Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-03-26
MISCELLANY.
The Ghost at Valley Farm,

The Ghost at Valley Farm.
The October moonlight, still and soft as a
rain of silver, was bathing the old Valley Farm
in its chilly radiance; the great maple tree at
the door stone was showering its red leaves
down upon the moss-enameled roof, and the
sound of the noisy little brook in the ravine
below. rose up like an unvoiced lullaby in the
silence, as Robert Grey stood there holding Alice
Burt's two hands in his.
"Then may tell your mother, Alice, and
ask permission to become her son? My own
little one How many, many years we have
been separated, and all through careless word,
but Heaven has brought us together once a.
gain"
Alice Burt was only twenty years old but
she already laid off the mourning she had worn
for a twelve month in respect for the memory
of her husband, Wallace Burt, who had been
kind and tender husband to her. lie had loved
her with all the force of his strong, manly ma
ture: but Alice had been but cold, irrespon-
sive bride to him. She had married him in
fit Of pique at some slight, real or fancicd insult
shown her by Grey, the first and last sweet
heart of her girlish years and she was too
young and artless to stimulate the love she did
not feel. So, at last when she tied the widows
cap down on her fair brown curls, and put on
the sombre black dress, her heart was glad
within her.
"Hush! was that the clock striking eleven
Oh Robert, how late it is! must go in"
Gone more kiss then, little queen of my soul!
shall go with you, however"
But Alice slipped past him in the big old
keeping-room where Mrs. Raymond sat
knitting by the light Of the cracking wood
fire, and thegraycat pured on the warm hearth
stone; and ran up stairs, her brown curls all
disheveled, and her cheeks pink with unwonted
excitement.
"Mrs. Raymond" said Robert composcdly
walking up to the quiet figure, :" have come
to ask you to give Alice to me-"
Mrs. Raymond's eyes frightened into glad
surprise.
Robert is it actually sol My dear boy,
how / have longed for this 1t seems as If
nothing had gone right since you quarreled and
parted three years ago. like two children as
you were-and then your long absence, and
Alices marriage-you never saw Wallace Burt,
but he was very good to our little giTl-and
now this reconciliation Robert, it is like a
dream :"
" But l hope it is dream from which we
shall none of us wake, Mrs Raymond"
"And where is Alice?'
&" She has gone up stairs. She wanted me
to confde to you the result of cur moonlight
chat, and"
He started so suddenly and violently that
Mrs. Raymond too sprang to her feet.
Robert, my son, what is 2"
He rushed to the door, threw it open and
gazed round.
at was nothing-nothing, and yet could
have sworn that face was looking into the
window, not second ago, very pale, with heavy
black hair thrown back, and a scar across the
right temple! OF course, though, it was my
imagination, for"
Robert" :"
"Mrs. Raymond, you are i'll -
"No. But-but Robert, tell me you vii
never breathe word to Alice Of this"
"Why not ?"
Mrs. Raymond lowered her voice, and spoke
in an alarmed whisper:
at would be but mournful omen for hel
second marriage, that the ghost of her first hus-
band looked upon our happiness"
"The ghost of her first husband ?"
"Yes. You have described Wallace Burt
very face, with a scar across his temple, thai
he has borne since he was boy"
For a moment Robert Grey stood in silence
"My dear Mrs. Raymond, it must have beer
my fancy"
Il kuow-I know; but-but do not tel
Alice"
"Of course, there is no use in terrifying her
with marvellous tales of the supernatural; but
further than this"
"Hush here she comes. Not word
And Alice entered, shy and smiling, with
Lo-t,,o o,-os dou,noast and the prettiest blushe!
on her cheek.
Long after Alice Burt was dreaming, will
her bright face pressed close to the pillow, anC
Robert Grey was safe in his own not distan
home, Mrs. Raymond sat watching the fading
glow of the members and thinking with {
troubled heart of the strange apparitiOn tha
had so darkly overshadowed the brightfuture
her daughters opening life.
The old clock had cbimed zone" before sh
-oeo IN seek her inflow. and the moon light la