The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1872-01-05

z measured tt seemed at first, then suddenly
became quicker; and, from INV gloomy po-
sition on the lowest stair, could see her
hasten across the landing, looking quickly
aud iurtiSely around her as she went, and
\ disappear in the recess. | heard no door
close, but the faint dim light faded in,
simultaneously and in the silence and dark
ne>S | made my way 20 my room.
On entering, my beart seemed 10 cease
beating-iur there by the fire sat woman,
her face partly hidden nom me by the
long brown hair that fell over il, The
closing Of the door had startled her. She
half rose from her chair; then appeared 20
be reassured in some way, and sat down
again. Frightened as was-terror-struek,
| may say--as stood In the shadows, and
watched the freight flicker over the pale,
beautiful face, the thought stole into my
mind instantly that the face before me
was the exact counterpart OF the picture
hanging in the hall, and which had so at
! traeted NV attention. | went few steps
nearer. I made up u mighty mind, and
opened my mouth 90 speak. The bright,
wonderful ewes were fixed ON me As | did
SO. But heard no sound issue from my
! hpS, though they tried TO form she words
Who are YOU q
The face smiled-looked INTO the fire
pushed away with both hands its long,
shadowy hair-then rose from the chair,
and came a step nearer TO me AZ u uttered
these terrible words:
81 am buried in Detehmgley church
yard"
/ Wen, suppose shuddered, and turned
white, and relt as any other young girl
under the same circumstances might have
/ done; bur do not remember anything
distinctly, except shiVering very much
over tireless crate, and wondering how
I IL was that was found lying senseless on
/ the hearthIug.
Time stole on; fortnight had passed
away; IL wanted just week % Christ
mas, but the strange face had not vet reap
peared. | had not been inactive all tins
| time, for bad most pereyeringly attacked
daily the door in the recess, but it never
once yielded TO my efforts, and was al
/ most beginning TO despair Of accomplishing
the work | bad laid out for myself
One intolerable duh day proposed so-
laeing myself Si little music, and was
about 20 commence; but, hearing my
amiable relative muttcr something about
being bored and - that h0rrid march, -
| | thought IL as well 20 spare her the inilic-
| tion. | remember she iniormed me that
night, before going TO bed, that my uncle
Charles was expected TO arrive the follow.
ing Thursday-Christmas Eye-and that
il was proposed that ! should return TO
town with him after his short visit Of two
or three days was concluded. Both pieces
ofintelligenoe gave more real pleasure than
] cared 20 express.
That night had fallen into my first
sleep, when was suddenly awakened by
soft, warm hand being laid ON mine.
"Yes, Aunt Dorothy" sAid, starting
up, and endeaToring TO look extremely in
! tcllisent, AZ the same time being awkardly
sensible that felt uncommoniy stupid.
But the voice that replied TO me was not
Aunt Dorothy's.
II was married once" il said, in low
murmur, " long time ago now-when ]
was alive And in the church, that day,
they played as you did tonight. But II
was on the organ, you know-the organ in
the great church in the valley. Bat | am
buried now-buriea in Detchingley church
yard. Myra said IL would be better for
him il died. lie would be rich. and
great. and grand and people would love
and honor him. IL was | only that kept
him back-becauss | was poor and not
/ clever.o
knew all now there was no Katherine
Westwood in the ehurchyard-no ono at
all in that grave!
! Christmas morning at Detchingley. IL
/ had been my intention to meet my Uncle
Charles at the station, to prepare him for
I the strange announcement; but, on refiec-
ton, il occurred To me that he would
not allow me to accompany him TO the
grave; therefore, | resolved he should have
nc opportunity of refusing me, and so
would meet him. Thus came upon him
just as he was entering the churehyard
/ gate. | saw he was surprised, and not alto
/ gether pleased but he greeted me a1ec-
/ tioDately, and as he walked by my side up
the narrow paved pathway, he remarked
that did not look well. We had just
reached the marble cross, and the difficulty
Of my undertaking rose before me in al Its
magnitude viewed from a distance, il had
not appeared formidable. stood still, re-
solved to enter on the subject at once, and
said al am not very well, Uncle Charles.
have something on my mind that ought
to tell you about. could not speak OF il
at the Hall, so have come here 10 do so"
He frowned, and ylooked annoyed, nut
tering something aboct: Would not an
other time do as well7"
h !" Nd, not az we'll" i uiadet answer.
+ This Is the only right time, and the only
right place, Uncle Charles. You must
listen 20 me'-for he was turning angrily
away, would not intrude on your Eor-
row II could not tighten it,
"Lichten Il, childn' he interrupted me
by saying g Do you know what the sor-
row is that you speak Of tightening 2
Can you bring the dead back to lie, or
brighten the gloom Of ten long years Can
you tell that cold, dark grave to give me
back my young wife--H Y
1t was my turn ID interrupt now.
"Yes, yes, / can, Uncle Charles. That
is what / have 70 tell you" II
Sternly be looked at me as he firmly
| grasped my arm, and drew me from the
grave on 10 the pathway.
"This gloomy place has weakened your
mind, Edith--it is only charity to think
so." ..
i@Oh, Uncle Charles, II yoa could but
believe, that what say Is real and true
There ~ no one in that grave-neyer has
been, A terrible deceit has been practised
upon you aIl these year,, and since my
visit here have discovered IT, Ask Aunt
Dorothy, she will tell you what ] have. y
There was dead silence when ceased
speaking, that seemed TO last long time.
Anxiously waited for q response; but
none came. He stood with his face averted
at first then turned suddenly on me, and
said: Come, come-quick."
We had reached the Hall; we were in
the drawing-room. Uncle Charles folded
his arms ON the mantclpiece, and leant his
face upon them; then said, almost in a
voice OF command-" Fetch your aunt
Myra, Edith tell her am here"
al can't Uncle Charles-I can't indeed
But he only repeated his words in still
sterner tone.
And then went-but not TO fetch Aunt
Myra. / went straight to my own room
for the dusk Of the early evening was
closing in rapidly, and that was the ac-
customed time for the strange woman TO
meet me- She was there. standing by one
of the windows, as entered; and greeted
me with these words" This Is Christmas
Eve died on Christmas Eve"
"That is gone by" Ireplied. "You are
dead no longer. Come now, with men
/ slid by hand into one OF hers, and led