The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-08-20

81 an hsss." said voice from beneath; 70
close il sssmed that every one started m terror.
- -, "a preseos 20 whom that voice VS.
MT familiar.
Il uas Frank Sinclair's; he who lay buried in
The depths Of the sea
The Misses Popple tainted The strong
minded women threw their arms around Mark
SiIvertree, imploring his protection; while Ar
Bounce fairly took to bis heels, fed 70 his own
room, and locked himself 10. Lights we're ex-
tineuished, chairs and tables overturned, and the
whole scene changed into one OF confusion.
Nor was is much better when, after . time,
the guests came trembling back, Q pale and ter
ri6ed group, to gather around the hre There
we're suppressed voices, furtive glances into cor
pen, and shudderines whenever the eye rested
on that dark, 0mnous table in the background
There we're wonderings and surmisings, and .
dread of bedtime and solitary cbaDbers-
But bedtime came, and there we're whisper
ings ia the long passages, and hurried disrobing,
and burning Of wax tapers a. long they
would last: and q barying of faces 10 the pillows,
and beating of fearful hearts, for the voice
Vas Franks, and Franks vessel had gone down
at sea, and oil on board persisted!
CHAPTER II.
There was snug little chamber at the end Of
one Of the long passages, With the freight fash
ing on a set Of jewels that lay on the dressing
table, and shosing a robe soft as gossamer, with
flowers budding around the skirt, and a wreath
Of orange blossoms, and bridal veil, aud pair
Of satin Shoes set ready for the little feet to be
slipped into
Il must be Lucy's chamber and We hear even
now her light tread up the staircase and along
the passage. Here she comes pale and Agitated,
but all the lovelier for it. She sits down, and
cries bitterly. That is very natural, cot siderng
how her dead lover has been brought to her re-
membrance. Mark Sivertree might have done
some better deed than that the night before the
wedding.
Ii vas trick, there is no question, for Mark
has Wit and mischief enough for anything; vet
Lucy must be very fckle-we told you so from
the beginning. See, she dries her tears, and,
woman like, begins to look about upon ner fine
~. She puts on her jewels, and her robe of
gossameI, and the veil, and the bridal wreath,
and stands looking at herself ia the min ror ; then
she smiles, and n rosy blush suffuses her cheek
She is evidently satisfied With her appearance
and With her future destiny.
Aud a. tor Frank, poor fellow his memory
belongs TO by gone part Of her history. In
fact, the less she thinks of him the better
And yet, when che has composed herself to
rest, her fair hair lying disordered on the pillow,
and her cheek resting or her hand, We hear a
whisper, low and murmuring, and vet spoken a.
from the iullness Ct her heart. II is only the
whisper Of q name, and then she falls asleep, q.
serenely a. an infant. We are not bound TO re
veal the secret, but We heard the name distinctly
and il was tot that Of Archibald Sinclair There
10 no end To q woman's caprice and vacillation
Some little distance from this chamber with
its robe OF gossamer, and its wreath OF orange
flowers, ia al other and very different apartment,
with sembre hangiDgs and MASSIVE furniture
An old fashioned mirror stands upon the table,
and into it Is peering a haggard, withered face,
full Of doubt and fear. and disquiet. Ii 10 Mr..
Archibald sinclair, who has gone to rest.
No one had neard him utter an exclamation of
fear, or express any opinion of the mysterious
voice, cave that IL trick cleverly performed,
and originating in the fertile brain Of Mark Sill
vertree. He mad rallied his discomforted guests,
and brought them back from their hiding places
He had taken pains TO efface the sagreeable im-
preston made upon them. He had spoken of
Frank ss his deeply regretted nephew, and re
proved Mark tor playing on his feelings re-
proof Mark bore with great eQuanimity, and,
strange as it may seem, made no attempt at
apology.
He had tried to comfort Lucy, who shed tor.
rent Of crystal drops with an odd sunshine be-
tween them. He had sOothed the fears of the
three Misses Popplewood, and had drawn on Mr..
Bounce u Drag Of being the only one of the par
~ vbO VAS not in the least frightened. But
now oil this maneuvering is over, and Mr.. Sinclair
has retired for the night.
He is evidently nervous. See how he stands
and listens. He shoulders lest another face than
his should peer into the mirror, and he turns
20 flp 4 ~. G.
makes hun start. He steals about the room like
Q culprit. IL is very dislgreeable to be nervous,
and 20 he 6nds it. There lie but one refuge for
him, and that is in oblivion. So he hastily gets
into bed and resolves to sleep. But did sleep
ever come under such circumstances? He tos
ses from side tn side he starts, he iisteus Will
morning never Gomez
IL does not matter so much while his taper
burns, and sheds Pickering light over the room.
IL can certify him that nothing is there. But by
and BY il sinks into the socket and goes out
The moon is behind cloud. the fire is at its last
ember, and nothing can be discerned With clear.
ness. Presently the moon breaks forth again,
and NJ. Sinclair halls it with joy. He lifts up
HE head end looks around-he thought be heard
q sound.
There is figure standing between the cur.
tains At the bottom Of the bed. He can see it
quite distinctly. There is no mistake. He
knows he ia not dreamug-he wishes he were.
But he Is vide awake, with his sense of sight
and hearing on she stretch.
IL ID the m0st unpleasant moment of his life.
He eyes are riveted on the form that has pre-.
ssnsed itself thus suddenly before him. IL
saands solemn and still, a. if to give him time
70 recognise it. And he does 1t is Frank Sin.
elairl
Many dreary hours have to succeed each 9th.
q before the light Of dawn puts these terrors to
Eight The phantom is gone, but still he dare
not move. He is As il paralyxed. That night
b insermins0le!
But al things havsau end, and 90 the darkness
beeins 70 give way. He can hear sounds in the
house; the stir OF life has begun again.
SereAks OF daylight APPEAR on the curtains.
and he springs up and dresses hastily IL is his
wedding morning!
Early as he is, he is none too soon. He rush.
% to the window and looks out Wonder Of
vooders! Out step the three Misses Popple-
wood, in wedding costume, politely escorted by
Mark Silvertree and Mr. Bounce.
''S&ay stay!" shouted Mr.. Sinclair, '.you are
going without the bridegroom and be runs to
the door to pull il opca.
II 10 locked! Ia vain he tugs at the handle
In vain he stamps and RACES. The door pre-.
oenss . barrier complete aud absolute.
Again he flies to the window, and filings back
the easement and calls to the positions to stop.
But nos, behold the greatest wonder of all! be
h0lds bis breath in wonder! Out comes LUCY.
in her bridal dress, her veil and her orange bios
SONS. looking flushed with happiness, and lead
ing her by the hand is no other than his nephew