The St. Cloud journal., 1871-10-26
AGHOST STORY.

I will relate to you, my friend, the
whole history, from the beginning to
nearly the end.
The first time that-that 1t happen
ed, was on this wise.
My husband and myself were sitting
in private box at tho theatre-one of
the two large London theatres. The
performance was, I remember we'll, an
Easter piece, in which were introduced
live dromedaries and an elephant, at
whose clumsy feats We were consider.
ally amused. I mention this to show
how calm and even gay was the state of
both our minds that evening, and how
little there was in any Of the circum.
stances of the place or time to cause, or
render US liable to- what I am about
to describe.
l liked this Easter piece better ttan
any serious drama. My life had con-
tanned enough OF the tragic element to
make me turn with sick distaste from
all limitations thereof in books or plays.
For months, ever since our marriage,
Alexis and I had striven to lead pure
ly childish, commonplace existence,
eschewing all stirring events and
strong passions, mixing little in society,
and then, with one exception, making
no associations beyond the moment.
It was easy to do this in London for
We had no relations-we two were quite
alore and free. Free-free How Wild
ly l sometimes grasped Alexis's hand
as repeated that word.
He Was young-so was I. At times,
as on this night, we would sit aud
laugh like children. It was so glo-
rious to know Of a surety that now we
could think, feel, speak, act-above all,
love one another-haunted by no coun-
teracting spell, responsible to no living
creature for our lite and our love.
But this had been only for year
I had thought Of tho date, shuddering,
in the morn ing-for year, from this
same day.
We had been laughing very heartily,
cherishiny mirth, as it we're, like those
who would caress lovely bird that
had been frightened out of its natural
home and grown wild and rare in its
visits, only tapping at the lattice for a
minute, and then gone. Suddenly, in
the pause between the acts, when the
house was halfdarkeued, our laughter
died away.
"How cold it is" said Alexis, shlver.
ing. I shivered too ; but it was more
like the involuntary shudder at which
people say, "Some one is walking over
my grave" I said so, jestlngly.
"Hush, Isbel," whispered my hus-
band, reprovingly; and again the
draught of cold air seemed to blow
right between US.
We sat, he in the front, I behind the
curtain of our box, divided by some
foot or two of space and by a vacant
chair. Alexis tired to move this chair,
but it was fixed. He went round it,
and wrapped mantle over my shoul-
ders.
"This London winter is cold for you,
my love. l half wish We had taken
courage, and sailed once more for
Aispaniola."
"Oh, no-oh, no! No more of the
sea p said I, with another and strong
er shudder.
He took his former position, looking
round indiferently at the audience.
But neither of US spoke. The mere
word Hispaniola was eoough to throw a
damp and silence over US both.
"Isbel,'' he said at last, rousing him
self, with a haI1-smile, II think you
must have grown suddenly beautiful:
Look j.; half the glasses opposite are lift
ed to our box. It cannot be at me,
you know. Do you remember telling
me I was the usliest fellow you ever
saw 2"
"Ob, Alex" Yet it was quite true
Il had thought him so, in far back,
strange, awful times, when I, girl Of
sixteen, had my mind wholly filled with
one ideal-one insane, exquisite dream
when I brought my innocent child's gar.
lands, aud sat me down under one great
spreading, magnificent tree, which
seemed to me the king of all the trees
of the field, until I felt its dews drop
ping death upon my youth, and my
whole soul witherius under its venom
Gus shade.
"Oh, Alexv' I cried, once more
looking fondly on his beloved face
where no unearthly beauty daz
zled, no unnatural calm repelled
where all was simple, noble, manly
true. "Husbaad, I thank heaven fo