Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-02-23

/. When he entered the study, Mrs Whaf-
ton seemed to be - unrendY with her
words as himself; aGdMbeA b. shook hn6
with her, he observed that hef hand was
cold. She saidshe as well, however. Then
came q pause, during which the good pastor
was shifting from one foot 70 the other,
On Ire henfsA- rug with rs hands bs6fnd
him: there wAs ncthiuE II the crate but
sAavin2s. Mrs. Wharton, meaAtime, w6s
putting her veil up and down, and her
gloves on and of. At last, with con.
strained and painful smile, she said that
she was really ashamed TO say what she
came 10 say. but she must say it; and she
believed and hoped that Mr. Quincy had
known her long enough 70 be aware that
she was not subject TO foolish fAncies and
absurd fears
No one further from IT," he dropped,
ard now he fixed his eyes on her face. Her
ewes feilrurdcr Tin, when she went0n
"For some time past, have suffered
from a most frightful visitation in the
night"
Visitation! What sort of q vista
tom ,tt "a 49,
She turned visibly cold while she
answered. at was last Wednesday fort.
night that l awoke in the, middle Of. the
nifht-@tflat lis between two y and three
O'clock in the morning, when it was get
ting quite light, and / saw"
She choked Q little and stopped. .~.ss4-.
"Wellw said Mr.. Quincy, what did
you seer
81 saw, at the bottom Of the bed, a most
llidcous- "a mbst detestable face-gibber-
ing, and making mouths at me- 1900,
q fncep, ~ VIZ ts7 /. Attt8k 80 -
Yea. 1 could see only the face -except,
indeed hand upon the bedpost because
ii peeped round the bcdpost from behind
the curtain, The curtains are drawn down
to the foot OF the bed.
She stole a look At Mr.. Quincy. He was
rolling his head and there was working
about his mouth before he asked
"What time did you sup that night!'
"Now," she replied, "yOu are not going
to say, hope, that 1t was nightmare.
Most people would but I hoped that you
knew me better than To suppose that eat
such suppers as would occasion night
mare, or that / should not know night
f But, MY dear Mrs. Wharton, what else
can says" ~ Il ~ $50. 20 t
perhaps you had better listen further
before you say anything"
He nodded and smiled, as much as to
say, that was true. " lifik2 SIS >oI
II have seen the same appearance on
three occasions since"
Indeed" -
ayes, on three several nights, about the
same hour. And, since the first appearance, 1
my supper has been merely little bread
and butter. with a glass of water.
chose TO exclude nightmare, as would ex
clude anything whatever that could possi
bly, cauGe al appearance 50 horrible"
q What sort OF face is it,"
Short and broad--siily, and yet sly;
md the features gibber and work-Oh.
fearfnlly!"
''Do you hear it come and go?'
"No. When wake--fand never used
10 wake in the night)-it il there, and it
disGppears--to say the truth--while my
eyes are covered for ] cannot meet its
eyes. ] hear nothing. When venture
glance sometimes it Is still there; some
times ii is gone.
Have you missed any property"
mo; nor found any trace whatever.
We have lost nothing, and there is really
not door or window that seems ever to
have been touched, not an opening where
any one could get In or out"
and If there were, what could he the
objects What does your daughter say to
itg" r
"Oh~ said Mrs. Wharton, rising
quickly, she does not, and, indeed, must
not know word Of it. ought TO have
said, ut first. that what / am telling you is
entirely in confidence. II l told my
daughter, it must then 60 no further. We
could not keep our servants week, ii it
got out. And II ! should want to let my
house could not get a tenant. The value
Of the property would 60 down to nothing;
and, in Justice to my daughter, must con-
slider that; for it Is to be hers hereafter.
And we could never have guest to stay
with US. No one would sleep In the
house single night. Indeed, you must
not"
We'll, well; ), will not mention it, But
He paused, and Mrs. Wharton replied
to his thought. imt ~
ut IL difficult to form conjectures-to
say anything, hi such case which does
not appear too foolish to be uttered But
one must have some thoughts and per-
haps---lf one can talk Of impossibilities-
1t is possible that this appearance may be
meant for me alone and therefore, II can
conceal 1t from my daughtcr-till | am
convinced that IL Is meant for me Alone
~ would soon try that" observed Mr..
Quincy. Seeing Mrs. Wharton look
wistfully mt him, he continued.
my advice il that you have your
daughter sleep with yon, after hearing
your story. Try whether she can see this
face" a@ le
|. "You do not think she would 7" a
think she weald not not NJ y dear friend,
II were a medical man, could tell you
facts which you are little aware of--anec-
dotes OF the strange tricks which our
nerves play with us-of de!usions SO like
reality" sf na
.Do you think have not considered
thats" exclaimed the poor lady. "aNr.
Quincy, did not think that you would
try to persuade me out Of my senses, when
I tell you, that four times l have seen in
daylight, and when wide awake and in per-
feet health, what have said" .e
Mr.. Gurneywa very gentle; but, as he
said, what could he suggest but indiges-
ton, or some cause of nervous disturb
ancesi Yet his heart smote him when his
old friend laid her forehead against the
mantel. piece, and cried heartily. as
He did all he could. He tried indefati-