The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-12-21

hne eyes and long fair hair, but by no
means 50 pretty as several of the little rich
complexioned west of England pixies who
irollcked around her Blanches health.
as conjectured when first she put her
thin hand into that Of Cousin Talbot
Carew, was none of the best; and could
see by Lady Trehernes half-anxious. half.
gratified look that she was surprised by the
unusual animation which her daughter,
usually languid and reserved, displayed on
the occasion of these Christmas sports.
Well, we went to bed. My room was
at the east end of the house. and was known
as the Tapestry Room. Its walls were.
indeed, covered with tapestry of great an
tiquity and ugliness and the bed was an
imposing structure, calculated to impart to
the intelligent foreigner, should he ever
gain admittance, proper appreciation of
the majesty of sleep. A wood fire, clear,
ruddy, and bright, burned on the ample
hearth, where the massive dogs or and
irons of parcel gilt steel were formed to
represent the heraldic cognizance of the
Trehernes was tired, but not disposed
to sleep so instead Of retiring to rest,
sat down before the fire, from time to time
tossing fresh log into the blaze. and
meditating on many things on my life,
past, present, and future, as gazcd on the
glowing embers, which seemed to have that
strange fascination for me that they have
had for thousands.
At last the sullen sound of the great
clock on the turret above the stables re-
minded me that it was very late, conven-
tionally as well as actually, and that | had
better get some sleep while | could and
then it was that, feeling for my watch, and
missing that accustomed pocket companion.
| recollected that when We were at play
u'hh 0NaiiA my NdAch ihu bctH one ul tne
forfeited pledges, late redeemed, and that
it had been left lying on the marble-piece
in the great drawing. room, since | had
forgotten to take it up when my little play
mates left US. at serves me right, said
|, cynically, with the remembrance of
Tollemanche's face floating before nv men
tai vision, ''for making such fool of my
self Never mind I'll fetch it." So |
took up my candle and sailed forth. The
passage which gave access to my room was
called the Gothic Gallery, probably because
it was narrow aud dark, with hideous me
dieyal carvings in inches, and stained-glass
easements, through the tinted pancs of
which the pure white snow outside looked
crimson, oehre yellow, or ola dusky green
This passage leads into the wider and loitier
one styled the Oaken Gallery, where the
family portraits hang against the paneled
walls aud from this the broad and elabo.
rately carved staircase of dark and polished
wood conducts to the entrance hall below
| made my way to the drawing room, found
my watch without difficulty the centre of
heap of torn gloves, crushed flowers, and
the pink or blue papers that had been
wrapped around French bonbous, relics of
the juvenile revelry. had nearly reached
my room again when gust of wind, caused
by the sudden opening of door, extin-
guished my candle. Immediately after
wards saw the faint glimmer of light
slowly and steadily approaching, Nearer
and nearer it came and presently could
distinguish figure clothed in white, or
some light color that looked white in the
uncertain light, gliding with a noiseless
tread and a smooth evenness Of motion
which was Of itself remarkable | am, |
hope, as brave as my neighbors, and | may
say, without boasting, that have not been
found lacking when face to face with dan
ger in a tangible shape but confess that
cold shuddering chill ran through my
limbs, and that my heart bounded like a
startled horse, and then seemed to cease
beating, as | caught sight of this myster-
ious form silently and surely approaching
me. The Blankshire lady story of vague
alarms among the visitors ON account Of
strange occurrences by night in that old
house, the very scene, with its solemn state
and antique magniicence, for the mani
festation of supernatural phenomena, re-
CURED to me with disagreeable emphasis.
Idle words had thought them at the time
when they were uttered; but now | felt
any thing rather than inclined to ridicule
them. The apparition drew nearer, and by
an involuntary impulse shrank back into
a doorway, as if to allow it pass 1t did
pass and in a moment more | breathed
more freely, and began to be heartily
ashamed of my supcrstitious fancies
Blanche Yes, il was my young cousin,
Blanche Treherne. | recognized her as
she passed close by me, carrying her candle
in hand that was as steady as If it had
been that of statue and, in truth, marble
itself could scarcely have been paler than
her fair, innocent face as she went by, to
allappearance, without perceiving me, She
still wore the dress that she had worn du-
ring the evenings merry-making down
stairs, her pretty white frock relieved by
some admixture of light blue Her long
hair, of pale golden color, hung loose
over her shoulders, and | noticed with
wonder that her small feet were bare Sc
that her step caused no more sound than il
she had indeed been a phantom. On she
went, walking slowly but with no sign Of
hesitation, her eyes fixed on something
what, knew not--as if spirit = shadowy