The Castle Spectre by Sarah Wilkinson founded on the original drama of M.G.Lewis

8/6/2019 The Castle Spectre by Sarah Wilkinson founded on the original drama of M.G.Lewis

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BY SAnATI "'ILKIN.~Ol\..

POtJNDED ON

THE ORIGINAL DRA~JA

OF

..}I. c. LEWIS, E.,q.

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..Hoh! wake.t or 8Jeepest, most g311ant knight.

SiDg metllgleD. methglcn hcc ;I\:"w is Ihe fitle.t timc for flight.

SiDg methglcll. methgleD hl'e..Tis DOW beucatll tlle ",e8tern tow~r.

A lIuat "ill t"ke you from hi" po",cr.

And quic"ly I;Ct you frl'c.'.

A 'li~lr.A <-'alI="""'.

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LONDON:

rRINTED AND SOLD By J. BAILET, 116, CIIANCEII.Y lAliE.

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THE

CASTLE SI>ECrrRE "

AN ANCIENT ROMANCE.

CAiTLE CONW A. Y, situated on the borders ofWales, iD

.most romantic spot, took its name f rom the rapid flood

of waters thal Javed its WBIJs, complelely surrounding tbe

west and northern boundaries of this stupendous edifice. the

ruins of whic!) remain till this day, to tell the curiou.iand enquiring traveller wha' i, &Rce Wal. Oft did th" pea-

8ant. whil" regaling afier the Jabour8 of the day. with his

Dut-brown aie, repeat the horrific story of the Spectre of

Lady Evelina, and tl1e base Earl O.!mond. \~.\~~

But hers, gentle reader, wa8 not the only 8upernatural

visitant Conway Castle could boast: tradition says that it~

: {ounder. Lord Hubert. rirles o\.er hi8 domains on th" first

, of every moon. rnoullted on a rnilk white steed. clad in

glittering armour ; alld that hi8 failhlesl wife, L.'ldy Bertba.

i8 then 8een and h~ard. shriekillg, amid8t Ihe ,vest~rn

.ower, where he had immured her tor incolltinellce while

he ~.as at Palesline: that Baron Hildebrand. who lost his

life for high Ireason, regularly walks ill the great hal1 e\,cry

night. with his head und~r.his arm. Hut a, ~.e arc alike

ignorant of tlle truth or fillsehood of these ass~rti()n8, we shal(

not enter into a more minule d~lail, but confinc our elves to

j that of the4Èl..:velina, which is certailJiy foullded on fact.

, Near AJnwicK,~Ire, in Norlhumberhnd, lived il peasant.

or ralher shepherd, named Allan j his marnlers, his cottage.

,i his flocks, al1 bore a marke~rjority lo Ihos~ of hii im-

;l mediate neighbours j and h~ was a lenallt much respect~d

.i by the Percy falJ1ily. He had but one child.. a d3ughter.

+ named Ang..lil, alld her he esteemed hi" richesl treasure j

, her person wal mosl Jovely, her mind pure as Ihc uniuiJied

~ 8now. and her naliv:: sense and elega"ce of malmers ex-

' eeeded alI the endowments of art or .tudied accomplish-

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THE CASn.E SPECTnE. J 1

The black DOticed it.-. What is 81l thil r laid HassaD.I willlOOD see.. replied Saib ; alld placing a chair OD hetable that stood under the window. he 100ked OUt, and pre-

lently descending, told his comrade that it wal 0111y he1ishermen casting nets, and 8inging to wile away the ,ime.

Theyaeated themselves 0\1 tbe floor, aD(1800\1 became

yery intent OD heir dice and bo'tle; and tbe fisbermen agaiD

18Dg.Hoh! wake Ibce. wake tbee, kDigbt, from .leep.SiDr methglen, methgleDbecH..le. h..te, and qQickly take tbe leap,SiDKmethglen. melh~leQ bee.Let .ot the heiltht give )"ou alBrm,For we will catl:h you ..fe fr..m hmrm.ADd quickly ,et 1oU ree

.It must be .o' l.1id the earl. .it is me they mean ;. he wa5.atarting up, but 8eeing the blacks tum round, he had just.time to regaiD his reclining posture. .I 'hougbt our pri-

IODer 8poke.' said Hassan ; ..o he might,. replied Saib..it is no uncommon thing for people "o talk in their sleep.

cparticularly wb~n their miDds are disturbed...And his cannot be veryeasy just now. O, this love!Ah ! how dearly did I doat on my Samba and (lur infaDt

80n. In my own couDtry I was blest in affectioD. pow(:r..and prosperity ; here my 800ty hue reDders me an object ofcODtempt and disdaiD. 0 memory, torturing mem()ry ! but.ince the'tyranl8 forced me trom Afric.s- ,.alued shore. ,[have,vowed h;ltred ; yes, hatred eternal to alI munki\1d !.

.I too have had my 6hare of sorrows,. replied Saib.;..but I cannot di\'est my heart of pity or gratitude wh~re it.is due, and amtJng tllese white tolks ,here are good and bad.'

.t\h ! they are Europeansall,. 6aid Hassan. .anc.l thati8 enough for me; but no more of thiD, give me a -hom ofwiRe, and now for the dice,lhe first throw was in ytJur favour .'

The men were so intent on tbeir drink al1d diversion, forHas,an had produced another bottle, that they ceasedlo r8-

-gard any tting el~e.

Again the fisherme~'s canzouet W38 repe3ted. and theItWO foUowi(Jg liDes give\1 twice over in fullchorus :-

..Let u..t , h.. heighl1°ur n,iDdal"rm.For we.will catch yllu free from I.arm..

Percy mounted tbe cbair 8Dd table, 80 bappily .pIacerl,there by S3ib, and looking from the caMt:ment bebl:ld Gil-

ben.and 8Ome ishermen in the boat. with lorcbes, holdil1$:a.Jail.cloth ..pread to catch himS the he!ght .was feaIftll.

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l. THE CASTLE SPECTRE.'That I am no coward.. returned Osmond. I rny deed, iD

arms wil\ testify, but I value my life too much at presenl to

l8t it on a chancoj but the Lady ADgela must be rniDe first,then I will meet you in lhe field, at lhe head of our mulualadhe~nt., ore)se in sjDgle fight, as please3 hee best:

I Angela thine ? forbid it heaven ! replied Percy '

I MiDe ,he ,bal\ be, aDd tbat without delay . replied Os-moDd 1iercely; .and then, PercyJ liberly wil\ again be

your9, but ti\l that au5picious time you are my prisl)ner ;and your mean artifice in stealing iDto rnl castle warrantl

juch a proceeding on my part..Percl would have answered, but Osmond ordered hiss)aYel

to ~r him instantly to the we'stem tower ; and Haasan andSa1bwere to remain and guard him, and not quit the room

an in9tant.The earl, anxiou. to regain hi5 liberty on account or

Angela, who5e unprotected 5ituation filled him with athousand fears, exposed as she wa5 to the power of an aa-5assiD, attempted to win hi5 &ab)ekeepers over to hi5 in-1ere&t, by affording ltim mean3 uf escape, oflering them awell1i\led pur5~, a5 a pre3ent reward, and treble the 5U[8 at.future period, with his prolection if ever tbey found it ne-

ce5sary o claim it.The black3 whispered together, and then seemed all

compliance ; but no sooner had they got the purseJ thanthey laughed at him for suppo5ing they would be f&lse to

Os1Uondand belray lheir trust.Percy wa5 too indignant to repl>.J and much chagrined,

he flung himselfon a couch.Hassan and Saib began to divide Ihe content5 of Ihe

purse, when the fonner producing from his pocket a box ofdice, proposed that instead of sharing the gold, they shol1ldfiing who was to have the whole. and decide it by threethrows each; .8greedJ. said SaibJ I here is a bottie of the'best wine Osmond has il1 his cel)ar, and we will have .

merry hour .'A 3ong was now I;eard-sure that m\t9t be'Gilbert.s voice,

.thought P~rcy, 1 willlisten altentively, it may be some sig-

nal : tbe first ver5e wa, IIgain repeBted..Hoh! .V1lke8t r sle"pesl. mo.t gallaDt kDight~Sin~ m('lh~1en.n('lhltlcll beeNow i8 lhe 6lle.t lime for fiight.SiDgmelhglen, ruelhl;leDbee.'Tis Dnwbenealh he westero o'ge~a boat will take yOQ rom hl..pow.c,A.d IIQiekly5et Iwfree:-



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THE CASTLE SPECTRE. i! ..,Saib.went instantly to impart this di.aster to Earl Os- .,

mond, reckoning that delay would oDly make the matterworse ; and presuming tbat his former services would in-

sure his pardon for this ut1il1tel1tional crime. but gratitudehad no piace in the tyrant's breast ; and drawing torth hisdagger he seized tbe slave, and would have buried it inhis .breast, had not Kenrick, who had reh1med secrelly to theca8t1e, entered tbe room just in time to 8ave the black-hestruggled wit~ Osmond ; and while he held the earl, badethe trembling Saib fly for his life.

The earl's eyes seemed to dart forth flasbes of lightningon Kenrick, so great was his rag~.

f Was it a crime to save you from further bloodshed ?'said the secretary .4 You are growu impertinent and in-1erfering,' replied Osmond. ' It is ~ime ,\,e part, and Iwill hasten your progres5 to the retreat you so much wisbfor-Ieave me, in~talltly, sir.-Kenrick retired hastil>..wisbing his master.swords mighl be true.

Osmond sent for Saib, whom he pardon~ and gave himsome gold, but on the express condition both these fa-vol1rs were bes10wed, th3t Kel1rick.s colltemplated rnurderwas DO olrger delayed, .bat the poison administered thal \.ery11ight n his 5upper wine, and th~ earl would see it infusedin hi8 presence.

The heart ()f the African revolted agmnst this task : hedid not find bimself capable of committil1g a deed so foul.Kenrick had saved tlis life, it was but just 10 retum tlle ser-vi.ce tendered, 3nd not repay evil for good.

Saib sought Kenrick, who was walkÌ11g on the soutbernrampart8, alld thanked bim with tears ofgratitude. f Ihope,' 8aid the untutoted cllild of nature, f that tl1e life you

have saved shall hencefortb be dedicated to bett(Jr pnrposeathan have for many years rnarked ils days-I gI.ow tired ofOsmond and guilt..

f Friend,. replied Kenrick. ' if it so 5uits thee, and thine

heart like mine seems awakeDed to compunction and peni-

tence, you are v,lelcome to 5hare my home; w~ c3n rendermutuaI service to each other. Osmond bas promised me acalm '.el,.eat, alld soon.' f Aye. thisvery nighl.. said the black.

f Ah! what mean you ? exclaimed Kenrick : ' why thatlook of hotror ? why that deep.ened (}ne ? .Osmond cioom5you to tbe grave-that is bis promised retreat ; and I amchosen to administer it this very night. When I handJ'Ou your accustomed goblet of wine after supper. appear 10~

'f2 THE CASTLE SPECTRE.

but he leaped out, 8nd was so fortunate as to be received byhis humble friends in &afety. As they rowed with all speedalong the castle walls, a 11otewas flung from ol1e of the win-

dowsjJJto the boat ; this at first created some alarm-' ltmu51 be (roiri the Lady Angela,' Haid Gilbert ; , read it. mylord. while I hold the torch. ' Gilbert was wrong; it was

from Father Phillip ; .3nd what can that immense walkil1gtomb of fish, fle5h al1d fowl have to say ?-, Hush, Gil~bert, do not speak thUi of the good man.. .Oh: .tis thebest creature il1 the world, my lord, and but fòr him, I shouldnot have been here to tell you so-but he is no more fit tobe a monk, than I to be maid of honour to the Queen ofSheba, ha~ llived when she went to Vi5it King Solomon..

The note from the monk run nearly as follows : ' 1 sus-

pected what you was at. and watched you ; I glory iu yo\)rsuccess. and hope it will be a prelude to permaDent bli,s.Fear not, for the r..ady Angela, nor take any steps t"or her:Jiberation, but lay close concealed at the cottage of Edric,the. fi5herman. Her. s3fety shall be my particular care. I

know a 3ecret way from the castle, of which even Osmondi, igDorant, and when alI sleeps within its walls, 1 will con-duct her from it-expect us about the hour of two.

, Yours, PHILLIP.'Percy had no sool1er landed. than he was welcomed by

A\lan-that worthy Illan, anxious tor his safety, al1d wish-ing to hear tidil1gs of Angela, had followed the sleps of hisjorJ, accompaIIÌL"dby Ihree hundred vassals 3nd retainers,accordil1g to the baronial usage of those day~, and theyw"re now placed in ambush 3bout the WOOd5.

Per~y was delighted wilh this. testimol1y of gratitude andallegianc~, and warmly pressing the old m;)n.s hand. they

-took shelter in Edric.s cottage, where a supper of fi,h, &c.W3Ssoon prepared for tllem; it was homely, but clean andbospit:ible; and Percy.s long fa5t. (for Os~ond had not Ihegenerosity to order his caplive tlle least refr,,6bment) g3vehim a heilrty reli5h to his meal. which we willleave him

enjoying. and return to the ca511".As Percy h3d leaped from thewindow, the chairand tablefell wilh a lumbering tloise ; this aroused the blac1ls. whofound their priiOner g()ne-horror and dism.ly seiz~d them..Saib climbed to the wil1dow., just as the boat was disappear-in". al1d beheld the earl seated in it, while the fi~hermeR

o f .raised their oar5 aloft in triumph, and set up a shou.t o Joy;

.they then moved on, singing Iheir favourite Bir of ' tDe1b-

glen hee~

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THE CASTLE SPECrtlE. 1i

not observe the bed curtain. .bake}' Angela &aid it wuthe willd.

.Little did I dream.. said Alice, re&uming her dia.course, .that when my dear, Iweet, affable lady pressed myhaDd at the castle gale, as she W81 going to meet her lord,tbat I Ihould never behold h\:r more I remember once aaIhe lay in that very bed. 8ad tiding. came from thc warsiand ODenteriDg the room 1 heard het 8ob. De.trest lady,said l, take comlortj alld courte8ying lowly, I approachedtbe couch, just 10 : here Alicc luited the actiOD to tbe

-word-with tbat 1IIe raised her .W~t aDgelic head frombeneatb the wbite satin quilt; Ilhink I .ee h~r now.. (Attbi. very moment a head aHpeared from under the bed..clothes, and gave .a .di5lnàl grnan. ) .The devil ! the de-,yil ! exclaimed the terrified woman, ru.hing from the room j.lIt)t all tbe Lord O.imo\lds in the world 8hall keep me here ! .

The next in.tant tbe bed.lead broke down, Bnd lhe hugefigure of Falher Phillip rolled at Angela.a feet as 8he .was n

the act of flyillg alter Alice..What means all this ? said .tbe teorrified giri. .Whatam I to tbink of this strange.inlrusif'ln ?

.I do uot deserve censure.. 8aid "the monk j .but you8hall bear hoW I carne in this ridiculous situation. Thepictl1re of Earl Reginald aftords a pa,8age into this cham..ber, ~ mean8 of a secret &pring, and it was wilh 80me dif-fiCU'.\ that I forced myselfthrough il; at that monlenl yon~e; to the door. I thought it migbt be Earl OsmondjaI.t to retum in 8uch haste by the way 1 t"ame wa5 notpoasible neitber, in my confusion, could I Jind lhe springj.o'l crept into tbe bed, and coveled my&elfwith the clothes.I had then the vexation to find that Alice was to remainwith yOU. and I bit on tbat exp~dient to frighten her awajt..which ha5 succeeded : but 8he .may return. or .omc oneelse in ber &tead, 80 I will tel1 rnyerrand. Do uotundress.or go (O bed j .Oon after the clock 81rike8 the 1irst hour of

the morn. I will come for you. and deliver you safe fromthis castle. where you have knowu nought but alarm and.orrow, .uch a5 muve& my ht:art to lhink on. .

.Oh, good .falher !. exclaimed Angela, .caa weDot gonow} Dang..r lurka in every addilional moment I remaiDhere.'-. Daugbter ..replied Phillip. .il cannot be j thereare several apartmenu .wt: must cro~s n uur wa1, whil:h are:lreCJuentlyoccupied, or at lt:ast resorted to until a late houc,.aDd~ must wait ere we venture. for Osmond and his howe-~

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14 "THE CASTI;E SPECTRE.

.drop it by 8ccideDt. .J shal1 not tben be SU8peCted. C011«twhat wealth you have, and Jet to-morrow.s SUD ee you Qnyour way Irom ,he..e detested walls. Farèwe1J. I dare stayno 10Dger; shuuld we be ob.ierved. it might be fatal to u.both.' .

Dealh, tbcn, said Kenrick to himself, i8 OsmoD4'. in-'tended rew:lrd fur my I'ast servjces and so iOOD oo. O,base de.troyt'r of my peace of mind ! ..hy did 1 league withtbe~ ! why barl.:r my ,msu1lied co"scienGe lor Ihy gold andnever perlurmed prumi.ie~ ! I.eave the castle !-that I.could do wit" ple,.8llre, were it no1 for-Ah! huw shalll8cl ? Ye8. 1 will seek th~ Lady Angt!la, and confide to hermy fatal.b~':rt t i she may pardon and I'rotect me; ,he j.good and vlrìuuus. and ,with Ihem d welleth mercy. .

Asllml';onb t() supper, by the usual bell, inIernJpted hi.medilallons. Ah! wl1at a sickening sensatiun did Ihelound produce. Saib handed Kenrick. Ibe full 8parkliuggoblel ; j1s1 tbt:n hi. f,vourile .8panit:1placed her paw8 OD

.his ..ne.:, ilnd Iler masler ,prelt:Dding 8he had dashed the'Wine ~rr)nl his h3nd, let Ihe gobll"t fall to the ground. wherejt sllivt:red i" pieces. .

Lad}' AIIg.'13 wa~ now ordered by Osmond 10 retire to:ber chal,.bl:r. al1d he deputed Alice, wbo was b)' no meaDIpleasc:d wit;. ,he omce assigned ber, to remaiD 'With her"and tak~ 4..are he dld not quil the room, or give aDy oneaccess o h~(.

.I du no1 )jke this cedar chamber,' said A)jce, a8 thl\.enlert:d, and looked ft:arfully round : .is not your 81eepdisturb~,1 here ? l'or th6y saythe Oralory is bauDted ; butmy lord b8s had th05e folding doors fait cloi.d that lead into,it. Do you 1I0t ;hear Lady Eve)jna sing at midnight ?'.No, my good A)jce: i have p3it every nigbt sillce l hayebeen ht're undisturbed ; excl:pt what has aroie .rom my,fear of evil mortals. 1!!1~bQ~-~p.r~theie ? .l.couldgazt: on Ihem forever.' ,

.1.hat.' rep)jed the dame. ..on the rig~t, i8Lord Reginaldjn armour, he that .W.i slain coming from the wars ; andthat ()'" th" left Ì.i b:s wife, the murdered counteis.'

.Oh, Uimond! Osmond !. i8id .Angela, drawing forth.the dagger sbe had found In tbe armoury from under hcrrobes, .the hilt .of Ihis weilpoD bears thy name ! and itl.blade i8 eDcrusted witb blood ! Ah Dle. 1 lear .twas Lheir,ait drank !.

.Hide. bide tbat dagger, I iDVeat you,' said Alice, .orJ .ahall.faint .at "the ,~ht .of it. -Q, dearest .1ad.J did .1°u~



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"'~~THE CASTLE SPECTRE. 11

nought to apprehend from me. I come to yoU an humbleluppljant. Yei, on yonr intercesajon dependl my everyhope; I mu&t, therefore, jntreat a patjent hearing. Tbi&njgbt I expect will be the last that 1 &ball hold tbe keys of

.the ca&tle, and I wjsh to let yoU free ; but tbere i& anothercaptire whom we molt not leave behjnd to perisb.-' Ah !"OU mean Percy !' &aid .~ngela.-' No,' repljed Kenrick,.Ican glad your earl with the happ,. assurance that Nor-thumherland.s Earl, .ome hours since, etft:cted 1Iis escapehence, through the negligence ofhis keeper8. But lo the par-tjculars of my own &ad story. lady : -1 was brought up withOsmond from my youth, for he early di5tinguisll~d me byhis particular favour, and I knew every secret of his souI.He loved Lady Eyelina wilh frantic pas~ion he sued for herh3Dd, aDd she refu~ed him, but ~0011 fter married his elderbrother. the Count Reginald. and they proved a most happycouple. Osm(Jnd could not bear to witness their connnbialbUss. Coont Reginald went to the wars. aDd his lady liveda mo&t retjred life, aDd amused hersclf with nursjllg her jD.faDt daughtf!r, whom she teDderly loved. Peace returnjng.ber lord, attended only by two follower., rnoved bomeward..aDd the Counless~ ellger to meet him, and present her child.now a year old, went forlh with tbe &amenumber ot .erv8nll.

, OsmoDd, who had long panted both tòr Ù1e pos&ession

af tbe caslk aDd tbe lovely Eyeljna, nl)w resolved on themurd~r of hi9 brother, InJ afterwards to force the wjdow toreceiye hj& hand. " Olmond, myself, and the four blacks,

disglu;ed a9 banditti, concealed ourselves in a "gleD ~boUttWO milel1lence, to awajt the appro;lch of tbe Ijllle part,..I look back \vitb horror to Ihjs p3rt of my life; gold. cursedgold, wa9 my tempter! aDd the ~uggt.slions of Osmond,that his brotb~r had used him il', (wllich I ha'.e since joundfalse) urged me to be his aSSOCi3(ell guill.-Osrnolld rush-ed forward, and immedialely knocked his brolher oft. tbehor&eon which he W8Smounted. and riding foremosl of thelittle grollpe, ,he slaves attacketl the attendants, whom they.DOD made their yictiml, witb tbe exceptlOI1 of one. whomReginald had newly hjr~ in tbe room 01" ne wh()m he badburied in Scotland, and he fled. clOSt:ll purAu~d by Salb. Itook the Counte". in my arms. a,d was going, as previouslya~reed, to bear I.er flOm (he horrid scell~, alld at a certaindistance give h~r liDerty, whell, of COUrse, he would retumto the castleJ where Osmond might, jn proper seasoD, ol.~w and pursue his plans; and the chi1d was given intQ i~

1.6 TnE CASTLE SPECTn.E.

trold being safe in thelr chambers ; that is genera1ly aboutmidnigfit, and we wilJ a1low 3nother hour for further se-l'urity. Fare'well, 8nd ali good HngeJ~ guard you !.

Tbe monk Ihen l~ft the chJmber, a(Jd Angela kIleeJingdown, with her eyes fixed on the piclures o: Rcginald andEveliDa, implured heaven.s proteclion on helself alld Percy.()f whose Ijberatiolllhe was yt:t iglloral't.

At. this instant, a f~w nole~ of a guit8r were heard fromthe adjoining Or,ltory; Angel8 &tarted. .Whal &hould Ifear ? &:1id &he; .if il~deed th~ L3dy Evelina.& &pirit doth'.evisit the earth. it wiH no1 harm m~.' A plaintive air wasnow pl,,}'l:d. whilcol1r }OUllg hcroine remained on the floor ,,vith clasped halJds, bIlI attellti\.ely listening

"l\.h.al..fP. 1l\lll1hy. Ilp.1' Rly dear,ìhy t&1h".. i. c"rujl\g. all(1 ..0()1I \.ill bl' hl're.

.Good powers of mercy and Providence1. ..aid Angela,r it is the vt:ry \vurds as d~&cribed by Alice. It mu&t in.

deed be the spectre of the Countes~ ; and }'et I ridiculedthe idea, presumptuoDs creai ure as I was ! Never, for

the future, will 1 ùare to ('a1llhe power of heaven in ques-tion-Ihis may be permilted for &ome greal and \vi,e t'nd..Th~ Ijnes wer~ three times repeated ; a1l was then sIJ~nt, andAngela. less agilaleù Ihan it is sc3rce possible to suppose,arose, and pac,d Ihe chnmber, anxiously wishing Ibe arrivai()f the expected hour t(\3t was to give her frt:ed(jm. 1'jledoor by which Alil:e left the room still r~l11ained unlucked jbut the fair illmate of the cedar chamber fèlt 110 n('linalionto avail h~rself uftbat opp(Jrtunily. she (,ollld d!> nolhingof herself alone, and unprulected. SOOI1 after &he wasalarmed by a key being placed in the wards I)f :In oppositedoor. It could not be Father Philljp so soon j besiùes h8would not come that way ; and she await~d the elltrance ofthe person, whoever it might be, with breathless expecta.~ion. Of a1l ,he indivjduals under the sun, the next un-welcome on;: appeared bl:fore he.. -Kenrick. he wbo hadconveyl:d her frol11 1\llan.s peaceful COt, tbe betray~r of

Percy, ,he col1federate of the tyrant rlller of Ihe castre,perhaps an aclual murderer ; and what dreadful purposemight nuw have brought him hele, she trembled to think"n. AgaiD the gtlitar "OU\ldd iIIlhe Oralory. It WIIS e\'i-dent Kenrick heard il no1. ilnd Ang~la felt a kjnd of sweetassura(Jce re.ultillg ffom it.

A~ Kellrjck approached, she retrealed. .~Iay, fair lady ,.said he : r mucb-wronged Angl!Ja, 1Jear me: j."u 11.a"e



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'8 T1IE cAsTa S"PECTRE;mother'. arms. But the poor lady .eeing lhe danger of h~adored hnsband, rusbed from me, and tbrew heraelf C)nRe-

ginald.. hody, just as Osmond.s uplifled dagger was pre--pare4 to give anotber slrokeJ and .he re«:eived t in her bo.IOmJ and expired instantly. Tilil ev~nt. the frustratior. Q{,al1hia hop(.. maddened her assas$in again he stabbed Re-ginald, an.1 aimingat the child 'his weaponJ .Iightly wound-ed i!B throat -Y elJ Lady Angela.. yOl1 bear the scar to thì.

very hour!., ObJ merciful heaven !' -exclaimed Angela. .Wicked

Olmond, does be wish to marry the .child of hil murdl"jed'brother) hIJrror is in the very thoUght. But pray proceedin yOUt dreadlul tale..-Just at Ihe instant Angela haddone speakmg, ooperceived by bothJ tarl Osn1ond hadentert'd ll1e cedar chamber ; lIe had awakened from a dreamoftbe m05t appallitJg.natnre, in whicil he beheld th~ spe~.tres of t 1enlurdered persons threatening him with everlastingperdilil)n. and tinally Percy bealing oft. the L;ldy A11gela,from tb~ castleJ and he now formed the reioll1tion of de-termilling her fale Ihat very night; and if neither threa~.nor promi.es would extort tiom her a ['oll§eDt to become hl.'bride. ..he next rmorDing to COII'pel .her to that IlQeaSW:e y",iolating her person. -

Re..olyed on this hellilh scheme. he soflly entered hercbambcrJ supposillg Ali(;e to be with her; but the good.dame, f,arlul ofht:ing lent b ck againJ had Slol~ 10 her ownroomJ IInd wiStIly kt;pl ,h~ fright she had r~('eived to her..elf. He preliumed Ihey b()rh tIlept, alld mearlt lCI aw~kenand di!imiss the houleket'pt'r belure he imparted bil wi.helto Angela. ..HÌI SUlprise wal the{etnre great. OD beholdin.; her in tbe

dreaj .he bad wom on the preceding eveningJ in conver5;8.tion with KenrickJ and he anxiously list~ned to their dls-

coune., J..ady . continued Kenrick .' I interpo.t'd. and saved yonr

life: S.ib bad orderi to cOllvey you to Osmolld.1 residenceJto dress }'our woundJ and keep you &afe rom every olle.s.ight, until }'(;ur destiny Ihould he determined. Osmondtben lefi the blood-.tair:ed .po' .ordering me to roll the b().diel of the Ilain into Ihe rapid flood.-Ah ! say. can youpardonJ can you intercede for a wretch like me l'

, YoU saved my lileJ' replied Ange1a ; , then lurely you.canuot plead in vain I an4 if my interces8ion lo the throne othelveDly merc1 caa luSbt avail, then Kenrick you ma1

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perSOn5 dvancing very 51()wly from thecaslle. " es, the1approach l1eaJ r. but I~ither of Ihem is in pettlcoat" or hasthe l~ast appear~nce of the porrly friar: let us watch theirmotionl..

111e objects f)f their cllr;osity proceeded to Edric's, thefisherman.8 coltage j and it was soon visible that one wasin greal pain. and supporred by his companion. Tbere wa~nought 10 tear Irom snch gIJests, and they soon gained ad-mittallce.- (t was th~ dying Kenrick, led by &ib, the grat~.ful black : the former had the keys of the castle takel1 fromhim, and was then, in Ihe presence of Olrnond. put to th8torture. to m:lke him reveal where Reginald was confin~d :he re5isled a long time. till overpoweriDg agony wrungf.om hirn Ihe partil:ular dungeon where the once braye andhand,ome \varrior languished, boweJ down wilh grief andprivalion5. and on his own domain. The fìend-Iike tyrantthen wilhdrew, lea,ing Satb with the sufferer. Kenrick

had conceal~d about his person a rnaster-key, which hadescaped Ihe vigilaDce of his 8earcht:rs, and he easily pre.vailed on Saib to support hirn from the castle. and be Ihecornpal1ion of his flight. He lived but to reveal to Percythe sarne coofessi()n he had made to Ange:a, al1d to describethe dungeon il1 which the Earl wa5 to be foul1d, and he ex-

pired, eamesl)y recommending Saib to Northumberland.scare. No hopes were now entertained of behold1Dg FatherPhillip al1d his )ovely cha,ge: and it was resolved to makealI inslant attack 011 the castle. The soldiery were Boon

collected, al1d Ihey sct out with ardoqr to save Ihe innocentor perish il1 Ihe attempt.

Osmond, h11,r~,~\e.<1n<!-fatjgl1ed. retired to his chamber.resolvjng to defl.rr i11i1f).~ next day, his intentionB con-

cerning Reginald and Angela j but he was so f~arful of tberepelition of hi8 dreadful dream. that he ordered two of hisUI:lck sla'.e.~ o walch him, and if they perceived, wh~n he~Iept, Ih[lt he seemed. lroubled or agitated, they were in-stanlly lo wake him ; but he h:ld scarcely given his com.mands wben H2ssan ru5h(-d in with tbe wildest 3larm. andtold him, that Kenrick and Saib were not to be found.-

.They are then gone to Percy . exclaimed Osmond. .AUthe worJd turn Iraitors to me: I must be quick. or ali is lost.'He seized a dagger. and rush~d tg Angela.B chamber-butsbe was not there j and sucb was the conflict of rage. bor.

ro~~ aDd disappointment, within his bosom. that be saDkdown iD a coDvulsive fit: his groans and stru~gleB reacbedHa&san.Beara. who. summ01liDg tbe two remain1Dg blackI to

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~ THE CA~TLE SPECTRE.

father. 'Ti. your tongue must pr()nounce }.ou hi. daDgil-

ter, allrl pray for my pardoll and protection. Come, then..-Atthis period,-Angela) turning round, beheld U8mond,and shriek(-d aluud. Kenrick, 8truck. \l.ith terror, wouldhave ned, but tbe Earl pre"ented him, and called out forbis black ,Ia"es, wbo were only jn the anti-room : therrusbed in, alld by his order con'leyed the traitor (ai h.t-ermed him) to a dungeon. O.imond remained with thf!

&.aplessAIIgela, al)d used the most ullmanly Ihre:lls to in-timidale h"r to his purpose : but !ibe wa~ firm in her r~.

jection. At Ibis awful crisis, whcl1 she was on the point ofbeiDg for ~"er lost, wheD th~ ruffian seized her in his haterlarmsJ and she W3ji tryingJ but WjtboUt succe.s, to get tberlagg~r trom beneath her robe, Ihe doors of the pntry fl~wwide open, aud tlie Spoctre of tbe C3.tle) the baseJy mur-rlered Efelilla, ad"anced from it ; a flowing t.lrapery, or veil,

expalld;,lg over her bead and sboulderb, lea"ing ber bo80m

bare, on which was sef;n a ghastly wollnd, al1d tbe bJoodstjll appearedJa~ f/1owing from it, o\.er her white garmel1ts.

Osm()nd immediateJy unloosed Angela, and fledJ callingfor bis 311endantR n great dismay. Our heroine sl1l1k 011her knee'iJ the Spectre bended over ber, and seemed tobJess her. but spoke 110t. Sh" then, wi!h a sJuw so!~mnpace, and souDd;~ss ootstep, feturned lo the Oratory, stop-pillg a 8hort tinle be(ore th~ picture of Regina:dJ on which8be seemed 10 gaze Wilh interest. The doors tben closedmusic was hl'al d, wilh a chorus of he3"enly "oices chaunt

iI)g sollgs of IriumphJ and Ihel1 silence reigned.The clock 81ruck I\A.O, .et Father Phillip was not come,

and Angela was lIearly sinking from 'ear of disappoinlmentaDd applehensiol) : s!:e wa~ now more tha., e\.er ;,nxious toquit her prison, tllat she mjghl see Pprcy, and jmpart lobim the di,co"ery she had made of herown birlh, alld the

existellce of her father, alld to COIIS111Ihat was best lo be

done t() disrover where h~ was confined. and etfect his li-beralion. l11ere was Jilll~ .ioubt that be was il) some "al:ltof the castl~. Blll, alas ! withoul any cllle to guide them,it rnjght be hard to lìnd himj and depli"ed of Kellrick.s

atlendance, (dire thougbt!) hemigbt perish with hungerand thir&l, and thul fatally terminate a life of wretched 8uf-

fering.Percy and his bumble friend8, equally marked the hour of

two, and grew impalient, le,t tbe monk &hould fail. .My}jfe on his fidelily !J &aid Gilbert ; .bul bjs icheme mayuve faiJe<J, StaJ) if mJ e)'el do 110tdecei"e we, llee lwo

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mt' 10 ~curec1 on the other : if it is our labour wiU pr~ : :\.. .': ..~:

aIl in yain.. Bnt no barrier preseDted jtself. the1 en~...~:-.~',~~~~ Y8\11~ from which branch.ed two .outlet8 in opposite direc- ~ .i{!.;f Now Iforget.. sald the frlar. ' I protest. whelher L.~we are tò tum to ilie right or left ; wait here a few momeDtJ. .

daughter.r while I giye a look for aD iroD pedestal. that i8 a .

gnide to the door we waut..Fatber Phillip left her, but preseDtly returned witb a

speed of which Ibe should have thnugbt bim incapable. .:groamDg with terror: preseDtly he fell, aDd extinguisbed..th.ligbt : he recovered his fOOtiDg. but Aogela was left to.heraelf. .uffering iDexprei8ible alarm. A ligbt 8OOnap-~red comiDg atong the passage. from whicb tbe friar hadt.ed ; tbis must have been the object ofhis terror. aDd cer-taiDly its appearaDce was appal1iDg. A human tigure. of.keleton ili iDne5S. in tattered garmeDts. covered with lol1gdishevelled hair. aDd a beard of enormous growth, dr8gginga chain aft8r it. and carrying. in a withered hand. a glim.mering lamp. He stopped. and spoke.- ' I thougbt Keo-rick was Dev~r coming more. but left me to peri.h; hap. .)ess Reginald ! and now he fiew from me.-It must be he.Certaio1y ~ did not expect to tind me iD th. pas.8ge.-the -"'.torm has broke the link. that b,l~ my chain. yet I canno&escepe hence-perhaps the dream from which I waked isabout to be realized. and 1 Ihall be united to my angelE,elina. I heard a sweet voiee call me father.' The ladyAogela could (orbear no longer; she rushed. aod clasped

; (; him in her arms. exclaiming, f Fa(her! father ! .-Powers ofmercy !. said he. ' il not this mr E,eliAa ~ Oh. no! .~

Gh, no! If you are the Count Regmald. I am thine OWD.child. Hark! I hear Oimond.1 hated voice! he comes ...i

" thÌl wa1 !.-'The door is open t. said he. fuintly. .then wei,t .~ come too )ate. No, be i8 here.-RegiDald bad fiQng!j bimlelf at fu)J lt:D~ili. aDd feigned sleep. and Aogela was

CODcealedn aQ adJOiQingniche. ' Now. Hassan.. said thewretch. ' do your duty: 'The Ilaye lifted hi8 dagg«.

.-:w:tlen~ heroioe rashed f«ward with a 1oud ahriek. and~, her fa~ .tarted up. Oamond ilieD offered his brotherlife and liberty, aDd one half of his pOSIesIions or Ihe haod()f hil Angela. ' Never. laid RegiDa1d. ' will I ratify Iuch

c. never shall the ~m of ~y c~i!~

n THE CASTLE SPECTRE.hil assistance, 8ucceeded in re8toring their 'Wretchect ma...ter, and conveying him to his own apartm~nt ; but here hit&lemoniac passions would not let him rest, IInd taking a riDg

c>fgreat value from his finger. he gave il to Hassan. ha'fingpre'fiously dismi~sed the other8 ~ ' You,. aaid be. .at least.are faithful to my interest&. and I have an ilrportallt aecretto disclose.' He then inf()rmed the alitonished black of:B.eginald.s exislence. and his beil1g then in a subterrdneOU8dungeon of the castle.-At this moment. the thunder rol1ed.and all the elements 8~emed in COmm()tioD: a &hock. a8if from an earthquake, 8eemed to r~nd thl' builLling to i~centre. and a part of the &outbern tower fel1 with a Iumber-ing noi&e. Even this. though it suspegded the i"tention of08mODd, lid not diver, bim f/()tl1 pW:SI.iI)ghis honid fra~tricidal purpo.e. .I intended.. said he to HasteD, .to haye-gone alone. and &tabbed Reginald to the heart, but 1 do notfmd my8eJf equal to tbe deed ; it must be yourl. and.great shall be the re'Ward, no less than thy freedom ; andIoaded wilh gold. you shal1 be rt:Stored to the plains of

.Africa.' The alave pros,rated himself at his feet. and vowedhis fide1ity and readiness to fu}fi1 his pleasure, be it whatit would. ' The dungeon.. said Osmond, ' lies beneaththe 8Outhem towdr. hitber we must repair.' Hassan car-,ried a torch, and they went to put their dreadful meditatedcrime into executioo. .

Never did the artwt ~iew hi. belt executed picture withmore delight. or the vilrage maid her long expected ruaticlover after a painful ablence. thao Lady Angela gazed ODthe red aDd carbuncled oo8e of Father Phil1ip, aod hi8 pro-t\1berant form. a8 he Ilowly advanced through the pannel.fir8t cautioua1)' peeping to see if 8he was alone, .1 came.'aaid he, ' the firat moment I could do it with aafety :-therchas been 8trange work in the castle ; great bustle and con-fu&ion ; the cause of whicb I have yet to learn.'-' I can teUa part ofit,. rep)ied our heroiDe ~ ' but this is no time for

exp)anation.'They crossed througb the galleri~ and apartmenta leadin,to tbe 8outhern tower. without interruption; but in thi.:part of the castle they found great devas'atioD from therecent 8torm i cha&ms appeared in the wa118.aDd tbe stairathey bad to descend wele loo8eDed n many p)ace8. whjchgreatly retarded their progres8. A.fter traversiDg a wiodingpe883ge. they came to a cioor cased witb iron plates : ' Dearme; uid Angela, ' there are chaina and bolt8 on this8ide !~.Ah, 'We Wi11orgive that, , replied her coDdw:tor, ' ifit i&

1e~

said the yillain.-" Hold !' laid Angela.fife. 8Dd I Iwear'-At thia moment

or the ud, Evelioa Ippeared, and pre~ed

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thc termination of the oa:h.-H38san dropped the dag~r.and fieJ in di&may. The sot1i)d of 8rms now leslified thatPeFCy a\ld his followers had ~\llercd the ca~tJe. I I am lo.l !.

said Osm(J\ld ; I death i. near ; but. like a mighty ruin, 1wi1l not fa1l a\one.. 'l'hen snatcbing the w(;ar()1\ Has.anhad lt:fl. he aln1ed il at lù.ginald; but. Angela plu!1gcd herdagg.:r i"to hi;; ~iJc, ..t~lil]ed as it was with lhe blood of

Evelin:l,I My ta!;k is do\le: Fai] the Spcctre j I he!1cefor\vard I

rf:st in p():lce. ;I!1d tr(\\1bJ..: thig caslle no mòre: She thcDvallÌ.heJ. a\1[l &rJllm\l mll~;.; was heard. .Reginald aDd hisdaughtcr ùr('rJr.cd on th('lr knt:t:s j prcsently the v~1ults werefull ofso\ù:~rs, !I,.:1ded by P,:rc.y, and led by Phillip. in great

apprehe\lsiuliS ,Jf tindÌlIg some dismal lragedy perpetrated ;bul at lht; sigl,t of tbe E;lrl, ai)d Lady .\.1)gel:l jn iafety I

they 8et \lp ~hoU1Sofjoy.O..mond lived but tp rec(:ive the {orgivencss of hii bro-

!her. \,!lir:h wai ~",rcitI111y at:ct"Jcd to. anJ expired.1Jarue Alice n()\V Lus:les ab()ul with alacrilf j and every

tenant a\ld \"as~.!l heard of the l:.llrpt:r.s fall, and the reslora-tion of lhe guod L(\rd n"g:nalrl, wilh lran~ports of joy.-Saib. Who~(~ r('pe\lt:1nce f'r(J\e,1 Iruly sil1cere. was rewardedwith a corutorlal,le 3s}lum for :he remail1der of his dafi.The olhlr b\acks mcllhl: fate their clime~ descr\'f.:d.

The m..rri:~e of K::,11'(:ICy and .tbe Lady Angela wascelebrated Wilil ~,II thl: pClmp a\ld magl1ificenc~ of atlcienltimes, \v1l~l1 th'! nllll.tlcl'i !J:1rp rcsoullJed lhrùllgh t~.e hall.

Earl l'.(.~;ll,:IJ. by !lltl.I;liv~ care, bOùn reco\'~red hishealth, a\ld lu.! tlli1t premalllre decay. atld app'.arallc(I of(\II1I!Sc. ti; ,vl;i(11 Kenri..k.~ ~ruel policy had r~duced him :he CQ\llillll~d ;1'\vav!i ,vil!1 hil' 80n and di1ugllter ; alld th~good Falller ('I.;lj.p \vas e\er a d:stilliuished re~pcclc.t mcm-ber :)f th;; 6:!me famiiJ.. ' a"c1. .hared his buttle 3l1d h8rnll~bs

je51 wilh the mirlh.lo.jllg and now inGelJendent Gilbert.-Allan and his wife had tht: fel:cilV lo sc'e tl!eir ioster.childtl1e brid\}. the happy bride. of Northumberlllild. She would:Ia\'e rais~d tbem to a superil'r &t3tion in lile. Lut tliey

wùuld \lot hear o( it. alld rema.nd~d by choice iD their owncottage. She wa~ therefore r;.bligl:d to contel1t her&elf bysendi(\g repeatedly 8uch articles of comfurt, as wcre besl~\lÌted lo sootbe their ajvanct:ù ).ears. and ameliora~e the

painsand in!irn)itiel of tbt:ir 01d age. .T!!2 ~~f). .,

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THE CASTLE SPECTRE.~ent~. The yOUl1g Lord Percy heard of her charm9, and, f

dlsgws~d a9 a ptasant, he 8ought her soci"ty, and lhe )t:onsequence was tllat he became de~ply enamoured, and 18e~ret\y vow~d that no 01her mai~en sbol1ld ever become his \brlde-he stl11 kept to h.s rustlC dress. resolvillg tbat if 1Allgc\a acceptl:d him, she Sho"ld ~o it for lo\e 3nd pre- 1fl:rl:nce 310ne, and nol b~ swayl:d by advantllge and Ihe-templatiul1 bis h;rth and weatlh wl)"ld holl1 °"t. He. Soonbec.ame convinceù Ihal her ~ea,l. wa!l Irl1ly his, and lhat ilbelr 10\,e was mutua\ ; but hls father he knew WOl1ldnever ;CODSenl o 6uch an union, aDd thert:fore be pro\on!.,ed lhe ;courtship, wilhoul coming lo any ecc\lIirci6~em,nt. He wa& iscarce of age, alld Ange\a bul ~e\,enle~t1, when Earl Pcrcy .1being laken ill in London. his son wa6 sent 10r, and \1ear- .rived allbeir toWn residence on\y in time to cto6e his..f~lb~(s.- '!eye8. Tbe funeral being over, he hastened b;lck to- ;Northumber\aud, and sending for A"an to hi8 castle, he ;jxplained hoW he had courted Angela under lhe name of .

Edwy, and noW enlreall:d lhd ha~d of lhe fair damsel

in marriage. .Why \ook &O wrelcbed and woe-begcne..A"an ì' said lhe eart, at lhe conc\usiol1 of hi!l specch ; I :;thoUght lo have given lhee joy-does my otfer displease heeì' ;

The 01d man answered. it would have been the pride of 1

his life lo have beheld Angela the bride of Norùlumber\and;\ut she wa9 not his daughter.

.Hùw !. said the aslOnished ear\-A"an proceeded: ...Tis noW near sis.tccn years sinceJ tl)at my dame and I \were sitting by our poor fire, for our \Ot wa9 then very jhumble, having met wilh keen losses and misforlUnes. ;ithat a well-dressl:d stranger entE'red our cottage, l\Dd de- \\ivered to our care a lovely female cbild, and a con6iderable l6um of money-be hlld IJJ'D~~ o~ersation with us, and it jended in our taking oatJis to \\rÌllg(up Ange\a as our own. ~and n~ver belray the secret ; we were templed to this by .~

poverly. and 1;kewi6e from Il knowlt:dge that we SbOlÙddo ~justice, and be lcnder to th~ child, , which might not be the ; .

C3sewere 6h. lo fall into other hands. .rh~ man seemed isalisfied wilh our assurapces lhlll"'e would move the very ,:1es.l day(anà we carne here) where we were unknoViR. that .

lhe babe might pass for ours ; and he left uur dwelli~gtTe-fusing, thoUgb it was \ate and stormy, a shelter for theIlight. My wife immedialely Jooked OUt sume clolhe8 be-longing lo a lillle girl we bad buried ; and on going 10 cbaDge\hoSe of tbe litÙe &tranger. which aet'med from it. maDÙe i

THE CASTLE SPECTRE. 3

to be damp, we were sh.ocked and strllck with borror, onremoving that coverjng, to tind an attempt had been madeon its life ; there was a wound on her tbroat, alld tbe Ilnder~arments were spotted with blood. Angela received frori1us parental care, and we looked on her as our own, nor didwe suppose, year after year elapsing with')llt any noticebeing taken, tbat she would ~ver be claimed ; the mon~ywe received with her prospered, and we regarded both italld her as bles,ings sent from hea,en ; nor did we evt;rfor a rnoment look on her as an incllmbrallce to ollr pros.pects, as I have heard of peoplc being wicked t:nol\ghto do in similar clrcumstances. Alas ! my lord, whileyou were gon~ to London. Angela ..a. taken from w.and we were told 111at sbe is Ihe dallghter -Qf-8ir. M~lcolm~~wbray, dec..ased ,vho on hi~ de~ed acknowledg""èaher as-fi\schìla;--and left her t() the gllardiansbip ot hisdearest friend, ..:ar) O;;m,'nd, (Jf C(m\l.ay Cast!e, "bith..r ~heis removed solt:l;' ag3inlit her will, f()r tiùe and grandeur -had

no effect on the dear gi,1. It was then. my lord, she re-".eal~d to me her love f()r Edwy, and charged me witl} atel}der Ines~age, should he seek my cotlage, fvr she sajdhe had been ob)iged to go some miles henc~, al}d she dailyexpected his retllrn. Ah! noble P..rcy, wo"ld she had beel}your bride before thjs e\'ent, Il}en she had received safcprotection; for both dame and I Ihigk tllis a strangestory, and the more so, as the very \l}an wl}o brol1ght herhere, is tlle one wl}o fetcllt:d her away ; and we lIave sil}celearned that his name is Kenrick, a confidenlial dependantof the earl, which. collnected with Il}e woun'ed itate inwhich ,ve received her, does not look well.

This accollnt made Earl Percy anxjolli and Ili\easy ; I}ewithollt delay serJt a COl1rjerwitl} a let'er to 03mond 10 a~k,the hand of Al}gela, but a positive del1ial was relurlled.The unh3ppy lover then set OUI in I}js peasant.8 dre~~ toConway Ca~ùe. in hopes to obtail} an interview with hisbeloved. Ju~t a~ he arrived in sight of the wa\ls. he wasso fortllnate a~ to enCO\\nter Gilb~rt. an old seryagt ofhisfather, but now a relainer of Earl O~mond-he had re-ceived many favours from Percy, and was bDllnd to thenoble yollth by firm grJtilllde. T~ earl made himse)fknown to Gilbert, explained his love for Ange:a. and hiswish ~o have ~n interview wilh her, preparalorY' to hi.i de-111andmg er m person from hl!r gllardian.! :'..As to your persona\ly 8eeing Earl Osmond .' rep'ied

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-.'THE CASTLE SPECTR'E. 7

-;(he armODr he \\IOre n the warl. aDd which W8S OUDdamong'hil baggage after he was Ilain ; but B thoUght. my lord.has come across me that it may 'DOW erve a purpose. I

'Will take y'!u into the arm6ury. yoU CBD dresl yourlelf in ..jt, aDd mouDt B pedestal. among some statues that are there;:Earl OsmoDd has BppoiDted that pIace to.night for a coo-ference with the Lady ADgela ; yOU can thus hear hil de--signs re8pecting her, and her seDtiment8 in retum; andafterward8. it il possible, obtaiD an interview with the

fair one.The scheme wal approved. and Earl Percy had jl1lt time

'to pl3ce himself in the armol1r, when the ringing of a belIBnnounced the approach of OsmoDd-he carne atteDdedby Kenrick aDd be slaves. the latter of whom soon witbdrew..

KeDrick tben apprised Lord OsmoQd ( w bo had fiang him-self on a sofa) tbat he wascerlain Earl Percy, whom he hadrecognized in 8pite of h;S disgDise, was 1l1rking about the

castle. and he bad 3ls0 seen some of NorthumberlaDd.1

trooper8 eDter a wood.

.I ml1~t ùe qDick in my measares, then,. 8aid 08mond ;4 An~ela once mine, I can defy the world.' By tbeir dj.,;

OCOl1rse,ercy gleaDed the iDformation that his belo~ed was-tbe daDghter of Earl Reginald, and bis Coun!ess Evelina ;that Kenrick had ofteD been sent as a spy over ber, and inher 10ver Edwy , 80.WaICh(ul bad ht: been, he h'ld di5CO\.ered.bT tracing his Ileps. lhe heir of Alnwick Caslle. So power-ful al1 Bllial~ce as Ihis wouJd proVe, aJarmed 03mond, lestEarl Percy m:ghl hear AIlan..i stor1. Bl1d al1 unplea5ant in-vestiga,i()n tBke plBce: though if Kenrick rem3ined faitb-ful no olle eJ,;e was in posse5sion of proof~. t)f tbi, man.owing 10bii knowledge ofhi" crime, Osmond had long beentire(l, al1d had given cbarge 10 ,aib, 011e fthe hlack!l, to seiMtbe first convenient opponUnil}', to remove bim b.v .iubtlepoi80n, w..h)~~twe slave wt:" knew hoW to prepare; but henow lavi~Yil'rt'~r~ii'e8on him .I have lo Ihank yoU: laidhe. .g()(ld K~nrick. fi)r p.evt'nt;ng me taking AngeJa.8 Jife.wheD my d~gger Ihirsled for her blood ; ;,nd next lor bring-jDg her hllher; she hai w:lkent'd my heart to 10ve. and awjsh for COnlil1Dt'de1Ci,t..nce Sbe is Ihe tirsl Pf'rII. n on~hoRl I.have Jooked wilh I;lea~ure ilr m.my yea"; ..lle is thelmage ot my all()red Kvelin;t ; I 1lllend~d belort: I bei1eldher .as you wl:Il knew. a tar diff~rent tate. bl11DOW h~ mu.tand shall be mine; then welCOIDcbliss. and for tW youlhal1 bave lour reward:

~ ~IHE eASTLE SPECTRE.

Gilbert. ' I 'do not think it wilI ever be; DO gu8lt ì. ad-

mitted within the caitle ""alls, and the lady Angela i. the

only person wbo has had an interview with him for many,.earl. Kenrick, of whom be make. a sort of seeretaryand .teward, is hil only companion: he i, attended byfour black slaves, whom be brought with bim from beyondthe seas and when he leayes his chamber, a belI rings to

wam ali the other domestics out of the way: Ead Percyexpressed his &urprise at tbis arrangement, and asked Gil-bert if be had ever heard a causeassigned for it. ThIJ man

answered. that he had indeed been told an ugly &tory b1Father Phillip. the good bearted confessor òf the castle) ..that 05mond.s elder brother Reginald, on his return from ~the Scottish war&, was met by bis countes&Evelina and tbeir ichiJd, then not more than a year 01d, and a few attendantl } ;

that when approaching the castle, they were alI attacked L~Iand &lain by banditti, 8nd thelr bodie& flung into the ~ iConway. whl'r~ they were wa&hed away by tbe rapid tide~ ';

for they were ne\,er tound. One man alone esc8ped death) Iand on his recovering from hi& wound&, be recognized one J()f tbe assas&ins n a dependant of O&mond, at least .o be I !~SJerted and. it was a fataI event for bim, for tbe next I

mornil1g, be was found dead in his bed...Osmond.. &31dPercy, .was tbeDOfcourse suspectedof Ithe murder.. .He was8 my 10rd,. al1~wered Gilbert; .and ,

for a twotold cause-envy of his brother.& possessions,and

spile for rejec'ed 10ve: for it Beems that the countess, rLady E\elina Ne' ille. rejected hii hand, which "as 11nt r

offered, aud tben accepted his brother.. i but it i. w his- ipert'd tbat be was inconiOlabl~ for her ~ath, aDd wal ìJ1freql1emly be3rd to calI 011bt'r Dame witb deep drawD 5ighsj ,L :

perhap~ it was not his ".ish ihat sht &hoUldbaye beeD &Iajn :\i,from thal p~riod, tbe castle ha~ bet'n tb~ abode of melan-Chol). ; alld it I~ &aid tbat Lady Evelina comes night1y intothe or;llory. w here &be used to pass most of her time in tbe

absence of ber lord, and tend ber baby; and il heard toBillg and play 0:1 a guilar, wbich stilI layl there, a nursing

song. eDding every verse"withHu.h. hye lu"aby, 51eepmy dear.1.by rather I. cnmil1g, l1d .oon will he here.

and ihe il heard to rock the cradle with ber foot.', Surely you do not believe, this,. $lid the incredul081

Percy. .No,' replied Gilbert. .no more tbaD I do that herhusb3nd. Earl R~inald, oftentimelltalk. aboDt the castle iII

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'O my loTd!' .aid KenTick. 'let me now claim the longpromi5ed Tetirement : till I leagued witb you, guilt wa8 un-

knowD to me; I now wish a .pot where uninterrupted peni-teDce may bring peace; my hands aTe free from actualblood but my crimel are heavy .'

, Stay ' interrupted O&mond. ' no more of this di5maltbe:ne; a retreat is already provided for you. wheTe Itrust you will find a calm repose..

, Generous friend,' exclaimed KenrickJ full of gratitude ;, let me thank you on my kl}ees-pardon meJ I thought oflate you seemed cool. al}d I mi5tru5ted your friendship.'

, EnoughJ enough, my good Kenrick.' said O5mond.cla5ping his hands-he theD ordered him to retIreJ and sendthe Lady Angela to him. He aro5e at her enlrallceJ 311dgreeted her with courteou!l salutations, which were repJiedto very coolly by our youthfuJ heroine; she bad heard tromdame Alice. the talkative hous~keeper of the ca.tJe, (\vhohad lol}g heJd tilat stalionJ and was as proud of reJatil1g hetraditiol}JI of the family as she was of hoJding the keys)mucb the same account of Earl O$mondJ and the murderedp8irJ as that given by Gilbert to Percy. nut whel} beofft.rerl her hin1Self in marriage, and to make her th~ un-controlled mistress of a1l hil vast possessionsJshe indig-nantJy refuled himJ and avowed ber love. her ullallerabJepaSIion or the peasant Edwy. Oh! what sounds of har-mony and jt)y to Norlhumber)and.s greedy ear, a3 he stoodca&ed n armour on the pedestal. Jn vain Osmond tried tocomb3t against her trulh and predilection for anolher, tillovercome with rage, he talked of ll~ing force-a hol1ow groa'met hi& ear; he &tarted back, but recovering hims,,)t: hejmpiously said, ' Ange)a sha)) be mjne, though hel1 alld al1ilie furie& jl}terft're ; , and wilh these ,vords, he clasped thelove)y shrieking maid round the ,vaist w;th his dl:testedaTm5: at this importanl moment a secondgr~wai heardJaccompanied bya clanking 11oi5e f armour ; Osmond turlledroondJ and wa~ horror-slrul:k Ol} beholding lhe ~talue-de-scend from ilS pedestal al}d ad'l:lnce towards bjm m ameDacing attitode.- NatureJ blel}ded wjth a gujlt-stained.coDscience, could not supporl the shockJ and the earl fellscnselesson the floor, cr>'jng out. ' shade of lh~ murder~d

R~ginaldJ jn mercy sparo:mc !.Angela, thus provi,lent;a ))y rescued from his ruRìan.like

graspJ fled from the armollryi and ai she wa51e3viDg t, 8heIpied a daggerJ which she sejzed, fròm the jdea jt mjghtS:ord ber aid in some futuro oxtr~mity. 8hould Osmond

THE CASTLE SPECTRE. 9ba"e the temerity to reneVÌ his base attacks on ber per$on.Thi6 was to be to her an evening of woriders-she had notlong gllined ber own apartment, when Gilbert introdo~edEarl Percy, now divested of bis borrowed am)Our ; k neehngat her feet, he thanked ht:r with ardour for her t:onstancf tohirn, and avow"d ~the stratagem he had used to obtain asight of her. .It il not raDk or fortune can sway myaffec-tions,. said tbe bll\shing maid ; .alld though I am now de-clared to be the heiress of the hte Sir Mall;olm Mowbray,yet Ed\vy, thtl peao;ant. ;s as dear to nle as in those happypeacefl\1 ddy!i wbell 1 considered myself {he ,vorthy Allan.s

daughler...Exce1le1\t girI, exnlted creature !. exclaim('d hf'r lover,

I I wi1l no longer ,jis~emble -it would be ung!nerous-1 am

not Edwy, lht! p~asant, but P~rcy. Nortbumb~rland.s Earl,a~ such I am known to tbe tyrant Osmond ; he bas refllsedrny suit, and from the most uuworlhy motives. DearestAngela, ).ou must confide in me; you are nGt saf~ a momenthere; Giihert, who waits without, will give us egress fromthe castlt! ; na}' do not hesitate. thi. opportunily lost. ,ve

may meel pcrhap5 uo more.At Ihis moment the d0or ovened, and Kt'nri~k. witb tbe

black slaves entered. and made a prisoner ofPt't"cy, whom1hey dragged into the presence of Osmond, lea\'ing Ihe ter-rilied AI'gela overwhelmed witb desp;\lr. I..atller Phillip.entered tùe room, and exborted I~r ~1:(,f.~~lrort. a~he woulddo every Ihillg in hi9 power to baricncrfier-he then askedher if she ùid not sle~p in tt,e ccdar chamber; 5he re-plit!d in the affirm3tive; he said it \vas laVOlIlable to lù5

-designs, but did not explain himself f\lrther ..I ha\,e been 50 fortunale.. said he. .as to ~3\,e the life

ofGilbert, b)' warnillg hi~ to t1ee rom Ihe c..~tle ; a rnillute.nore, and il would havebeen too late-the w:ltcb(ul KenrickJ13ddiscovered Ihl: Earl Percy, and tbe mea..s by which bewas introduced iDto tbe armoury ; aud O.IJlOlld was so irri-

, tated by Ibe false ahrnl be bad undergone. aud the fru)tra-

.tion of his schemes that he f)rderetl his instant deatb As

ior Northu;l)berland. he will not ddre to 'ake his life, and Itrust the captivity of yol\r lover will be sbort ; so daughterbe of good clleer, we sha1l &oon ml:ct ag8iD :. witil tilesewords he withdrc\v.

Percy taxed O;mond ,vilh cow:jrdice, in imprisoning au~narmed individuaI. and dared him to instant combat if heU/ou.ld give him a sword.t

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Documents

The Castle Spectre by Sarah Wilkinson founded on the original drama of M.G.Lewis