Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-10-20

W
| descended 10 the lower regions found
Nancy quite agitated over q discovery
which she had made outside the door.
The wisteria vine, which had noticed as
carrying its brave luxuriance from the
ground TO the chimneys. looked faded
and cut, rs if somo blight had passed
over it. 1t had long passed its blossom
ing, and was in that dark green. rather
dusty condition which city vines assume
when the summer has nearly gone. 1t
did look faded and broken. Perhaps
some animal had run across it, and had
here and there twisted of leaf or a
tendril.
Going up stairs, went to my closet
Tor the key of Mr.. Ayscough's room. and
as did so, noticed that the queer little
embroidered slipper was gone! In a
moment. all my supersitious terror came
back upon me.
As | entered Mr.. Ayscough's room,
where the portrait hung, | was struck by
sense OF something wrong, | know not
what. Here was The portrait, and the
handsome ornaments of the room were
untouched. looked in vain for some
proof Of disorder. soon found it. The
writing table was opened, paper spread
about, and pen with fresh ink in it was
lying on the silver inkstand
As stood gazing at this inexplicable
thing. door swung 10, and started me
from my stupur. went TO the inner
room through the linen. closet. As did
SO, the door leading 10 The garret gently
moved. rs if by an invisible hand. had
never noticed or thought of this door be.
fore, nor had | asc1ndcd to those galret
rooms since Mrs. Morton had taken me
thilhcr on The rst day ol my arrival.
A sense OF infinite horror took posses.
sion Of my soul WAS then in the land
OF spirits. The dead Gertrude did haunt
these rooms consccrated TO her. 1t was
her pleasure to come back, write at her
table, even arrange the cast off garments
he had worn, 10 use the perfumes she
had loved in lile-perhaps TO go up into
that play room where she had played Is
child, and whittier would follow her.
was lifted out of myself went ON.
knew not how. up the garnet staiaS
nor was much astonished when found
on the topmo,t landing the little em-
broidered. spaugled slipper which had
missed from my closet shelf.
went on toward the pleasant bedroom
which was curlaincd by the wistelia vine,
and looked in. There she lay, the golden
haired Gertrude OF the picture, sleeping
on the bed in Tic corner. This was no
trick of the imagination, for on one foot
was the companion slipper 10 the one
held in my hand. Her breathing was
regular and soft; and the color Of youth
and health was on her cheek and lip
Fcat seemed to depart out OF me. aP.
preached and took hold OF the hand
which lay outs, le the light coyerlid. No
sooner had touched it than it grasped
mine Ike vice. The being, ghost or
live woman. sluled mp and held me fast.
WHO and " hat are you ?" said |.
"A woman, like yourself" answered
the ghost. "lIaye pity on me-
And why arr you cre-what docs it
mean
The creature looked at me with staring
eyes, jumped from the bed and locked
the door.
DO not look frightened" said she IL
like YOU very much you and / have
lived together all summer. have heard
YOU talk with Mr. Ayscough. know
frightened you about the ghost. found
out the first night we came here how
much | looked like the picture OF the
dead lady. and have copied her dress so
that | could use the likeness TO the best
advantage if ever should be caught
But ! have oversight myself and hare
been caught at last! 1t does not much |
matter. am sick. shall not last long.
But must go 1t is almost time for re-
hearsal. Ferdinand is waiting for me.
Let me 90. How could grow so care
less!r
Let you 60" said /, "out of this
house? Never, Burglar-thiel-l know
not whatm
"Nu, neither. Come with me 10 Mr.
rooms. Every jewel, every |
bit OF silver is safe. have taken moth
ing but some paper, and that is all here.
You shall have it, but you must let me
90. We are the acrohats you have often
been 10 see. would hear you arrange
in the morning with the nephew TO come
and see us in the evening. Then would
look lor your good, kind eyes and gray
hair in the audience, and | would think,
She little knows how intimate we ale,
and | would laugh at the thought. Now
come and see that am no thief, and then
let me gol"
So she took me down INCREASINGLY to
the lower rooms. Possessing herself OF
The keys, she unlocked the trunks and
showed me the sparkling diamonds, the
pearls, the silver, which were indeed all
there, all intact She then looked long.
incly in the other trunks. "Ah!' " said
she. al do love luxury! wish could
,oLo Gonna of these dresses! But no; / |