Evening star., 1870-01-08
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

ON a Christmas nj ght. some wears ago, there
were gathered about the wide fireplace of
large New England kitchen, q happy family
circle. consisting of a well-to-do farmer, who
was magiStrate-known far, and wide a. Squire
PerCival'-hs comely wife, two fair daughters,
asniecc. and last but not least, a SON, Just home
from ale for the holidays.
The night without was seasonably cold, and
brilliant with moonlight and starlight. The
large stone farm house stood on the brow of a
hill behind a protecting line of tall pine trees,
the only green in the wide landscape. The steep
bill side and valley beneath were heavily blank
eted with snow.
The early part of the evening had passed mer-
rily with games, jests and songs. But tor an
hour or two the conversation had taken a drift
into the realms of the supernatural. One ghost
has succeeded another, till, as the ''witching
time OF night" approached, and the fire burned
low the circle insinctively drow closer together,
with thrills and shuddeTs of strange spiritual
dread. which is Yet akin to the keenest pleas
ure-an aWeSOme JOY, an exquisite terror. The
SO emn signing OF the winds among the trees,
heard in the pauses of ghostly rectals, added its
wOnderOus, weird effect tn the theme
just as Young Percival had concluded n wild
German legend, which he declared ''splended
stufffOr dreams, - the outside door was heard to
OVen suddenly. I'll looked around more or less
feaIfully. to see standing the threshold the
slight form of a fair Young woman clad in white,
and looking strangely pure. and cold, and fu-
minoCs, like incaTnate moonlight
with the glide of spirit she came forward.
Her feet were quite bare and her arms were
dropping wearily. Masses of fair hair fell over
her shoulders, but her eyes were dark and fixed
with melancholy stare. Her lips were
slightly parted and almost colOrless- She came
into the circle about the hearth, and there
paused, standing utterly mOtiOnleSs-a beauti-
frl. appalling figure.
Fol a moment all the startled group remai2-
ed as silent that strange visitor-then one
young girl caught her breath in hysterical
scream. which was instantly answered by cry
from the liils of ''the woman in white into
whose black eyes rushed a wild, keen light. She
gazcd about her in terror and bewilderment,
then glanced down upon herself, and sank cow
hands. and giving way childish paroxysms OF
weeping.
The farmers wife woman of rare sense and
presence OF mind, at once OWNED the truth.
''She is sleep-walker," she said. '.She
must be half dead with the cold. Girls bring
some wrappings.'
his son discreetly vanished from the scene, and
the Kind mother, daughter and niece devoted
themselves 10 Their bewlldered charge, who still
wept and sobbed under their kind mnstration,
hut declared that she felt no cold ami no pain,
though her delicate feet were actually bleeding
from her long walk up the icy hillside, and
CTeT the cTuSted snow.
After having been tenderly put to bed, how
ever. she became sufficiently composed to reply
TO the few questions which had been put to her.
She said that she was Lucy Elicit: the neice OF
the village physician; that she had lately been
taken from school on account of nervousness
and sent To him for medical treatment, but that
hOmesickness and loneliness had made her worse.
She had occasionally walked in her sleep before,
but only about the house and grounds at home
moon bcwitches me-" she said, smiling through
her tears That night she had before going to
bed, looked across the little valley to the pleas
ant hOI>e on the HILL watching the cheerful
Christmas lights cleaning through the pine
trees, ard lOnged 10 he one OF the happy party
there, though she was a stranger TO all
She had cried herself TO sleep, she said, and
that was all she knew of her mysterious tramp
over snow and stones and ice. Not memory,
not a thought could she recall the moment
when she found herself standing on that hearth
In her niglt-drcs<, with SO maDY wondering ewes
fixed upon her.
80 dear! what do you think of me? wha,
can ven think OF me now" she mOaned
Never mind what We think OF YOU, nv poor
child, said the good mOtherly Mrs. Percival,
eve love you already; SO drink this niece
gingertea and go to sleep"
The poor child got a natural sleep. and in the
morning appeared somewhat less ghOstly than
the apTariatiOn of Christmas night. But she was
stln very pale, with a playfully shy, grieved
look. She was suffering less from exposure than
was expected, but more from the nervous shock
Of the night before, and by the advice OF her
Uncle, WhO had been summoned, consented to
remain with her new friends for a few days.
Young John Percival was Hospitality kind to
the invalid guest. not seeming to perceive that
sh6 sIrank from his attention in a sensitive, dis
quieted way. Yet when his eve was not on her
she observed TO study his face with a peculiar
lnquiring expression. She could not remember
having seen that face at the fearful moment of
her awakening. and She hoped he had not been
witness OF that walking trance, and she re-
eaIded II with absolute horror.
a many tH last ustN OI Ier WISH. fn1lnQ
Ser>etf alone with him for a moment under a
desperate impulse, she asked, Did you, too, see
he that night. Mr.. PCrciyal?''
he was touched by the tremble in the voice. and
The Wistful look in the dark eyes, but he answer
td honestly; Il cannot deny that did see YOU. -
''Oh. sir; what must YOU have thOught?''
Thought? why / thought if ghosts would
always come in such shape, would never fear
them more"
The shy smile and rosy blush that his playful
answer called forth seemed first To reveal to the
young eolegian the pale, sad vision of that mi ght
"a lovely walking flesh and blood reality.
never heard of Lucy Elicit '.reyisitiny the
ehInl'ses OF the moon" as a somnambuIi,t after
tnls. but 1 heard that on another Christmas
ni3ht she stood on the hearth of the old farm
house dressed all in white, in the midst OF the
same FAMILY circle and she gaZed about her and
said:e 81 am afraid am walking i'm INV sleen
again., and then put up her hands in a pretty
GepTecating way, and added "But if / am.
John, don't wake me-"