The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-05-01

quest her cooperation 10 discovering
the truth. II bad been deceived by
horrible dream I should thus dispel
1t, IT Bah or sny one else wss pr.ctic.
'og on the fears Of the household, I
should have help to unravsl the mis-.
chievous plot.
Bertha seemed delighted to find me
stirring about again. and ran down with
Bah to see that I had something warm
for breakfast, that meal being over some
time before. I put Oh the dress I had
worn during my first day in the house,
and drew out the bit Of striped linen
from its pocket. AS I looked at it my
blood chilled. for it was exactly like
the dress worn by the woman With tue
portraits face. I locked Bertba's door
aod ran to the wardrobe. In moment
] had pulled every dress off the pins,
and was sounding the boards at the
back. They s0ere hoNov, and was
looking about for something to pry
them open with, when I found that
they moved easily, sliding backward
behind the shelves, showing q recess
few inches deep, in which hung tho
loose striped gown that had auttered
my very senses out OF me, and even
now as l touched it made my flesh creep
and my heart stand still.
| There was a pocket in it, and in that
pocket folded sheet of stiff paper,
which l opened
| l was beaded, "Leonie, my dsugh-
ter" and I read OILY the line that fol.
loWed-"This is to you from your dy-
ing mother" then stopped and put
the things quickly in place, and con.
cealed the dress, for heard Berth.
coming. I affected to be gre.. deal
better, and begged my sister to ride
ont and do a little shopping for me,
saying that I needed tho articles very
much, and had so much to do that l
really could not spare the time to go
after them. Il was not difficult to do.
ceive the dear little soul. She had
been quite alarmed about me, and was
20 pleased at my recovery, that leaving
me over my late breakfast, she went of
to attend to my imaginary necessities
in good spirits.
AS soon as heard her close the hall
door, jumped up aud sent Bah for
Miss Leooie. She came down in her
usual sable garments, and 1 begged her
to 60 into the parlor with me, which
she did without Question, though l
faocied she turned pale as she looked
at me out Of those sadly wistful eyes of
hers.
| l had hidden the dress uoder the
piano.cover; I produced it, and she
started at the sight and grew so terri
bly, white that began to soften my
communication as we'll a. could, out
Of pity.
"Miss Van Artlaudt, pray forgive
nae if I distress you by what I am 60.
iog to say. I wish I o>uld avoid it,
but am alone here with my sister
an invalid as you see-and I feel that
it is necessary, though not pleasant.
Did you not have reason to know there
was some peculiar influence 10 your
h'use before you tried to rent it p
"l do not know that is, I feared"
she faltered and took hold of the back
Of an easy chair, over which she leaned ,
and never raised her eyes again while
We spoke.
I "Did you ever see this dress be.
fore 7"
"No, not actually. Imagined I saw
something like it"
"At eight moving round the house
in the likeness of your mother 2"
Eyes, yes!" she moaned, and her
head sank lower, and her voice was full
Of agony.
"Did you know where it was con-
cealed 2"
RI "No; l did not know it existed"
'Listen to me, aod then you can do
! as yeu think best. have sent my
sister away that no one but US two
F should share in the terrible knowledge
. forced on me last night.''
i And then began and told her all
about the figure that had stood between
Bertha and me in that very parlor af-
!, ter twilight, aud how I had followed
. the footsteps and gone over to Bah.
4 loom suspecting her. At this point
she interrupted me, hastily, BY raising
L. her hand, though her face was averted
and saying passionately:
"No, no, not poor Bah, do not blame
the innocent child -
She stopped herself suddenly, aud
went on to describe the sights and
sounds Of the rest of tho night.
As l ceased speaking she gradually
' sank lower and lower till she dropped
, prone on the carpet behind the chair
, bat she did not utter sound. I took
+ out the letter and held it toward her,
aad though her eyes we're hidden she
s raised her hand aud took it.
. A silence, that seemed ln6nite, fell
upon the room. A sunbeam lay upon
|, the carpet between Us, and the notes
danced in it mockingly, while I stoed
! cold and sick At heart, and she lay .,
my feet like victim, though, id renl'
po,sln L