The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-02-10

der her directions to prepare the following
charm. Each ofusscooped the yolk from
three hard boiled eggs, filled tho cavity with
salt. and deyourcd thein-salt and oil then
without taking drink Of water, we proceed
ed straight to our apartments, with strict in
functions to tie our shoestrings in hard knots,
and 90 to bed backwards And Us sure as
ye do 40, said the old lady, the lass yer to
marry will come to yer and kiss We when the
clock strikes twelve
"The room which had been devoted to me
was long and wide, with gloomy corners and
tall, ghostly cupboards, here and there. A
looki5g-glass in black frame hung opposite
the bed, and beneath 1t stood table OF small
dimensions. Laughing at myself all the
while, tied my slioestring in three knots,
and blowing out the light, absolutely did get
into bed backwards and, being weary and
tired, / fell asleep almost Immediately.
"Ah Such sleep! and such dreams !!
wa, riding upon old Trotter against snow
storm, with pannier upon pannier loaded
with eggs piled upon his back, and weighing
him down. Then was selling eggs, and the
customers were indiguant-for where should
have been yolk they found nothing but salt ;
they were all beautiful, young women, and
they threw the eggs at my head in their an
ger; and as they broke, scattering shower
of salt over my face, they shouted llallow
E'enn Hallow Zen y at the top OF their
voices. Then | was u biz egg myself, and
people would lay me on the edge of preci-
pices, and throw their eggs ut me, until Mt
length | awokc with u start, stretching my
arms to keep from falling, as ono often does
in sleep. Once more the tall presses, the lit
tic mirror, the white curtains-all glimmer-
ing in the cold moonlight which fell through
tho window-greetedm my eyes. | was wide
awake. knew that the storm must have
passed away. | was perfectly calm and col
lected. My face was toward the window,
and suddenly was startled by faint GRIM
son light, which llushed the wall and cur
tain. Can the sun be rising?' | thought.
No, il was not the sun; the light was with
in my room, and there, us true as ] live,
saw figure, white and straight, advancing
toward my bed, holding light in its hand.
My heart stood still, but gazed eagerly on
the apparition. 1t was very fair to look up
on: golden curls fell to the waist, blue eyes
smiled from beneath delicate brows, a dimplc
in the chin, tiny mole upon the cheek,
teeth like pearls, and u neck whittier than
alabastcr-thesc were the chief traits; yet
trembled and grew fiint. closed my eyes
and assumed slumbcr. Tho form advanced,
bent over me. and pressed its lips to mine.
felt two terrible, unearthly kisses, and un-
able to control myself longer, sprang from
the bed in an agony of terror. In a moment
the light vanished, I heard something like a
muilled scream, and staggering to the bed,
swooncd away. The next morning | awoke
icvered and i'll. bade farewell to my hos
pitablc entertainer, and went home. Ineyer
mentioned my vision to any one, but either
the shock or the salt eggs almost finished my
existence. For three weeks | lay ut the
point of death, and all the while, so they
told me, raycd of u dimple in the chin, q
mole upon the cheek, and curls like molten
moonlight. recovered at last. and in the
course of year departed for New York to
enter into business with my uncle, who was
merchant.
Z" By curious coincidence il was once
more All-Hallow Fen when | reached New
York; and us the cab in which bad cnsconc-
ed myself at the landing rolled along Broad.
way, thought--even while my eyes rested
upon the brilliantly lighted and gaily bedeck-
cd stores, and the bustling crowd which
throngcd the broad sidewalks-of the quiet
farmhouse chamber, the dark oak presses,
the ebon.framed mirror, and the white ap-
partition stealing from the shadows slowly
softly, terribly, but o, so beautifully Shall
| ever meet hcr?' | murmured. Were
those spectral kisses the fore-taste OF warm,
delicious, living carcsses, fresh from the ruby
lips of an earthly maiden? As spoke the
carriage stopped at my unclc's door"
Here Uncle Oliver paused for moment,
and gazed around him. The older girls were
blushing yiolcntly-were in state of awful
seriousness cdifying to behold, and no one
spoke single word Uncle Oliver gave us
a peculiar quizzical glance, and preceded
=" 1t was very near the dinncr-hour; and
after exchanging GREETINGS with my uncle and
aunt, | was shown to my apartment, TO make
some requisite changes in my travelling cos
tune. It was very different room from
that Of the old farmhouse, where | had
slept just one year before; but, somehow, !
half expected To sec the bright apparition
steal frim between the hossy lace curtains,
or rise from bchnd the great velvet rocking
chair beside the fireplace, as | stood somb-
ing NV hnIr and arranging my cravat beioie
the toilet glass between the windows.
The ,liunrr-hcll recalled me to myself, and
| opened the door to descend to the dining
room. * | stepped into the hall, stood
directly opposite light of broad stairs COW
IL -. IL ,.l,..,t anI III hy an
pendant lamp of amber glass. Upon those
stairs raw something gliding toward mo.
IrnsIixed with astonishncnt, gazcd upon
it. Golden curls, snowy shoulders, blue
eyes, II dimplc in the chin, brown mole
upon the cheek, u mouth like q rosebud -
All, had felt the pressure of those lips-it
was once more my aparition; not clad in
white this time, but draped IN glossy robes
of tender purple like the hue of an angels
wing. The amber lamplght hoated down
upon her, and she came toward Inc slowly,
but surely. did not faint this time, bat |
rctrcatcd to my room, double locked the
door, and fell ito chair, trembling ike an
aspen leaf, A knock shortly after somewhat
restored my seli-posscssOn, and answered,
Come in,' with the full determination not
to admit the spectre, II this werc she. The
servants voice responded, Please, sir, din
ner is ready Aud with renewed sclf.pos-
scssi n. descended to the dining room,
"Miss Star, my nephew, Mr.. Oliver
Landon.
"It was my uncle who spoke. 1t was my
apparition. golden curls, dimbled chin and
rosebud mouth, who bent in acknowledge
ment. It was |, with my hair standing on
end and my heart in my mouth, who NUT.
tered some words in reply-what, neither I
nor any one else knew. She had como ut
last. In living flesh and bood she stood be-
fore me, tho realization Of my vision-my