The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-06-07

l knew that it was no apparition, as
some folks would have supposed but a
living spirit and living body before me-
The poor old lady had been in a trance,
and was just awakening. saw, too that,
feeble and bewildered though she was, she
yet fully comprehended her situation. Her
gaze was fixed upon her nephew, and she
watched him with dilated eyes as he rough
ly and hastily tore the miniatures from the
costly settings and thrust the latter into
his breast. And it was in the midst of this
occupation that he was aroused by the
sound of q hoarse and hollow voice behind
him
"Simon! ~
Mr.. Simon gave one convulsive leap as he
turned around. There lay the supposed
corpse, it's head elevated above the edge of
the coffin, it's bony hands clinging to its
sides, its CLASSY eyes fixed full upon him.
The pictures fell from his hands, and, with
! a frantic cry, he made one bound to the
} door. But his trembling hands had no
power to turn the key and then he reeled
to window, and as he reached it,, fell
SWOOnlnS on tne llOor.
, believe that too swooned, OF tainted,
for the first and last time in my life for
. remember nothing distinctly until l found
myself rising from the floor and making
the best of my way to the dining-room. ]
t heard the sound of q smothered burst Of
laughter as drew near, and the voice Of
t Captain Findley, as if mimicking some one
for the amusement of the company. But
o whenI turned into the passage-way leading
to the door, l stopped as if had been
), turned into stone. For there, right before
|, me, was the shrouded figure of Madam
" Vail, slowly and with difficulty creeping
D along to the door of the dining-room, di-
II rected doubtless by the noise, and support
e ing herself against the wall as she pro-
10 ceeded.
r l say l stood still, for I couldn have
e moved another step if my life had depended
on it. So two or three minutes passed, as
le the poor old lady crept painfully onward.
a ! saw her reach the door at last, and stand
- there, supporting herself with her hands on
the two door-posts. And the next minute
rs | heard a shrill shrek from Mrs. Hurdle.
d, then a loud yell from Mr.. Podgers, followed
c, by such an uproar of screams and oaths.
hit and the crashing Of glass and furniture, as
m were enough to set one's wits distracted.--
Id And presently, as the ghostly figure totter-
ed to a sofa, the doctor and the captain came
/ rushing past me, wild with fright, while
caught glimpse of the two ladies lying
f,i, nd DnI<
IL pursy figure vanishing through window,
he where, by-the-by, he was picked up off the
ay flags with a broken leg-which he deserved.
NO 1t wasn't long before the people came
zee rushing up stairs; but one look into the
M dining-room was enough for them, and they
fed as if for dear life. Nobody but Mis-.
re. Grace and l remained. She went to tho
he poor old lady, and supported her in he,
te, arms, bathing her forehead and hands
n a and seeing her do so, l summoned courag,
,ad to pour out a glass of wine and hold it t
oyv her lips.
w w'ro "Call DR.. Hurde,' SAID Miss Grace tt
."o ' me. "Quick, or she may die !"
lch But the old lady feebly put out her hand
ne "No, no." she gasped, "not him-no
il them. Never, never again !'
g Go for DR.. Lee, " said Miss Grace in
low voice.
And / lost no time in sending one Of tn
the servants, who returned in short tim
III with the young doctor Under his charge
''' poor madam was presently recovered, an,
YER placed in bed, weak and exhausted, but il
lre full possession of her senses and faculties
lck And the first thing she did was to send 70
uo, the lawyer, and make another will. Yo,
'o' all know what that was how she left two
thirds of her property to Miss Grace, wit
lay her full consent to her marrying DR.. Lee
sed and the rest to the poor, with handsom
hon annuity to me, her houseleeper, Marth
49, Hobson-for which goodness, am, trust
saw humbly and dutifully thankful
less And this is the true story of the appar
the ton of Madam Vail, about which peopl
,od- have been relating such marvellous an
49, unheard-of stories. The poor old lady onl
i'e- lived day or two after her recovery frol