The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 22, 1901, Page 14

comes rment over For nigh on to beseech with 0 tear down the hold him captive. Starva his vitals, he sinks his ender flesh and h t )s t rth fi L los Let me o € ratt f e rs & r } r1 r Sir ¥ g 1 ’ ng e 1 mmor ners, bound hand and foot, gre bedded for the the vast t S . some straw for his seby's, name and Latham's most on the tongues of both, Id it be death or ransom? Quoth Sir Peter, ould T but have got the wench I would have hanged young Hugh to the highest limb ere crow of cock to- “Hang*him anyhow,” growled the Bar- onet, and they went to bed. betimes next morning there came a ger from Edinburgh, whose hearing ild admit of no delay. The Council called In an hour the pair, with fifty men be- hind them, were ing like devils toward the capital Prisoners and r: had no place in their thoughts now, and lity of the ¥ ht strange mounds were heard, and the xt and the faint crie 1 fainter, who had re him through thrce s masonry -and, dreadful r knew he had I ¢ or Pe 1 forz all i Le g0t to the capital ing seman was seen tc draw up t the g es, his horse near dead ring bring the were de- turned and drew back the por - ke ' cn. The key hed down, the met their eyes. e torc the: man ‘lying, his eyes foam at his mouth, his 1 up and the flesh of his saw the d that when Sir Peter heard of ¢ terrible tragedy his red hair stood or and his face took on a frozen look hunting and hawking. raic shut himee!f up in the d would see no one or ha and drinkin e nc r him but old David, his old re- sons he intrusted the guarding ment of the vast estates lie sat alpne with his thoughts and crimes mana ven approach of the holidays cheer to the old man, but dread, and Christmas came with ever word of the old-time jollity. brot ratl Chat night curdling yells were heard in the east wing, and cries as of a lost soul. Men were quickly to the door where the recluse slept, the sons leading the van and old David trembling and tottering behind them. g logs could be seen on the bed the gaunt body of Sir Peter, twisted into an almost unrecognizable shape, and x bloody hole in his throat and the marks of teeth that belonged to no animal. n, the east wing was closed Time we and the sons traveled abroad, but in the long winter nights moans and crics were repeatedly heard. A serving man swore by the rood that B R o JARDINE- HALL AND BEECH AVENUE ™ rowing over the night from a nel seen a tall fi wringing its han out!” “Let me out!” ame to be haunte rolled by was deserted and crumble and decay, le sive wing, the strc which lay the du And in the cour modern struct the other side of the river and came from London g Sir William bre to the “Hall.” g only re was seen to go up on you brid With the coming of the holidays had it, the heard and the pathetic cry of out. L i Then’ the miller comin saw that same n t me ot p the long dr same tall > moving amorLsg terir scund: and arrived in the k his flour, and had bre story. It had taken m3an g d of the butler's best before he be prevalled on to m and how he did ain, mect her 1 of blocdy foa one of the long grass mounds. Screaming, her apron thrown over her back to the pantry, to fali in a deep swoon, which last head, she r: Wiiliam, hearing of these two en- counters gn mself of a nervous temperament, took counsel of his iri Some suggested one thing, some anc but one sage bade him hie to Ed nd bring back the bl being nds. there to buy book. Acting on this advice presently was to be seen a large handsome Bibie inclos in a beautifully carved oaken case lying ssive table the center of the on a ma large reception-room. Ii is a matter of r of the murdered n peace for many years after that and it was not till 1520 that % of a serious nature occurred in connection with the tragedy of so many years before The hall was once more in the decorat- or's hands and more new furniture came from London and amidst great rejoicings and flying of flags and playing of bands another young Sir Willlam brought his bride home. A handsomer couple never faced their tenantry and for many months their time was devoted to the resgpring of farms, tiding over tenants and a devotion to the property and the people thereon generally. And all might have been well for all time bhad not the young laird, when he took out the great book from its oaken case, there to write the name and date his first born, discovered that the bind- Ing was sadly in need of repair. The idea once in his head nothing would do but the book must be taken on t¥ coming holiday shopping trip to Edinburgh to be rebound. His wife's entreaties were of no avail. “The whole thing was superstitious non- sense, anyway,” he argued. “He only revered the book because it was Holy Writ and paid no attention to the fears of the neighborhood; nevertheless, as her lady- ship desired it, the book should be taken in its case and brought back in its case and then perhaps she would be satisfled.” ““But, Sir Willlam,” she pleaded, “it is not that so much, it is not of ourselves I am thinking, but of the poor good super- stitious souls that must remain here u der our roof while the Bible is away. If they learn of it they will all leave and never be induced to return.” But the laird was obdurate and the next day, in their large comfortable traveling carriage, drawn by four horses and fol- lowed by two trusty servants on horse- back, they set forth with their preci burden for Edinburgh. They reached the capital in safety and Sir William good naturedly laughed at the fears his spouse had entertained. The binding completed and shopping finished they started for home. And now came a chapter of accidents. They had not traveled thirty miles before one of the hind wheels came off and they were forced to delay for repairs. The jar had been a considerable one and her lady- ship’s nerves were greatly upset thereby —moreover they found to their disgust that they must spend Christmas day on the road. The husband consoled her in every way possible and that night they rested at the Douglas Arms, where accommoda- tions had already been prepared for them. They dined in their own apartments—a rather sorry Christmas dinner—and her ladyship retired early to bed. Sir William went downstairs to chat with the landlord and drink a negus or two, as was his custom. The common room was empty and the ord that the soul m of Lee rested SPEDLINS CASTLE e were but twd or of mid- and a be- landlord infor other guests in the ho borhood, s for the a shoe 1 morning L) 1 closed up, and front am a pleasant nething woke him one cor: ay a te object. 2, shot through William some nnkeeper shuffled out of the room. The boy, he was but nineteen, opened his eyes, looked up at Sir Willia smiled and sald “No good He dead befqre the doctor, bing his eyes, half awake, got side The country was scoured for miles. The murderer, however, was never discos ered. How he had gained an entry to the inn remained always a mystery. His egress had been, of course, by the openy window, whence he had dropped some ten feet to the ground. Sir Willilam, himself a magistrate, took tull charge of the affair and accomps the remains to the house of the sor ing parents, to 'whom he related cumstances as far as he was able. Then the laird and h their journey wit d faces heads. Her lad of her get ho down on your mighty And lllam, nodding his hea promised he wot Oun arriving sigh of reliet from the state st there were ¢ ings and welcome That night her lad “Thank God here.” conti ered once In the ear Willlam, if we ev e with the book, in nees and thank the A w caken case eace and quie At f building house, lec 1 founds L 2 other depa Bible How it happenec tell, but the big any one realized it, totterec crushing poor old Rogers into a m nothin, cident fol w 4 d accident and the refused to wor glish m sent fer and the w went slowly No sooner was the extra stor the house began to sink and and other Improvements were giv To-day the Bible is back in but the family resides abroad hall is rented on a ten yes strangers, who care nothing for lins Ghost or the ill luck it has brought the family.