The Mysterious Yisitor At Manston Hall.

The Mysterious Yisitor at Manston Hall .

S ^ K LARGE party was assembled for Christmas sj / fffliM in the hospitable mansion of Mr . and Mrs . «^> S Beaufoy , at Mansion Hall , in Hampshire , and T ^ T as the house was large and the rooms were •i- many , a very considerable number of rola-•tions and friends had answered the kindly sum-* mons . The family party was cousiderablein itself ,

but when to this were added numerous near relatives , some male and female cousins , and a few old friends , it will be needless to point out that the gathering had all the elements within itself of an hilarious and pleasant Christmas party . The old people were very kind , and the young people were very guj-, and so it came to pass that that Christmas meeting , a memorable

one for several reasons in tho recollections of some who formed part of it , was marked by all those episodes and characteristics whicli constitute the main ingredients in a successful and happy Christmas " reunion . " But , curiously enough , amid agreeable amusement ,

friendly flirtations , and fun , and gaiety , and hearty cheerfulness of all kinds , a sort of doubt or fear of gloom or uncomfortableness fell upon tho whole of that ]) leasant group , nnd each day , as ifc passed over their heads , seemed to them a deeper spell of dissatisfaction and debate over the whole " assembled

selections , " otherwise gay and " debonaire enough , up to any "lark , " and full of life , spirit , and animation . At last the whisper , first minced in ominous syllables by Miss Peckover ( a charming blonde of sixteen ) was retailed by Miss Monkworth ( an equally charming brunette of seventeen ) , in the deepest confidence to her cousin , Harry Beaufoy , who again

mentioned it in tho strictest secrecy to a very agreeable and talkative young lady , Miss Nelly Maxwell , who again confided it , under a solemn vow of silence , to her big brother Tom . And tho dreadful theory was thon propounded , on the whole , with mysterious nods and lowered tones , that there was a " ghost in tho house , " nnd that " one of tho rooms was haunted ! "

For some tune the elders could not make out what was this secret of the younger portion which seemed to call forth such constant communings and such mysterioils ominous looks ; but when Mr . Beaufoy heard of it he laughed , though Mrs . Beaufoy alleged that now she thought of it she had heard " noises , " and old Miss Mingoe , a very rich and affable old

maid , declared that the very first day she arrived SO . MKOXI : OPKNKD her door at night anil walked up to tllO DHI . SMNd TA-tl . K ! This alarming intelligence , duly communicated in tho idlo chat at tea iu the young ladies' room , made tho face of merry Alice grow pale , antl so sympathetic were Curry , und Florry , and Lotty , and Tolly , that

they all grew white in turn antl expressed the conviction to some very civil but nervous young men , that "thoy felt certain that something awful was going lo happen . " Tom Maxwell , who was an Oxford cricketer of no mean ability , said he was sure that it was all " bosh , " and in Ibis view Walter Beaufoy , the hope of the

Beaiifoys , agreed ; but as the " girls , antl even the married women , and notably Miss Mingoe , anil even Mrs . Beaufoy herself , all leant to the " ghost theory , " the young men said nothing , but determined to watch . Tho truth is they thought ifc was a practical joke , of whicli , in all probability , Teddy Beaufoy , a young Harrovian , and Miss Nellie Maxwell , who was

inclined fo he " fast , " were the real "dramatis persona-. " There was one point conni-eled with this mysterious visitor which was very strange in itself , ami which certainly st-i-ined inexplicable as a spiritual hypothesis , namely , that something or other disappeared at each of these visits . First it was a " coin , " then it was n " portomonnuie , " then it was a " pocket book , " then

it was a " ring , antl on the last occasion a little silver flask of brandy hatl disappeared . Ghosts have done queer things in their time , but certain it was , as Tom Maxwell judiciously put in , like nn experienced wicket-keeper as he was , " the ghost , " it could not be denied , had very good taste , and hatl gone in thoroughly as an ardent disciple of " Buckle " for the principle of

selection . " So that evening , after all the ladies anil gentlemen hail gone to hod , antl the smoking-room symposium was broken up , Tom Maxwell aud Walter Beaufoy , urnu-tl wilh two ash sticks , took up their station in a little recess near the lauding which led to the bedrooms . In perfect darkness tbey sat for somo time . All was still . Not a sound was heard but the

ticking of the old clock and the bark of a dog in the farm-yard at some distance from tin- hall . CUKIOUSM- K . NOI'OII , at the very MOMK . NT WIIKX TIIK CLOCK snit ' t K TIIUKK , a figure iu white emerged from the servants' MAIM , ASK AND KNTKICKU O . VK OK TIIK

lioojis , nnd yet loin and Walter moved not ! About half-past four a light was struck by some one at the end of the passage on the landing before mentioned , and Walter Beaufoy said , in a thick and tremulous voice , "Tom , old l .-llow , wake up ; I believe wc have been drugged . "

" I'll tell you what , Walter , " said Tom Maxwell , " 1 feel very queer and can hardly stand ; what ' s up ? " " No more to-night , " said Walter , quietly ; " . but let ' s go to bed , and we will talk over this ' affair in the morning . There is something very had in it . " In the morning the whito faces anil uncomfortable appearance of our two heroes attracted tho attention of tho young ladies , who immediately , as is their

The Mysterious Yisitor At Manston Hall.

wont , proceeded to explain the cause of this altered condition of affairs . One angel , in fact , suggested " too much smoking . " Nellie Maxwell said she felt sure is was " unrequited affection , " at which everybody laughed ; while Miss Mingoe remarked to Mrs . Beaufoy , in a low sepulchral tone , " whisky and water . " Tom Maxwell and Walter Beaufoy said nothing—a

very good recipe for all our young male friends who find themselves in a controversy with a female . There is nothing so much angers the dear , dear , darling creatures as if you let themgoon "talk , talk , talk , " and say nothing yourselves . I have known an indignant young woman take a bell-rope and swing it afc the offending , bufc silent male animal .

Mr . Beaufoy senior , who was a sensible man of few words but active deeds , called the young men into his study and made them tell him the result of their night ' s watching , as he had been told of it previously , and guessed at once that their present appearance was in some way connected with last night ' s activity . When he heard about fche "drugging" he looked

very serious , aud said " This must be looked into ; say nothing to anybody on any account . " Mansion Hall was luckil y near a capital station on tho South Western lino , so Mr . Beaufoy went up to London and determined to call in at Scotland Yard . Ho was shown up to tho great " man , " who , aftea he had heard the story , said , " Well , I think we car

help you . I have a strong suspicion that that is n party we have been wanting some time ; bufc how could she get into your service ? For it is a woman I ' m sure , and there is generally a woman somewhere in these affairs . " " Wc got her from a servant's office , " said Mr . Beaufoy . " For 1 now feci sure that my suspicions

havo always been well founded . Sho has been so obliging that I never suspected her until lately ; but I fancy she has a key to that spirit-case which is kept in the waiting-room . " " More than likely , " said tho great man . " Indeed , you may be quite sure of it . She is mixed up with two or three of the most dangerous customers in London .

1 will send down two of my best men this evening , whom you will please to let in when the family are gone to bed ; and I also beg you to say nothing , not oven to your wife , remember that , of what you and I have arranged . " So Mr . Beaufoy promised , and , stranger still to say , though a married man , he performed . The evening passed off as usual , but Mr . Beaufoy took

the opportunity to speak to Walter aud Tom , and told them to go to lied , nnd not that night to go into the smoking-room at all . All was done exactly as had been arranged , and at two a . m . Mr . Beaufoy , opening a side door which led into the garden , passed in two gentlemen in pilot coats , and a third with them . While tho third remained in a room on tho ground-Iloor , the two went

quietly up the stairs and took up the identical position that Walter and Tom hatl occupied the night before . Mr . Beaufoy went into his own dressing-room , put out the light , and lay on his bed in his clothes . There was a complete silence for nearly an hour . As the clock struck three a figure in white emerged from the servants' landing as before , and

went into another room . Curiously enough the ghost had a dark lantern , ns 1 ought to have told you before . A moment after tho two gentlemen , who had seen the ghost well , stationed themselves on each side of the door of the room . A few minutes elapsed and then Mi ' . Beaufoy heard a rustling and a suppressed exclamation , and rolling

oil his bed got into the passage , where he saw a tall strapping woman , as white us a , sheet , iu a white dress , in the hands of his two friends . They both abounded in delicate attentions lo her , for , as one said , " . Sorry to inconvenience yon , Miss Jennings , in the least ; " the other civilly remarked , " Don't scream ; you are fond of bracelets , 1 know ; I have brought a very nice

pair lor you . " Yes , sir , " saitl the " gri-ul man , " when Mr . Beaufoy went up the next day , ' •I thought wo could help you , sir , mill we havo . What wc- have to do , we always do well in . Scotland Yard . Itwas a very neat little business , nnd the 'chief' is quite pleased . Perhaps you are not aware what a distinguished individual vou

have had under your roof . . Slit ; must have got a lot of property away . She is a clever woman . She has hall ' -a-dozt'ii names , and half-a-dozen husbands . 1 hear they found in her bedroom a haud-cart of stolen things . " In due time Martha Higson , for that was her real name , was tried and sentenced , and is probably now

well take ncare ol in some pi-acelul spot of seclusion and industry ! I only tell the story to point out tbe tendency , on only the slightest cause or no cause at all siill lingering among ns , to believe in the hyper-spiritual to talk of " ghosts . " The very people who affect to disbelieve the Bible , fully credit spiritualism .

I need not , further allude to the Christmas party at Mansion Hall , than to say that it was , as might have been expected , a very happy one ; and as more than one , 1 really believe three couples , date their matrimonial connexion from that Christmas gathering , my excellent friends , Mr . nnd Mrs . Beaufoy , did not keep up their charming hospitality in vain .

As n bachelor , I think a great responsibility attaches to anyone who encourages matrimony , especially in the young and thoughtless ; and as Mr . and Mrs . Beaufoy are old married people , 1 suppose they think that us they have done so well themselves in that debutcable land , others may " go and do likewise . " But it is not , irespectfully wish my readers all to observe , a necessary consequence !

Christmas Day.

Christmas Day .

* || 9 jGs | S Christmas Day once more comes round , «|| B |§( For us and ours here , i % 2 * p & A twofold message seoms to sound Jj * * For mortals , full and clear . « ¥ u A voice of joy and of gladness « . Amid tho haunts of men , A voice of silence in its sadness Almost beyond our ken .

How good to feel that once again In this short life of ours , 'Mid toils long chain , or life ' s dull pain , Ours aro festive hours . Once moro we draw delightedly Around our Christmas tree , Onco more we seem unitedly A happy family .

Alas ! we cast our looks around And some nre missing now , The links aro broken which once bound Us all with gleesome vow . No more thc manly form is present , Vanished thc fairy grace , The dear grey head is absent , Faded the smiling face .

How pleasant 'tis for all to greet A few soft houi ; s of rest , How good for loving hearts to meet , How friendship gives a zest To all wo hope , to all wo plan , To all we see or say , As Christmas summons us again . To keep our Christmas Day .

Yefc , oven then , a solemn strain Falls on each list ' ning oar , As we find tho past can't come again , And wo miss old friends and dear . There seems to bo a ringing voice Which speaks from tho graves of years , And though Christinas bids us to rejoice , Smiles often change to tears .

Rejoice , rejoice , oh , kindly youth , By your Christinas treo to-day , Believe in loyalty and truth That gladsome is Christmas Day . And while tho laughing circles moot In lovo and festive glee , Let thoso happy , happy hours fleet In Christmas revelry .

But yet , fair youth , recall to-day A truth we oft forgot , That all these things must , pass away , Dear forms we all regret ; That , pleasure often yields to paiu , Dark hours follow bright ,

lhat sorrow conielh oft amain , Saddening homes full of light . How strange this paradox appears , Duplex iu power and form , Tho same dark lino through shadowy years , Iu sunshine and iu storm .

Yes , Christmas Day , dear friends , once moro Alike for you anil mo , Brings , as it , speetls from shore to shore , Its hallowed mystery , A message of nil lovo divine , A premise of dear grace ,

Sweet words of hope , bright aud benign , Soft memories for our race . Though happy hours , though friends wo lovo Are bound to pass away , Yet Faith can look to God in love Blessing our Christmas Day . A .

How Podgers Lost His Christmas Dinner.

How Podgers Lost his Christmas Dinner .

gipwODGKRS , whom his friends term "Podgio , " is a SKKS wc" -tlM '" > short , round , little man , with a tfSKrii shiny face , well-curled whiskers , fat hands , ~ iX and tea-cup staring blue eyes . He is very well-US' to-do , very good naturetl , mid somewhat forward . * He has some mysterious business iu tho City , and has bachelor chambers , anil also a very prett v villa at

Hendon ( which we will call " Eutlon ) , whore ho gives small bachelor dinner parties , and boasts loudly of his wines and his cigars . Ho is a member of tho same lodgo that 1 am , mid , therefore , J seo a good deal of him . I am afraid poor " l'odgie , " though a harmless little fellow , is rather made a " butt of" by thoso kind friends who smoke , his cigars , eat his dinners , drink his

wines , anil turn him into ridicule . Il is not an amiable thing for anyone to do so , but such , my friends , as the polite lecturer said , " is the way of lhe world . " I have myself had many a good tl inner nt Grove Villa , and , as he has an excellent stutl of horses , havo

ofteu been driven down by him in his well-turned-out phaeton . Jack Villars , who is very often there , declares that ho cannot drive ; I won't say so much as that , but wo havo had some close shaves . A short timo ago Podgie fell in lovo , aud as this most melancholy state of affairs was