Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-10-20
Stltttt0 Storp.
MY ONLY GHOST.

had from childhood that low order OF
courage which consists in not knowing
what lear is. /; was an impetlecIion OF
nature which was unnecessarily lauded ut
the expense OF my brothers and sisters,
who. having a more poeIical and highly
stIuug organization than myself, did
know what fear was But | laughed
aloud when my dear liend Mrs. Morton
asked me il | should be afraid to live in
her beautiful house alone during the sum.
uer months Alone 50 lar - compan-
i0uship went. bu, with \ man and his
wife 20 cook and wash Tor me. 10 shut up
and open and protect The premises. l
alraid2 Never, So she gave me ample
iduciarY powers. She was going to
Europe !. a poor relation, was only too
glad 10 have such luxurious home. As
she took me over the house. saw her
eyes OIL with tears rs she csSayed 10 open
! certain door. remembered that even
into this fortunate lie had come the in
evilable griel. There was one empty
chair. one dead lamb. The eldest daugh-
ter had mauicd. had gone abroad for her
wedding journey, and had been brought
home to be laid in Wonder churchyard
which VIC could sec from the windows.
Yes, this was Gerirude's room There
was her portrait Oh the wall \ straight
Young woman. with prolusiOn OF light
hair, blue eyes with lar.oG look, mel
auyholy beauty, tender and twilight. that
iace which the French call PrcdoStiaee.
She was blessed in diaphanous white,
with here and there = blue ribbon, and
her beautiful hands were claSped on what
seemed 10 be 4 balcony.
Around the room were costly lriiles,
The ,poils Of an European tIip. The room
Was fitted up queerly with handsome fire
arms, suits Of armor, bOxing-gloves,
fencing loils. / looked to Mrs. Morton
for an explanation.
This suite of rooms. she explained,
Il have given up to my son in law, Mr..
Ayscough. DuIing your residence here
YOU will have an occasional visit from
him. lie comes and goes as he pleases,
In the adjoining rooms are poor Ger
trude's trunks, which neither he nor l
have ever thoroughly unpacked. We
have never had the courage"
She led me through the spacious ante
room, liucn.closet, and so on, 10 large
bedroom, where were many trunks.
Some dresses hung in the closets. some
bottles OF perfumes. dressing-cases. and
little ladYlike things strewed the bureau
aud tables. \ lady might have Just
stepped from her toilet; it seemed occu-
pied and home like. 1t was evident that
the Young husband found a sad pleasure
IN thus surrounding himself with the
material OF grief. Poor Mrs. Morton
looked about her through her tears. We
retraced our steps, but in passing again
through the linen.c closet, she turned, and,
opening little door. disclosed garret
staircase.
Come and sec where my children
used to 90 up and down." said she.
These were my rooms in the days OF
Young motherhood Come and see my
old nursery"
SO we mounted upward into the large,
spacious room, which deserved better
name than garret. and she led me TO
comfortable apartment whose windows
commanded splendid view ol the sur
rounding city. l could not help saying
what have so often felt: why are not
the disused houses OF the rich the summer
homes of the poor?' Mrs. Morton did
not seem to feel that she was called on to
put these comfortable apartments to any
such use. She only called my attention
10 q gigantic wisteria vine which .colled
round the window, and which was now in
its lull blossom. and reached, like Jacks
,.,,u,.lt - from the Garth in ever. ascenu.