Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-07
M I SC ELL A N Y

Auu lct US Two De HieuuS
MIS- @ ELL AN Y.
Not a Spectre.
By MARY KYLE DALLAS.
'Ah! such sleep! and such dreams was
ing upon old Trotter against a sDow-storm,
th pannier upon panDier loaded with eggs
ed upon his back, and weighing him down.
en- was selling eggs, and the customers were
lignant-for where should have been yolk
eY found nothing but salt; they were all beau
nl young women, and they threw the eggs at
ny head in their anger; and as they broke,
scattering a shower of salt over my face, they
shouted, eHallow Fen! Hallow E'en!' at the
top of their voices. Then was big egg my
self, and people would lay me on the edge of
prec,pices, and throw their eggs at me, until at
length / awoke with a start, stretching my arms
to keep myself from telling, as one often does 10
sleep. Once more the tall presses, the little
mirror, the white curtains-all glimmering in
the cold moonlight, which fell through the win
dow, greeted my eyes. | was wide awake.
was perfectly calm and collected. My face was
toward the window, and suddenly was start
led by faint crimson light, which flushed the
thought. No, it was not the sun, the light was
within my room; and there, as true as / live, l
saw figure, white and straight, advancing to-
wards my bed, holding light in its hand. Ny
heart stood still, but gazed eagerly on the ap-
partition.
4 lit was very fair to look upon golden curls
fell to the waist, blue eyes smiled from beneath
delicate brows, dimple in the chin, tiny mole
upon the cheek, teeth like pearls, and neck
whittier than alabaster-these were the chief
traits yet trembled and grew faint l closed
my eyes and assumed slumber. The form ad-
vanced, bent over me and pressed its lips to
mine. / felt two terrible unearthly KISSES and
unable to control myself longer, spraDg from the
bed in an agony of terror. In a moment the
light vanished, heard something like untitled
scream, and staggering to the bed swooned
way. The next morning awoke fevered and
I'll. bade farewell to my hospitable entertain
or and went home. | never mentioned my vis-
ION to any one, but either the shock, or the salt
eggs almost finished my existence. For three
weeks l lay at the point of death, and all the
wl.ils, so they told me, l raved of a dimple in
the chin, a mole upon the cheek, and curls like
molten moonlight. recovered at last and 10
the course OF a year departed for New York, to
enter into business with my uncle, who was q
merchant.
g "By curious coincidence it was once more
All Hallow Fen when l reached New York,
and as the cab in which had ensconced my
self at the landing, rolled along Broadway,
thought even while my eyes rested upon the
brilliantly lighted and galy bedecked stores, and
the bustling crowd which thronged the broad
sidewalks, of the quiet farmhouse chamber, the
dark oak presses, the ebony-framed mirror, and
the white apparition stealing from the shadows
l. IL, hpf oh. f,1
sShall ever meet her2" / murmured. "Were
those spectral kisses the foretaste of warm, de-
cious living caresses, fresh from the ruby lips of
an earthly maiden 2" AS spoke the carriage
stopped at my uncle's door,"
Here uncle Oliver paused for moment and
gazed around him. The older girls were blush
ing violently-Were in state of awful serious
ness edifying to behold, and no one spoke sim
gle word Uncle Oliver gave US quizzing
glance and proceeded.
ut was very near the dinner hour, and after
exchanging greetings with my uncle and aunt
was shown to my apartment, to make some
requisite change in my travelling costume. 1t
was very different room from that of the old
farm house, where had slept just one year be-
fore; but, somehow, | half expected to see the
bright apparition steal from beneath the fossy
lace curtains, or rise from behind the great vel
vet rocking chair beside the fireplace, as stood
combing my hair and arranging my cravat be-
tore the toilet-glass between the windows.
"The dinner-bell recalled me to myself, and l
opened the door to descend to the dining room
As stepped into the hall, stood directly op-
posite flight of broad stairs covered with a
rich velvet carpet, and lit by pendant lamp OF
amber glass. Upon those stairs | saw some
thing gliding towards me. Transfxed with as
tonishment | gazed upon it. Golden curls,
snowy shoulders, blue eyes, dimple in the chin,
q brown mole upon the cheek, mouth like a
rosebud All, had felt the pressure of those
ips-it was once more my apparition not clad
in the white this time, but draped in tender
robes of glossy purple, like the hue of an angels
wing. The amber lamp light foated down up
on her, and she came towards me slowly, but
surely. / did not faint this time, but retreated
to my room, double locked the door, and fell in
to chair trembling like an aspen leaf. A knock
shortly afterwards restored my self-pOssessiOn,
and | answered come in with the full determi-
nation not to admit the spectre, fthis were she.
The servants voice responded "Please, sir, din
ner Is ready" And with renewed self posses
sion descended to the diniDg-room.
miss Star, my nephew, Mr.. Oliver Landon."
ut was my uncle who spoke. 1t was my ap-
parition-golden curls, dimpled chin, and rose
ouu uiOutu-WnO OenL IN dcknOWlougueut. IL
was |, with my hair standing on end and my
heart in my mouth, who uttered some words in
reply-what, neither nor any one else knew.
She had come at last In living flesh and blood
she stood before me, the realization of my vision
my fate, my future wifel
Aunt Helen," exclaimed the group, in one
breath.
Yes, my dears, your Aunt Helen," replied
uncle Oliver, ''and the very spparition which
bad appeared to me in the old farm house, from
the fairy foot to the soft curls, identically the
same; Well, my dears, we knew each other,
loved each other, and were married on my
twenty-third birthday. She became my wife;
and on the following All Hallow Fen we were
sitting quietly before the fire in our little house.
l bad never told her of my vision, but on that
night resolved to do so. had opened my lips
to speak, when Helen spoke instead.n