Ken's Mystery

Julian Hawthorne (1846-1934) was an American writer and journalist, the son of novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne and Sophia Peabody. He wrote numerous short stories, mystery/detective fiction, essays, travel books, biographies and histories.

'Ken's Mystery' is a wonderful story blending Gaelic folklore with Gothic mystery. Kenningale - or Ken, as his friends call him - has been on an educational trip to Europe from which he has returned with a mysteriously aged and rotting banjo. While in Ireland, walking home late on Halloween, he had met a mysterious and beautiful woman in a graveyard who asked him to play his banjo for her. Later the same night, he met her again...or was it her? And again she asked him to play. But why was she so cold and pale? And why did she recover her strength and colour as he played, while he felt chilled to the bone?