Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-10-27

Prof W ennel sat IN his room rcadlng. IL
was nearly twelve o'clock at night. The
damp night-wind blew in at the open window
and made the light flicker as it shone through
its alabaster shade, upon the table at his side.
The room was indeed like the heart Of arose;
but if Gertrude Westgate had not been so
very much prejudiced, she would have seen
that Prof. Wenne1, with his classical face
and slender hands, did not look SO very much
out of place there.
Suddenly something, he never knew what,
made him raise his eyes from his book. In
the centre of the room stood slender figure
in shroud white and glimmering; and at
the instant his eyes fell upon it the town clock
began to strike twelve in the distance. As
the last stroke died, the figure moved silent
" to the door and glided out
The professor sat staring at empty space,
doubling his senses. He was SO astonished
that he never stirred in his seat for ten min
utes He sat gazing straight forward until
the book, slipping from his relaxed hand fell
upon the floor and startled him.
Il have been asleep and dreaming" said
he; and prepared to retire. Yet as he drew
the white coverlet over his shoulders, he had
suspicion that what he had seen was not a
dream.
The next morning at breakfast he said to
his host
"philip. is this an old house?'
"Wcll it has something of history, |
believe. 1t has been in my possession but a
year, and we have lived here only few
months"
| ..Nb.+ ;+s b;ctorx, -,
cit was built by man named Alligood I
don't know how long ago. He losthis young
wife here Immediately after his removal to
it."
''Did Alligood's wife die of sickness ?"
Il believe there was a report that she
poisoned herself on account of some former
attachment. Do you know anything about
it, Bertrude?'
Yes, papa" said Gertrude, slowly stir
ring her coffee Everybody thinks it is quite
true that she poisoned herself because she
was married against her will to Mr.. Alligood.
And, continued Gertrude, observing that
Prof Wennel was regarding her attentively,
they say she was found with the glass in her
hand dropped dead in the room we have fur
nished as the pink chamber"
GLOW horrible! shouldn't think you'd
dare to live here" murmured Nellie Dashton,
, Struggling her dimpled shoulders, and every
body saw Prof Wennel shudder, but he
changed the conversation.
That night he retired to bed as early as
ten o'clock. but somehow he could not sleep.
At twelve o'clock he was as wide awake as
ever he was in his life, and there, in the Gen.
tire of the room, stood the same white figure
e which had visited him the previous night
> AS before, it's stay was brief. It retreated
9 as he fixed his eyes upon it, and vanished at
the door, which closed softly behind it, The
' Prof. never closed his eyes all night.
> The next day he limited to Mr.. Westgate
that he thought of returning home. His
host was astonshed.
i "Why, Arch. thought you we're going
to stay all summer with me-
G $50 did I )" said Gertrude, softly.
Prof Wennel murmured something about
changing his plans and declared that he re-
ally felt as if he must depart ON the following
!. day.
0 That night he was visited again; the fact
: did not accelerate his departure, for the Prof.
had the belief that directly after the door
a closed upon his ghost, he heard a smothered
d. laugh, and he remained until the next night.
t lust as the clock was on the stroke Of
twelve, his chamber door opened, and the
: shape appeared He kept his head bent over
his book, until it had advanced into the cen
y ire of the room. Then instead of sitting still,
f dazed by fear and fascinated with wonder, he
I quietly arose, produced pistol, and said
calmly:
Take off that sheet, or I'll fire.
The figure began slowly to retreat.
''rll give you but one second" he said
firmly
, The figure paused, wavcrcd the sheet fell,
and Gertrude sank on her knees before him.
ooh, Prof. Wehnel forgive me-and don't
oh, don't tell papar'
Pallid and lovely, with her dark linglets
, falling in disorder over her shoulders, the
Prof. lowered his pistol before her beseech-
g ing face.
t Have you any excise for such conduct
Miss Westgate?''
[ "No-ycs-oh, | can't tell you; but did
e it partly for fun. Won't you forgive me,
and not tell papa? Ill do anything for you
y if you Will"
He stood quietly before her as she'~still
knelt at his feet
"Y0tf ask = Great denl of me. You have
DESTROYED my plans for the SIMMER, forcing
me to tell your father that / must 20 away. -
r 81 know, but you can make some excuse
not to 60, if you like. l will help you if
you won't tell him. Say-say-"
May / say that have fallen in love with
his daughter, and so have changed my mind
second timc?'
I She Was on her feet in an instant, all her
pallor given way to burning blush. lie
smiled, but she did not sec him, for her eyes
were on the floor
MAY say it :" he repated
Sire looked Up ~itlf little indignant
fash.
NO
He went nearer, took her hands and made
her look at him.
G May [, Gertrude 2"
EYES," she said
G And Prof Wennel married his ghost.
GoTNG TO STAND BY The CoNFEpERAcY "
-George Saunders, on being summoned last
week as 4 witness before the Montreal court
trying the attempted kidnapper of himself,