The Banshee

d than in Ireland. It follows the fortunes of the true old Milesian Irishman-the real

ns of Ireland," quotes the case of a Banshee haunting that was exp

ere aroused by a loud cry, coming, apparently, from just outside the house. Nothing intelligible was uttered, only a sound indicative of the greates

this world and belonged wholly and solely to the Unknown. Nevertheless, from what Lady Wilde says, we are led to infer that an exhaustive search

had happened to them was forthcoming, till two o'clock that night, when, exactly twenty-four hours after the cry had been heard, some of the searchers returned, bearing with them the wet, bedraggled, and lifeless bodies of both father and son. Then, once again, the weird and ominous sound that had so startled them on th

s that settled in Italy a good many years ago. It was told me in Paris by a Mrs Dempsey, who assur

expression quickly attracted her attention. She observed that he kept entirely aloof from his fellow-guests, and that, every evening after dinner, he

ot wish to join in the general conversation. Upon hearing this Mrs Dempsey was more than ever interested. It was not so very long since she, too, had lost her partner-a husband to whom she was much attach

with masses of the most gorgeous red gold hair hanging loose and reaching to her waist. She was wearing an emerald green dress of some very filmy substance; but her arms and feet were bare, and stood out so clearly in the soft radiance of

t could be, Mrs Dempsey remained for a second or two watching, and then, afraid lest she sho

ies of a lady who generally sat next to her at meals, as to the identity of the girl she had jus

he reply. "Surely not! Who can

omer, some guest who had arrived at the hotel, and gone on the veranda whilst they were at dinner. Feeling a little curiou

there is no one with Count Asioli now, and, if

"and only a minute or two ago; she must have got out somehow, al

a, saw the girl in green standing with her hand on his shoulder, came back and told her neighbour at meals, and the latter, on hastening to the veranda to look, once more returned declaring that the Count was alone. After this, a slight al

would admit it, and the following night, Mrs Dempsey, as soon

"come with me and

went to the veranda and, open

ey whispered, "standing i

. Then Mrs Dempsey, whose gaze was solely concentrated on the girl, saw a face of almost indescribable beauty-possessing neatly chiselled, but by no means coldly classical features, long eyes of a marve

ing at it in speechless awe and amazement," and might, perhaps, have been

unusually disturbing in my appearance to-night, for I undoubt

could have seen that he was more than a little

, "it is the lady-the lady you hav

exclaimed, in accents of cold surpr

Dempsey began, and th

nor of any other person on the veranda saving themselves, and immediately beneath it, at a distance of

I saw her-a lady in green standing beside you." The

closely, now advanced a step or two towar

e the lady? Was she old

, for I've received something of a shock, and can, perhaps, talk to you bet

how could she tell what colour the eyes were by the light of the moon only; Mrs Dempsey's reply to which being that the girl's whole body seemed to be illuminated from within, in such a manner that every

many, many years ago. But what will, I am sure, be of considerable interest to you is the fact that this branch of the O'Neills, the branch to which I belong, is haunted by a Banshee, and that that Banshee has, I believe-since the description of it given me by various members of my family tallies with the description you

business, and on his way to the railway dep?t he suddenly dropped down dead, the excitement and

hould possess a Banshee-indeed, it would be surprising if they did not-but I have found it somewhat difficult to trace. Howev

he act of crying, when her wails may be taken as a certain sign that some member of the family will shortly die. Mr McAnnaly corroborates this by stating that on one occasion one of the O'Neills of Shane Castle heard the Banshee crying, just as he was about to set out on a journey, and perished soon afterwards, which is somewhat unusual, because in the m

tever in her movements. The very families one thinks she would haunt, she often studiously avoids, and not infreque