The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1874-04-16

night, fclt that my limbs were growing
tired. Besides, these ghosts that The 100
keeper had spoken oil We HuogaFlaO'
are somewhat SupOrstitiOu'j and IL ever
there was a place likely to DO haunted II
was the forest All tue gho'!Iy Legends
that I had ever heard rose, unSummOncd'
10 nv memory. and my Imagination gre"
preternssurally keen. IamgSe my de-
ilqlt at finding myselfas last at the edge
Of the wood, and at seeing the grim gray
towers Of the chateau looming before me-
| passed from tho forest into The neglected
weed grown garden, and as | gained tho
mos, covered steps that led up to the great
front door, the wind shrieked mourniuIIy
behind me, aud, overcome With excite
ment, | fell faintiDg on the stones l was
soon aroused by the door opening, and o
footDau in respondent livery stepped out
sul assisted inc to rise. | entered the
ball, aud 10 my establishment it was brill
liautly lighted up, and several we're in at
tendance; and heard my name called out
with my full title, which, indeed, had
hardly, fever, heard before, and in o
dream Of amazement, was uSheFed lnto
the grand reception room. A brilliant as
sombIago was gathered there hardly
know how to describe it to you, for | was
perfectly dnaod All | remember is that
| was saluted with the greatest Difference
and courtesy, and many persons spoke to
me, but, as you may have experienced in
dream, heard nothing but confused
murmur Of voices, and did not seem able
to catch the words that we're said Two
things impressed themselves wildly upon
me One was that all the guests assem-
blcd we're dressed after the fashion Of at
least century ago. The other was that
wherever my eyes turned they lighted up
on the face Of q beautiful young giTI, who
seemed to gaze With an expression full Of
interest and sympathy 10 the midst of
all this brilliant scene sense OF extreme
drowsiness came over ne, aud | experience
ed an irresistible longing 10 60 to sleep.
| passed through the crowded saloons till
| found small boudoir which was empty,
aud | threw myself upon sofa. The last
thing | remember was the face of the girl
| have described, looking down upon me
with o sweet smile, as closed my eyes and
yielded to the overpowcring influence Of
sleep,
"Wheu l awOko it was morning, and
by my side the wife.& the old gqrde de
chassc, was seated. When my senses
we're sufficiently aroused she told me that
her husband, 10 making bis usual round
before retiring for tho night, had found
me on tho steps of the great door. lie
had brought me in, and this antique ring
which you see upon my finger had told
them who | was, for the old woman rec.
ognized itas having belonged to my moth
or, whose waitiug-maid she had been in
years long past You will say, then, that
the gay assemblagc in which had mixed
vas nothing but the fevered working of 40
excited brain. Possibly it was But lis
ten further stayed at the chateau for
some days, and examined it thoroughly.
chiefly interested myself 10 turning over
old packets Ofpapers. One morning de-
voted myself to the portrait gallery
| Hitherto the weather bad been dull aud
stormy, aud the light bad for seeing the
pictures But particular morning was
fair and frosty, aud the bright sun lighted
up the old pictures A strange thrill ran
through me as my eyes fell on one por'
trait-that ola young aud beautiful girl.
could not mistake the feature and the
expression Of the eyes 1t was the iden'
teal face had seen in that strange vision
on my first arrival, The frame was sadly
dis6sured by dust and damp aud the eau.
vas had bIotchcs ofmoll upon. Idetcrm-
iucd that | would take the picture down
and have it thoroughly cleauscd. 1t was
hung at some considerable height, and |
procured ladder, TcIimbed up to it, but
the strong wire by which it was suspend
ed was so closely wound round the nail in
the paueIiug that could not dctach it |
pulled away vigorously and suddenly
down came picture, panel, aud all. To