The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-01-26
{ NUMBER 80.

had seated himself on the sofa, Just
beneath it. He had then, in spite of
Lettie's angry remonstrances, renew
ed his offer of love, strengthening it
finally by assuring her that poor
George, with his dying breath, had
implored him to seek her, and watch
over her, and marry her.
II was so indignant, I hardly
knew how to answer him." said Let
tie. when, suddenly, just as he
uttered the last words, there came
twang like the breaking of guitar
-and--I hardly knew how to de-
scribe it-but the portrait had fallen,
and the corner of the heavy frame
had struck him on The head, cutting
it open, and rendering him insensi-
ble."
They had carried him up stairs, by
the directions of the doctor, for
whom my wife at once sent on hear
ing what had occurred. He was laid
on the couch in my dressing-room,
where I went to see him. I intend
ed to reproach him for coming to the
house, despite my prohibitions, but I
found him delirious. The doctor
said it was queer case; for, though
the blow was severe one, it was
hardly enough to account for the
symptoms of brain fever. When he
learnt that Grieve had but just re-
turned in the Pioneer from the
North, he said it was possible that
the privation and hardships had told
on bis constitution, and sown the
seeds of the malady.
We sent for nurse, who was to
sit up with him, by the doctors di-
rections.
The rest of the story is soon told.
In the middle of the night I was
reused by loud scream. I slipped
on my clothes and rushed out, to
find the nurse, with Lettie in her
arms, in faint. We carried her in
to her room, and then the nurse
explained the mystery to us.
It appears that about midnight
Grieve sat up in bed and began to
talk. And he said such terrible
things that the nurse became alarm
ed. Nor was she much treasured
when she became aware that the
light of her single candle flung what
seemed to be two shadows of the sick
man on the wall.
Terrified beyond measure, she had
crept into Lettie's room and confded
her fears to her; and Lettie, who was
courageous and kindly girl, dressed
herself and said she would sit With
her.. She, too, saw the double sha-
dow-but what she heard was far
more terrible. sgi II Is .a..n.
Grieve was sitting up in bed, gaz-
ing at the unseen figure to which the
shadow belonged. In voice that
trembled with emotion he begged the
haunting spirit to leave him, and
prayed it's forgiveness.
| "You know the crime was not pre-
meditated. It was sudden tempta-
ton of the devil that made me strike
the blow, and fling you over the pre-
, cipice. It was the devil tempting me
, with the recollection of her exquisite
face--of the tender love that might
have been mine but for you. But
she will not listen to me, as if she
knew I was your murderer, George
3 MasonI"
l It was Lettie who repeated in a
f Mortified whisper this awful confess
3 sion.
e I could see it all now. As I was
v about to tell Lettie of the many
strange things I had concealed from
d her, the nurse, who had gone to see
o her patient, came running back il
u alarm.
1t Vincent Grieve had disappeared
He had risen in his delirious terror
d had opened the window and leapet
l. out. Two days later his body wa
= found in the river.
A curtain hangs now before poo
is Georges portrait, though it is N
Al longer connected with any supernat
l. ural marvels; and never, since tn
d night of Vincent Grieve's death, hav
we seen aught of that most myste
Is rious haunting presence-THE SHAD
g. ow OF A SHADE.
ie Brown CHICKEN Soup.-Cut up NIGEL!
ID dressed chicken; put it in the pot wit
IA water to cover it, which must be measures
" and half as much more added to it befol
Ill Al, ksr~t,