Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-10-19
THE LIVING PHANTOM
TRUE STORY.
BY Charles LAMB.

penslVe and contemplallVe turn Oh
mind. 1t was my delight in the long
summer evenings TO slip away from my
noisy and more robust companions,
that might walk in the shades of the
venerable wood, my favorite haunt, land
listen TO the cawing of the rocks, who
seemed as fond of this retreat as /
was.
One evening / sat later than usual,
though the distant sound of the cathe-
dral clock had more than once warned
me to my home. There was a still
ness in all nature that was unwilling
TO disturb by the least motion. From
tFis reverie | was startled by the sight
Of a tall, slender female, who was
standing by me, looking sorrowfully
and steadily in my face. She was
dressed in white from head 10 foot, in a
fashion that had never seen before
Her garments were unusually long and
flowing, and rustled as she glided
through the shrubs near me, as if they
were made ofrichest silk. My heart
beat as it. was dying, and | know not
that l could have stirred from the spot;
but she seemed so very mild and beau
tiful ] did not attempt it. Her pale
brown hair was braided round her head
but tn ere were some locks that straye d
upon her neck; and, although she
looked like a lovely picture, but
not like a lovely woman, / closed
my eyes forcibly with my hands, and
when l looked again she had van
ished.
Icannot exactly say why l did not
on my return speak of this beautiful
appearance, nor why, with strange
mixture of JOY and fear, l went again
to the same spot, that l might see her.
She always came, and often in the
storm and splashing rain-and looked
sweetly on me, and silently passed on;
and though she was so near me thai
once the wind lifted those light stray
ing locks, and | felt them against my
cheek, yet | could never move or speak
TO her. felt i'll, and when l recov.
cred my mother closely questioned
me of the tall lady of whom, in the
height of my fever, l had so offer
spoken.
Icannot tell you what a weight wa!
taken from my buoyish spirits when
learned that this was no apparition, blu
most lovely woman-not young
though she had kept cher young looks
for the grief which had broken he
heart seemed TO have spared he
! beauty.
When the rebel troops were ietrea
! ting, after their total defeat, in tina
wood was so fond of, a young Office
unable any longer to endure the an
=, guish of his wounds, sunk from hi
= horse, and laid himself down TO die
j He was found there by the daughte
r of Sir Henry R and conveyed b
- trusty domestic to her fathers mar
sion. Sir Henry was a loyalist, b.
! the officers desperate condition exc
4 ted his compassion, and his wounC
- spoke language brave man cou
not misunderstood. Sir Henry
70 daughter, with many tears, pleaded /
.. him, and promised that he should
~. carefully and secretly atten ded. Al
he we'll she kept her promise; for she vi
,ar. ted upon him (her mother being 10
,re dead) for many weeks.
,re You may fancy better than1 can
he you, as he slowly recovered, all
red moments that were spent in readiI
no. and low-voiced singing, and ger
~ playing on the lutte; and how m;
;1e fresh flowers were brought TO h
- whose wounded limbs would not b
him to gather them for himself, ;
,sln how calmly the days glided on in
and blessedness of returning health, ant
=, that sweet silence so carefully EMO
,.r- on him. | will pass by this to speal
one day; while brighter and pleasa
than others, did not seem more br
.or or more lovely than the looks of
;ronn young maiden, as she gently spoke
80, ga little festival, which (though itn
- bear an unworthier nancy she m
- to give honor of her guests recove
'a "And it is time lady," said he,
"eS that guest, so tender and so homo
.u - to tell you his whole story, anc
49,, ~" speak to you Of one who will help
' ~ to thank you; may | ask you, fair
Ill TO write little billet for me, W
&C even in these times OF danger,
NJ find means TO forward" To his
rect Their, no doubt, she thought, as
i the light steps and lighter heart,
,o;nr seated herself by his couch, and
the lingly babe him dictate; but whe
veil said, "My dear wife," and LITE
'o,,n his eyes to be asked for more, he
80, ~, before him apale statue, that gave
III one utter look Of despair, and fel
IL -. he had no power to help her,
Ia yiIy at his feet. Those eyes
80; az truly reflected the pure soul +;
.;I;S or answered, by answering lool