing human ever wore a looklike that of the ghastly, hollow-eyed, pale-lipped countenance below thehood. All saw it and held their breath as it slowly raised a shadowy armand pointed a shriveled finger at Sir Jasper.
"Speak, whatever you are, or I'll quickly prove whether you are man orspirit!" cried Jasper fiercely, stepping forward as if to grasp theextended arm that seemed to menace him alone.
An icy gust swept through the hall
, and the phantom slowly receded intothe shadow. Jasper sprang after it, but nothing crossed the secondstream of light, and nothing remained in the shade. Like one possessedby a sudden fancy he rushed down the gallery to find all fast and empty,and to return looking very strangely. Blanche had fainted away and Annonwas bearing her out of the hall. Rose was clinging to Mrs. Snowdon, andOctavia leaned against her cousin, saying in a fervent whisper, "ThankGod it did not point at you!"
"Am I then dearer than your brother?" he whispered back.
There was no audible reply, but one little hand involuntarily pressedhis, though the other was outstretched toward Jasper, who came up whiteand startled but firm and quiet. Affecting to make light of it, he said,forcing a smile as he raised Mrs. Snowdon, "It is some stupid joke ofthe servants. Let us think no more of it. Come, Edith, this is not likeyour usual self."
"It was nothing human, Jasper; you know it as well as I. Oh, why did Ibring you here to meet the warning phantom that haunts your house!"
"Nay, if my time is near the spirit would have found me out whereverI might be. I have no faith in that absurd superstition--I laugh atand defy it. Come down and drink my health in wine from the Abbot'sown cellar."
But no one had heart for further gaiety, and, finding Lady Trehernealready alarmed by Annon, they were forced to tell her all, and findtheir own bewilderment deepened by her unalterable belief in theevil omen.
At her command the house was searched, the servants cross-questioned,and every effort made to discover the identity of the apparition. All invain; the house was as usual, and not a man or maid but turned pale atthe idea of entering the gallery at midnight. At my lady's request, allpromised to say no more upon the mystery, and separated at last to suchsleep as they could enjoy.
Very grave were the faces gathered about the breakfast table nextmorning, and very anxious the glances cast on Sir Jasper as he came in,late as usual, looking uncommonly blithe and well. Nothing serious evermade a deep impression on his mercurial nature. Treherne had more theair of a doomed man, being very pale and worn, in spite of an occasionalgleam of happiness as he looked at Octavia. He haunted Jasper like ashadow all the morning, much to that young gentleman's annoyance, forboth his mother and sister hung about him with faces of ill-dissembledanxiety. By afternoon his patience gave out, and he openly rebelledagainst the tender guard kept over him. Ringing for his horse he saiddecidedly, "I'm bored to death with the solemnity which pervades thehouse today, so I'm off for a brisk gallop, before I lose my temper andspirits altogether."
"Come with me in the pony carriage, Jasper. I've not had a drive withyou for a long while, and should enjoy it so much," said my lady,detaining him.
"Mrs. Snowdon looks as if she needed air to revive her roses, and thepony carriage is just the thing for her, so I will cheerfully resign myseat to her," he answered laughing, as he forced himself from hismother's hand.
"Take the girls in the clarence. We all want a breath of air, and youare the best whip we know. Be gallant and say yes, dear."
"No, thank you, Tavie, that won't do. Rose and Blanche are both asleep,and you are dying to go and do likewise, after your vigils last night.As a man and a brother I beg you'll do so, and let me ride as I like."
"Suppose you ask Annon to join you--" began Treherne with well-assumedindifference; but Sir Jasper frowned and turned sharply on him, saying,half-petulantly, half-jocosely:
"Upon my life I should think I was a boy or a baby, by the manner inwhich you mount guard over me today. If you think I'm going to live indaily fear of some mishap, you are all much mistaken. Ghost or no ghost,I shall make merry while I can; a short life and a jolly one has alwaysbeen my motto, you know, so fare you well till dinnertime."
They watched him gallop down the avenue, and then went their differentways, still burdened with a nameless foreboding. Octavia strolled intothe conservatory, thinking to refresh herself with the balmy silencewhich pervaded the place, but Annon soon joined her, full of a lover'shopes and fears.
"Miss Treherne, I have ventured to come for my answer. Is my New Year tobe a blissful or a sad one?" he asked eagerly.
"Forgive me if I give you an unwelcome reply, but I must be true, and soregretfully refuse the honor you do me," she said sorrowfully.
"May I ask why?"
"Because I do not love you."
"And you do love your cousin," he cried angrily, pausing to watch herhalf-averted face.
She turned it fully toward him and answered, with her native sincerity,"Yes, I do, with all my heart, and now my mother will not thwart me, forMaurice has saved my life, and I am free to devote it all to him."
"Happy man, I wish I had been a cripple!" sighed Annon. Then with amanful effort to be just and generous, he added heartily, "Say no more,he deserves you; I want no sacrifice to duty; I yield, and go away,praying heaven to bless you now and always."
He kissed her hand and left her to seek my lady and make his adieus, forno persuasion could keep him. Leaving a note for Sir Jasper, he hurriedaway, to the great relief of Treherne and the deep regret of Blanche,who, however, lived in hopes of another trial later in the season.
"Here comes Jasper, Mamma, safe and well," cried Octavia an hour or twolater, as she joined her mother on the terrace, where my lady had beenpacing restlessly to and fro nearly ever since her son rode away.
With a smile of intense relief she waved her handkerchief as he cameclattering up the drive, and seeing her he answered with hat and hand.He usually dismounted at the great hall door, but a sudden whim made himride along the wall that lay below the terrace, for he was a finehorseman, and Mrs. Snowdon was looking from her window. As heapproached, the peacocks fled screaming, and one flew up just before thehorse's eyes as his master was in the act of dismounting. The spiritedcreature was startled, sprang partway up the low, broad steps of theterrace, and, being sharply checked, slipped, fell, and man and horserolled down together.
Never did those who heard it forget the cry that left Lady Treherne'slips as she saw the fall. It brought out both guests and servants, tofind Octavia recklessly struggling with the frightened horse, and mylady down upon the stones with her son's bleeding head in her arms.
They bore in the senseless, shattered body, and for hours triedeverything that skill and sciences could devise to save the young man'slife. But every effort was in vain, and as the sun set Sir Jasper laydying. Conscious at last, and able to speak, he looked about him with atroubled glance, and seemed struggling with some desire thatovermastered pain and held death at bay.
"I want Maurice," he feebly said, at length.
"Dear lad, I'm here," answered his cousin's voice from a seat in theshadow of the half-drawn curtains.
"Always near when I need you. Many a scrape have you helped me out of,but this is beyond your power," and a faint smile passed over Jasper'slips as the past flitted before his mind. But the smile died, and agroan of pain escaped him as he cried suddenly, "Quick! Let me tell itbefore it is too late! Maurice never will, but bear the shame all hislife that my dead name may be untarnished. Bring Edith; she must hearthe truth."
She was soon there, and, lying in his mother's arms, one hand in hiscousin's, and one on his sister's bent head, Jasper rapidly told thesecret which had burdened him for a year.
"I did it; I forged my uncle's name when I had lost so heavily at playthat I dared not tell my mother, or squander more of my own fortune. Ideceived Maurice, and let him think the check a genuine one; I made himpresent it and get the money, and when all went well I fancied I wassafe. But my uncle discovered it secretly, said nothing, and, believingMaurice the forger, disinherited him. I never knew this till the old mandied, and then it was too late. I confessed to Maurice, and he forgaveme. He said, 'I am helpless now, shut out from the world, with nothingto lose or gain, and soon to be forgotten by those who once knew me, solet the suspicion of shame, if any such there be, still cling to me, anddo you go your way, rich, happy, honorable, and untouched by any shadowon your fame.' Mother, I let him do
it, unconscious as he was that manyknew the secret sin and fancied him the doer of it."
"Hush, Jasper, let it pass. I can bear it; I promised your dear fatherto be your staunch friend through life, and I have only kept my word."
"God knows you have, but now my life ends, and I cannot die till you arecleared. Edith, I told you half the truth, and you would have used itagainst him had not some angel sent this girl to touch your heart. Youhave done your part to atone for the past, now let me do mine. Mother,Tavie loves him, he has risked life and honor for me. Repay himgenerously and give him this."
With feeble touch Sir Jasper tried to lay his sister's hand inTreherne's as he spoke; Mrs. Snowdon helped him, and as my lady bowedher head in silent acquiescence, a joyful smile shone on the dyingman's face.
"One more confession, and then I am ready," he said, looking up into theface of the woman whom he had loved with all the power of a shallownature. "It was a jest to you, Edith, but it was bitter earnest to me,for I loved you, sinful as it was. Ask your husband to forgive me, andtell him it was better I should die than live to mar a good man's peace.Kiss me once, and make him happy for my sake."
She touched his cold lips with remorseful tenderness, and in the samebreath registered a vow to obey that dying prayer.
"Tavie dear, Maurice, my brother, God bless you both. Good-bye, Mother.He will be a better son than I have been to you." Then, the recklessspirit of the man surviving to the last, Sir Jasper laughed faintly, ashe seemed to beckon some invisible shape, and died saying gaily, "Now,Father Abbot, lead on, I'll follow you."
* * * * *
A year later three weddings were celebrated on the same day and in thesame church. Maurice Treherne, a well man, led up his cousin. FrankAnnon rewarded Blanche's patient siege by an unconditional surrender,and, to the infinite amusement of Mrs. Grundy, Major Royston publiclyconfessed himself outgeneraled by merry Rose. The triple wedding feastwas celebrated at Treherne Abbey, and no uncanny visitor marred itsfestivities, for never again was the north gallery haunted by theghostly Abbot.
The Abbot's Ghost, or Maurice Treherne's Temptation: A Christmas Story Page 7