Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-04-13

you to-day, in the presence OF our trends,
narrate little incident in your life which
| shall recall to your memory 2!
Rejecting a moment, | could see no ob.
lection to this, and assented. After thank.
ing me, he went away. leaving me much
perplexed and bewildered. What did he
refer to? What could be his object?
pondered over these questions till my brain
ached 49,.
Afternoon came the company were in
fine spirits, excepting Mr.. Phillippse, who
never changed. Judge Blackwell, who al
ways seemed to lead Or give tone to the
conversation, turned it, incidentally as 1t
were, upon condolences.
"Things happen strangely" be said; "cir-
cumstances form singular links between
people for instance, it is my fervent be-
lief that Miss Bell and myself have been
brough ht into acquaintance here for the ppr-
pose of unravelling mystery OF which she
and | possess the only clue; yet she will
tell you that she never met me before. and
can as confidently assert that | never
spoke to her, never even heard OF her, until
we met under this roof. believe there is
Providence in it.. You will perceive that
she looks lncredulous at what | am saying,
but by relating an incident which occurred
to myself, she will, think, be reminded
of one in her own life, and will not hesitate
10 give the story. Please listen for few
minutes, while narrate it.
"Several years ago, | was suddenly sum-
moned to the death-bed of my father, in
part of the country far distant from my own
home. 1t was midsummer, the moon was
near its full, and | travelled by night as
we'll as by day. Not far from midnight,
when half way on my journey, rode
through quaint, strange, secluded, little
village, and at a sudden turn of the road,
passed a beautiful pond. Late as it was,
there was a man out upon the water in
boat. Through an opening in the trees
myself IN deep shadow, | watched with a
keen curiosity to know what could have
taken HIM abroad at that hour of the night.
1t was more than curi6sity-it was some
unaccountable interest, fascination almost,
which caused me to check my horse and
wait
81 could see distinctly, for the moon
threw full light upon the water. The boat
stopped among matted lilies: thought that
the tangled leaves impeded its course; but
in an instant saw him bend over. and
draw up from among them drowned wo-
man, In White garments. Long, black curls
swept the water, and jewel on her finger
showed red IN the moonlight. He seemed
70 lift her as if it were but baby's weight,
placing her in the bottom Of the boat and
rowed Back, past the opening where | sat,
and disappeared ffoin my sight. | had a
glimpse of his face-whte as that cold at
his feet. waited few minutes then dis
mounted, secured my horse, and searched
for path through The aldcrs beyond which
he had passed Having found one, | 81
lently followed, and discovered the boat
still rocking from the recent shock, but no
one was TO be seen. Living and dead, both
were gone. went on up from the beat
ine-place, by winding path, to gate in
garden hedge. 1t was secured on the IN
side, and both gate and hedge were SO high
that | could not overlook them. | Iretraced
my steps, and sprung into the saddle, with
the impulse to rouse some one, but wait
ed and reflected few minutes. What had
seen? What was it that should tell ?
was stranger, alone. and upon an urgent
errand that admitted of no, delay hall
resolved to pass Oh. Still could but I'm
ger and look back. There was some
thing mysterious, certainly--something
criminal, | felt. While hesitated, there
was rustling among the bushes by the
water, and child darted from them across
the road, under my horses feet, ard van
ished II was strange apParition-a lit
tie Girl dressed in white, clutching to her
bosom whole handfuls of white pond lilies.
Her face was pale, deathly pale, and her
large eyes dilated with terror. She gave
nv horse such a start, that he reared,
plunged, and leaped of at furious gallop
down the soft, spongy road, and we were
miles away from the spot before again
had him fully under my control. kept
on nv course but not that night, nor for
many DAYS after, not until, engrossed by
Grief and involved in uncertainty, from far
different causes, did the subject pass from
nv mind. Then, for months. in the midst
of great sorrow and stern duties, | hardly
THOUGHT of the strange circumstances OF that
nioht. AterMards, | was still farther re-
moved from the scene Of those events, and
deeply engaged IN business. Suffered the
mystery to remain unSolfed. lh later years
il has REQUIRED to me often-has haunted
and troubled me. | have taken no meas
ures TO investigate the subject have never
mentioned it; still felt presehtlnient
that clue would one day be found. 1t
seems to me that it will.
have related the circumstance this af-
ternoon, because it has been for weeks in
my mind and, like the story of The An
clent Mariner must be told. But must
explain further, by saying that only since
the day when Miss Bell and myself met
here, has il been so painfully present to me.
From the moment she first entered the
house. has her face recalled something to
my mind--something vague, indefinite,
dreamy. | have been constantly IN the
ihost intense anxiety to define what this
might be. 1t has been iiiads clear to me
at last Looking at her, see again that
frightened child. That child-it sickens
me to think of the strange appartlon 1t
seemed-a little frail and slender thing,
dripping with water, and hugging those wet
lilies in her bare arms, and with that look
of unspeakable terror upon her pale face.
Yes, think of her; but it may be all fan.
cy on my part We will see if Miss Bell
has aught 10 relate. We will now listen to
her story"
He paused: felt compelled to speak,