Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-07-14

Nau you luF MTs. SdiFam pale, by thus
peopling with your fancies the vacant
air -
al tell you, Alexis said the colonel,
Che was my husbands old friend, and
had been present at our hasty and pri-
vate marriage,) } nothing could be more
unlike fancy, even were l given to
such. 1t was very remarkable person
who sat here. Even strangers noticed
him."
"Him J" | whispered.
sit was a man, then,'' said my hus-
band, rather angrily
"a very peculiar looking and extreme
ly handsome man. | saw many glasses
leyelled at him."
"What was he like :" said Alexis,
rather sarcastically. "Did he speak :
or we to him 7"
"No-neither. He sat quite still, in
this chair"
Ny husband turned away. # the
colonel had not been his friend. and SO
very simplemiLded, honest, and sober
gentlemen, | think Alexis would have
suspected some drunken hoax, and turn.
ed him out of the box Immediately. As
it was, he only said:
'My dear fcllow, the third act is be-
ginning. Come up again at its close,
and tell me if YOU again see my invisi-
bic friend, who must find so great an at
traction in viewing, gratis, a dramatic
performance"
"I perceire-you think it mere hal
lucination of mine. We shall see.
suspect the trick is on your side, and
that you are harboring some prescribed
Hungarian. But I'll not betray him.
Adieu.''
'The ghostly Hungarian shall not sit
next you, love, this time" said Alexis,
trying once more to remove the chair
But possibly, though he jested, he was
slightly nervous, md his efforts were vain
"What nonsense this is Isabel, let US
forget it. will stand behind you, and
watch the play.
He stood. I clasped his hand secret
ly and hard. Then, l grew quieter, un-
til as the drop-scene fell, the same cold
air swept past US. 1t was as if some
one, fresh from the sharp sea wind, had
entered the box. And, just at t at mo-
ment, we saw Colonel Hart'a, and sew
eral other glasses, le1elled as before,
at is strange" said Alexis.
at is horrible" I said for 1 had
been Graded in Scottish, and then filed
with German superstition and my own
life had been so wild, so strange, that
there was nothing too ghastly or terrible
for my Imagination TO conjure up.
81 will summon the colonel. We
must find out this" said my husband
speaking beneath his breath and looking
round, as if he thought he was over.
heard
Colonel Hart came up. He looked
very serious SO did young man who
was with him.
Captain Elmore-Mrs. Saltram.-
Saltram, I have brought my friend here
to attest that I have played off on you
no unworthy jest. Not ten minutes
since, he and [, and some others saw this
same gentleman sitting in this chair.''
"Most certainly-in this chair" ad-
ded the young captain.
My husband bowed; he kept courte.
Gus calmness. but / felt his hand grow
clammy in mine.
"Of what appearance, sir, was the
unknown acquaintance of my wife's and
mine, whom everybody appears to see
except ourselves :"
HE was of middle age, dark haired
pale. His features were very still, rath
er hard in expression. He had on {
cloth cloak with fur collar, and wore
a long pointed Charles-the>Fi First beard. ;
My husband and | clung hand TO hant
with an inexpressible horror Coult
there be another mana living man
who answered this description
"Pardon me-" Alexis said family =
"The portrait is rather vague; may
ask you to repaint it as circumstantiall,
as you can"
"He was, l repeat, pale, or rather
sallow featured man. His eyes were ex
tremely piercing, cold and clear. Th'
mouth closc-set-a very firm but passion
ate mouth. The hair dark-scamed viii
gray y-bald on the brow