The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-27

hand into that of cousin Talbot Ca.
rev." was none of the best; and l could
see by Lady Treherne's half.anxious,
half. gratifed look, that she was sur
prised by the usual animation which
her daughter, usually languid and de.
served. displayed on the occasion oil
these Christmas sports.
Well, we went to ted. My room was
known as the tapestry room. Its walls
were, indeed, covered with tapestry OF
great antiquity and ugliness, and the
bed was an imposing structure, calcti-
lated to impart to the intelligent for
eigner, should he ever gain admittance,
proper appreciation of the majesty OF
sleep. A wood fire, clear, rudy, and
bright, burned on the ample hearth,
where the massive "dogs" or andirons
! of parcel gilt steel were formed to repre-
sent the heraldic cognizance OF the
| Treherres. | was tired, but not els.
posed for sleep; so instead Of retiring to
rest, | sat down before the fire, from
time to time tossing fresh log into the
blaze, and meditaiing on many things,
on my life, past, present, and future, as
/ gazed on the glowing embers, which
seemed to have that strange fascination
for me that they have had for thou
sands.
At last, the sullen sound Of the great
clock on the turret above the stables
reminded me that it was very late, con.
ventionally 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 downstairs, my
watch had been one of the forfeited
pledges, late redeemed, and that it had
been left lying on the marble mantel.
piece in the great drawing room, since
| had forgotten to take it up when my
little playmates left us. at serves me
right" said | cynically, with the remem.
brance of Tollemache's face floating be-
fore nay mental vision, "for making
such fool of myself. 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 and dark, with hideous me-
diRval carvings in inches; and stained
glass easements, through the tinted
panes of which the pure white snow
outside looked crimson, ochre-yellow, or
of a dusky green. This passage leads
into the wider and ioiter one styled the
oaken gallery, where the family por.
traits hang against the panelled walls;
and FROM this, the broad and elaborate
ly-carved staircase of dark and polished
wood conducts to the entrance hall be-
low. made my way to the drawing
room, found my watch without diff
Guilty, the center of a heap of torn
gloves, crushed flowers, and the pink
or blue papers that had been wrapped
around French bonbons, relics of the
juvenile revelry. had nearly reached
my room again when gust Of wind
caused by the sudden opening of door,
extinguished my candle. Immediately
afterward, | saw the faint glimmer of
light slowly and steadily approaching.
Nearer and nearer it came; and pres
emily could distinguish a figure
clothed in white, or some light color
that looked white in the uncertain
light, gliding with a noiseless tread
and smooth evenness of motion which
was of itself remarkable. | am. hope,
as brave as my neighbors; and | may
say, without Boosting that | have not
been round lacking when face to face
with danger 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 mysterious form silently
and surely approaching me. The Blank
shire ladys story Of vague alarms among
the visitors on account of strange oc.
currences by night in that old house,
the very scene, with its solemn state
antique magnificence, for the manifesto
ton of supernatural phenomena, re.
Cured to me with disagrcable emphasis.
Idle words had thought them at the
time when they were uttered but now
| felt anything rather than inclined to
ridicule them. The apparition drew
nearer, and by an involuntary impulse
| shrank back into doorway, as if 10
allow it to pass. 1t did pass; and in a
moment more / breathed more freely,
and began to be heartily ashamed of my
superstitious fancies.
Blanche! ! es, it was my young
cousin, Blanche Treherne. recog.
nized her as she passed close by me,
carrying her candle IN hand that was
as steady as il it had been that of a
statue; and, in truth, marb itself could
scarcely have been paier than her fair
innocent face, as she went by, TO all APP.
pearance, without perceiving me. She
still wore the dress that she had worn
during the evenings merry.making
down stairs, her pretty white frock re-
lieved 10y some adm Y ure of light blue.
Her long hair, Of a pale golden color.
hung loose over her shoulders; and }
noticed with wonder that her small feet
were bare, so that her step caused no
more sound than if she had, indeed,
been phantom. On she went, walk.
ing slowly but with no sign of hesita.
ton, her eyes fixed on something
what, knew not-as If a spirits shad.
owy hand had beckoned her onward.
by some instinct, | had refrained from
addressing her, even in my surprise at
the recognition; but now, moved by an
impulse for which | could not account,
left my place of espial and followed
her at some distance, being careful TO
tread lightly as [ could. she passed
along the oaken gallery, and | wondered