The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-11-09

was strictly charged, whatever delusions
might occur, to take no notice what
ever Of the subject to her Mistress
For my husband and myself we're again
persuaded that it must be some delusion.
So was toe physician, who nevertheless
determined to visit Us himself on the
night of the twenty-6fth Of May.
1t happened that the Colonel was un-
well, and 1 could not remain constantly
in Mrs. Saltram's room. 1t Was large
but very simple suburban bedchamber,
with white curtains and modern furni-
ture, all Of which I myself arranged
in such manner that there should be
no dark corners, no shadows thrown by
hanging draperiee, or anything Of the
kind.
About~ten o'clock Fanohon accident
ly quilted the room, sending in her place
new nursemaid who had lately come
into our family.
This girl tells me that she entered
the room quickly, but stopped, seeing,
as she supposed, the physician sitting
by the bed, on the further side, at Mrs.
Saltram's right hand. She thought
Mrs. Saltram did not SEQ him, for she
turned and asked her-"Susan, what
o'clock is 1t :"
The gentleman, she says, appeared
sitting With his elbows resting on bis
knees, and his face partly concealed 10
his hands. He wore long coat or
cIoak-she could not distinguish which,
for the room was rather dark, but she
could plainly see upon his little finger
the sparkle of diamond ring:
She is quite certain that Mrs. Sal
tram did not see the gentleman at all,
which rather surprised her, for the poor
lady moved from time to time, aod
spoke, complaiaingly, Of its being "very
cold" At length she called Susan to
sit by her side, and chate her hands.
Susan acquiesccd- d-''But did not
Mrs. Saltram see the getleman 2"
"What gentleman
Gle was sitting beside you, not a
minute since. I thought he was the
doctor, or the clergyman"
And the girl, much terrified, saw
that now, there was no one there.
She says, Mrs. Saltram did not aeem
terrified at all. She only pressed her
hands on her forehead her lips slight
ly moving-then whispered: "Go, call
Fanchon aud then: all, tell them what
you saw"
"But must leave you. Are you not
afraid?"
"No. Not now-not now"
| She covered her eyes, aud again her
lips began moving.
| Fanchon entered, and I too immcdi.
ately.
| / do not expect to be credited. I
can only state on nv honor, what we
both then beheld.
Mrs. Salt1am lay, her eyes open, Ter
face quite calm, as that of dying per-
son her hands spread out on the coun-
terpane. Beside her sat erect, the same
figure I had seen lying on the sofa in
Paris, exactly year ago. 1t appeared
more life-like than she. Neither look
ed at each other. When we brought a
bright lamp into the room, the appear
ance vanished.
lsbel said to me, "Eliss, he is come u
"1mpossible You have not seen
himv
"No, but you have ?" She looked
me steadily in the face. II knew it.
Take the light away, and you will see
him again. He is here, I want to
speak to him. Quick, take the light
away"
| Terrified as I was, I could not refuse
for saw by her features that her las,
hour was at hand.
As surely I write this, I, Eliza Hart
saw when the candles were removed
that figure grow again, as out Of air
sitting by our bedside.
She turned herself with difficulty
and faced it. "Eliza, is he there?
see nothing but the empty chair. Is h
there I"
/ "Yes."
"Does he look angry or terrible 7"
"No."
Il "Anastaaius" She extended her hand
toward the vacant chair. "Cousin Anas
tasius ~
Her voice was sweet, thoug b the colo
drops stood on her brow.
"Cousin Anastasius, I do no: see you
but you can see and hear me. I an
not afraid of you now. You know, once
I loved you very much"
Here-overcome with terror, stol,
back towards the lighted door. Thence
I still heard 1sbel speaking.
"We erred, both Of US, Cousin. Yo,
were too hard upon mel bad too grea
love first, too great terror afterwards, O
you. Why should I be afraid of mar
that shall die, and of the son of man
whose breath is in bis nostrils ? I SHOULD
have worehipped, have feared, not you
but only God."
She paused-drawing twice or thric,
heavily, tho breath that could not last
II forgive you-forgive me also.
loved you. Have you anything to sa'
! L.