A True Tale by Anonymous
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with her hands and her sharp chin propped on a sort of ivory- handled crutch that she walked with ( for she was lame), peering at me with half- shut eyes . she was a little, spare old woman, with very keen, delicate features of_the French type . her gray silk dress, her spotless lace, old- fashioned jewels, and prim neatness of array, were well suited to_the intelligence of her face, with its thin lips, and eyes of apiercing black, undimmed by age . those eyes made me uncomfortable, in_spite of_my gayety, as_they followed my every movement with curious scrutiny . still i_was very merry and gay; my sisters even wondered at my ever- ready mirth, which_was almost wild in its excess . I_have heard since then of_the Scottish belief that_those doomed to some great calamity become fey, and_are never so disposed for merriment and laughter as just before_the blow falls . if ever mortal was fey, then i_was so on_that evening . still, though I strove to shake it off, the pertinacious observation of old lady Speldhurst's eyes did make an impression on me of avaguely disagreeable nature .Others, too, noticed her scrutiny of me, but set it down as amere eccentricity of a person always reputed whimsical, to_say the least of it .

however, this disagreeable sensation lasted but a few_moments . after a short pause my aunt took her part in_the conversation, and we_found ourselves listening to a weird legend, which the old lady told exceedingly well . one tale led to another . everyone was called on in turn to contribute to_the public entertainment, and story after story, always relating to demonology and witchcraft, succeeded . it_was Christmas, the season for such tales; and_the old room, with its dusky walls and pictures, and vaulted roof, drinking up the light so greedily, seemed just fitted to_give effect to such legendary lore . the huge logs crackled and burned with glowing warmth; the blood- red glare of_the yule log flashed on_the faces of_the listeners and narrator, on_the portraits, and_the holly wreathed about their frames, and_the upright old dame, in her antiquated dress and trinkets, like one_of_the originals of_the pictures, stepped from_the canvas to join our circle . it threw ashimmering luster of an ominously ruddy hue upon_the oaken panels . no wonder that_the ghost and goblin stories had a new zest . no wonder that_the blood of_the more timid grew chill and curdled, that their flesh crept, that their hearts beat irregularly, and_the girls peeped fearfully over their shoulders, and huddled close together like frightened sheep, and half fancied they beheld some impish and malignant face gibbering at them from_the darkling corners of_the old room . by degrees my high spirits died out, and I_felt the childish tremors, long latent, long forgotten, coming over me .I followed each story with painful interest; I_did_not ask myself if I believed the dismal tales .I listened, and fear grew upon me-- the blind, irrational fear of_our nursery days . I_am_sure most of_the other ladies present, young or middle- aged, were affected by_the circumstances under which these traditions were heard, no less_than by_the wild and fantastic character of_them . but with_them the impression would die out next morning, when_the bright sun should shine on_the frosted boughs, and_the rime on_the grass, and_the scarlet berries and green spikelets of_the holly; and with me-- but, ah ! what_was to happen ere another day dawn ? before we had made an end of_this talk my father and_the other squires came in, and we ceased our ghost stories, ashamed to_speak of_such matters before these new-comers-- hard- headed, unimaginative men, who had no sympathy with idle legends . there_was now a stir and bustle .

Servants were handing round tea and coffee, and other refreshments . then there_was a little music and singing .I sang a duet with Reginald, who had a fine voice and good musical skill .I remember that my singing was much praised, and indeed i_was surprised at_the power and pathos of_my own voice, doubtless due to my excited nerves and mind . then I heard someone say to another that i_was by far the cleverest of_the squire's daughters, as_well as_the prettiest . it did_not make me vain .I had no rivalry with Lucy and Minnie . but Reginald whispered some soft, fond words in my ear a little before he mounted his horse to set off homeward, which did make me happy and proud . and to_think that_the next_time we met-- but I forgave him long_ago . poor Reginald ! and now shawls and cloaks were in request, and carriages rolled up_to_the porch, and_the guests gradually departed . at last no one was left but those visitors staying in_the house . then my father, who had_been called out to_speak with_the bailiff of_the estate, came back with a look of annoyance on_his face .

"A strange story I_have just been told," said he; " here has_been my bailiff to inform me of_the loss of four of_the choicest ewes out of_that little flock of Southdowns I set such store by, and which arrived in_the north but two months since . and_the poor creatures have_been destroyed in so strange a manner, for their carcasses are horribly mangled ."

most of us uttered some expression of pity or surprise, and some suggested that a vicious dog was probably the culprit .

" it would seem so," said my father; " it certainly seems the work of a dog; and yet all the men agree that no dog of_such habits exists near us, where, indeed, dogs are scarce, excepting the shepherds' collies and_the sporting dogs secured in yards . yet the sheep are gnawed and bitten, for they show the marks of teeth . something has_done this, and has torn their bodies wolfishly; but apparently it_has_been only to suck the blood, for little or no flesh is gone ."

" how strange ! " cried several voices . then some_of_the gentlemen remembered to_have heard of cases when dogs addicted to sheep- killing had destroyed whole flocks, as_if in sheer wantonness, scarcely deigning to taste a morsel of each slain wether .

my father shook his head ." I_have heard of_such cases, too," he_said; " but in_this instance I_am tempted to_think the malice of some unknown enemy has_been at work . the teeth of a dog have_been busy, no_doubt, but the poor sheep have_been mutilated in a fantastic manner, as strange as horrible; their hearts, in especial, have_been torn out, and left at some paces off, half- gnawed . also, the men persist that_they found the print of a naked human foot in_the soft mud of_the ditch, and near it-- this ." and he held up what seemed a broken link of a rusted iron chain .

many were the ejaculations of wonder and alarm, and many and shrewd the conjectures, but none seemed exactly to suit the bearings of_the case . and when my father went on to_say that two lambs of_the same valuable breed had perished in_the same singular manner three days previously, and that_they also were found mangled and gore- stained, the amazement reached a higher pitch . old lady Speldhurst listened with calm, intelligent attention, but joined in none of_our exclamations . at_length she said to my father, " try and recollect-- have_you no enemy among your neighbors ? " my father started, and knit his brows ." not one that I_know of," he replied; and indeed he_was a popular man and a kind landlord ." the more lucky you," said the old dame, with one of her grim smiles . it_was now late, and we retired to rest before long . one by one the guests dropped off .I was_the member of_the family selected to escort old lady Speldhurst to her room-- the room I had vacated in her favor . I_did_not much like the office . I_felt a remarkable repugnance to my godmother, but my worthy aunts insisted so_much that i_should ingratiate myself with one who had so_much to leave that I_could_not but comply . the visitor hobbled up the broad oaken stairs actively enough, propped on my arm and her ivory crutch . the room never had looked more genial and pretty, with its brisk fire, modern furniture, and_the gay French paper on_the walls ."A nice room, my dear, and I ought_to_be much obliged to_you for_it, since my maid tells me it_is yours," said her ladyship; " but I_am pretty sure you repent your generosity to_me, after all those ghost stories, and tremble to_think of a strange bed and chamber, eh ? " I_made some commonplace reply . the old lady arched her eyebrows ." where have they put you, child ? " she asked; " in some cock- loft of_the turrets, eh ? or in a lumber- room--a regular ghost- trap ? I_can hear your heart beating with fear this moment . you_are_not fit to_be alone ." I tried to_call up my pride, and laugh off the accusation against my courage, all the more, perhaps, because I_felt its truth ." do_you_want anything more that I_can get you, lady Speldhurst ? " I asked, trying to feign a yawn of sleepiness . the old dame's keen eyes were upon me ."I rather like you, my dear," she said, " and I liked your mamma well enough before she treated me so shamefully about_the christening dinner . now, I_know you_are frightened and fearful, and if an owl should but flap your window to- night, it might drive you into fits . there_is a nice little sofa- bed in_this dressing closet-- call your maid to arrange it for_you, and you_can sleep there snugly, under the old witch's protection, and then no goblin dare harm you, and nobody will_be a bit the wiser, or quiz you for being afraid ." how little I_knew what hung in_the balance of_my refusal or acceptance of_that trivial proffer ! had the veil of_the future been lifted for_one instant ! but that veil is impenetrable to our gaze .

I left her door . as I crossed the landing a bright gleam came from another room, whose door was left ajar; it ( the light) fell like a bar of golden sheen across my path . as I approached the door opened and my sister Lucy, who had_been watching for_me, came out . she was already in a white cashmere wrapper, over which her loosened hair hung darkly and heavily, like tangles of silk ."Rosa, love," she whispered, "Minnie and I_can't bear the idea of your sleeping out there, all alone, in_that solitary room-- the very room too nurse Sherrard used to_talk about ! so, as_you_know Minnie has_given up her room, and come to sleep in mine, still we_should so wish you to stop with_us to- night at any rate, and I_could make up a bed on_the sofa for_myself or you-- and--" I stopped Lucy's mouth with a kiss .I declined her offer . i_would_not listen to_it . in_fact, my pride was up in arms, and I_felt i_would rather pass the night in_the churchyard itself than accept a proposal dictated, I_felt sure, by_the notion that my nerves were shaken by_the ghostly lore we had_been raking up, that i_was a weak, superstitious creature, unable to_pass a night in a strange chamber . so i_would_not listen to Lucy, but kissed her, bade her good- night, and went on my way laughing, to show my light heart . yet, as I looked back in_the dark corridor, and saw the friendly door still ajar, the yellow bar of light still crossing from wall to wall, the sweet, kind face still peering after me from amidst its clustering curls, I_felt a thrill of sympathy, a wish to return, ayearning after human love and companionship . false shame was strongest, and conquered .I waved a gay adieu .I turned the corner, and peeping over my shoulder, I_saw the door close; the bar of yellow light was there no longer in_the darkness of_the passage . i_thought at_that instant that I heard a heavy sigh .I looked sharply round . no one was there . no door was open, yet I fancied, and fancied with a wonderful vividness, that I_did hear an actual sigh breathed not far off, and plainly distinguishable from_the groan of_the sycamore branches as_the wind tossed them to and fro in_the outer blackness . if ever a mortal's good angel had cause to sigh for sorrow, not sin, mine had cause to mourn that night . but imagination plays us strange tricks and my nervous system was not over- composed or very fitted for judicial analysis .I had to_go through_the picture- gallery .I had never entered this apartment by candle- light before and i_was struck by_the gloomy array of_the tall portraits, gazing moodily from_the canvas on_the lozenge-paned or painted windows, which rattled to_the blast as it swept howling by . many_of_the faces looked stern, and very different from their daylight expression . in others a furtive, flickering smile seemed to mock me as my candle illumined them; and in all, the eyes, as usual with artistic portraits, seemed to_follow my motions with a scrutiny and an interest the more marked for_the apathetic immovability of_the other features . I_felt ill at ease under this stony gaze, though conscious how absurd were my apprehensions; and I called up a smile and an air of mirth, more as_if acting a part under the eyes of human beings than of_their mere shadows on_the wall .I even laughed as I

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