The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-04-01

81 am glad that you do" I con.
tinued, hastily, "for you will soon be
connected by ties Of relationship. She
has promised to be my wife"
8" You are jesting, uncle T. he said,
doubtingly.
81 was never more serious i'll my
life" | answered.
Charlie showed evident signs agi-
tatior.
You have no right to sacrifice that
young GIRL" he said, bitterly. "Yon
are old enough to be her father. OF
course she accepted you from gratitude.
How dare you think of such thing? ?"
"No wonder that You rave" l re-
piled, with mocking smile; "you are
disappointed of your inheritance.
At that moment the wind gave fear
ful shrek outside, and | thought Of
Anastasa.
"Are you not afraid to marry again?"
Charlie inquired, maliciously. "You
remember the warning"
"Nonsense |" / answered cit will
take something more than a ghost to
frighten me out of this marriage"
had scarcely finished speaking,
when there came gust of wind, and
crashing of glass, and the storm actual
ly swept INTO the room. We glanced
around us in dismay. The bOughs of
a large elm tree, that stood i'll front OF
the house, had fallen against the win
dow.
Charlie gave me peculiar look as |
covered over the fire, and then barred
the window in such manner as to keep
ont the rain. A strange gloom envel-
oped us both, aud we did not return
again to the subject we had been dis
cussiug, Our conversation was titful,
and it seemed relief when we separated
at bedtime.
There is no use in denying that | was
troubled q little with superstltlous
fears. peerei round anxiously into
every corner of the room before retlr-
ing, but found no sign of any mys-
terious visitant. had such fear OF
the darkness, however, that l left the
candle burning.
The Jury of the storm had not abated,
and Law awake some time listening to
the wind. At last, however, | fell into |
an uneasy slumber. How long | had
slept | know not, when / was awakened
by an icy touch upon my forehead.
| started up, with thrill of appre-
hension. The light emitted faint,
sepulchral CLEAN. Oh, horror what
was that | saw? A figure, Ioped IN
white, came gliding toward me from
the foot of the bed. The face was hid
den from my view, but | knew from
the form that it was the ghost OF Anas-
, tasia.
William Raymond" came in n
hoarse voice from the figure; 81 am
here to avenge your infidelity, and to
drag you down to the grave in my en-
BRACE"
shrieked with terror as | felt her
,, clntch my throat, and cried, family
"Mercy mercy
"You would marry Katie Nelson,
> would you? whispered the ghost,
mockingly. eff you do not wish TO
die and here the icy fingers pressed
so tight that I gasped for breath
"promise me that you will not take a
second wife" go,
ooh, promise promise !" said l,
half dead with terror.
"Woe be unto you, if you deceive
me !" answered the ghost solemnly.
And | heard no more.
1t was some time, however, before !
yentured to cast timid glance around
the room. The ghost had disappeared
The storm, too, was beginning to sub
side but could not go to sleep again,
for I found it impossible to forget that
phantom and its deadly clutch upon my
throat. Iresolved to say nothing about
it. OF course, people would rldlcule
the idea of a ghost. Nevertheless, L
did not dare to wed Katie Nelson; yet
; how could 1 explain this sudden change
> of purpose? I felvently hoped that
! she would not die of broken heart,
= the poor child! What should l say to
her?
, After considerable reflection, l re
= solved TO trust this delicate affair 10
!. Charlie. The proposed marriage was
, SO odious in his eyes that l knew he
!. would Justify my apparent treachery to
= her, if possible.
= Morning came, and | arose in a fever
;. ish state of mind. How | dreaded tt
meet Katie at the breakfast table but
4 fortunately, she did not make herappear
: ance. Charlie looked so troubled tina
+ | almost fancied he, too, had seen th'
d ghost. ,
}. After breakfast, SAID to him, will
70 an embarrassment that l strove to bide
" "My dear boy, do you remember wha
e. we were talking about last evening?
At have been thinking over the matter sc
/. riously, and am afraid that marriag
ST between Katie and myself will result i
v, unhappiness; but have not the coul
A. age to brave her reproaches. NO"
Id Charlie, will You act as mediator, an
r. make known this change in my views !
,g "Why, uncle" he answered, and
ne was almost sure that saw CLEAN
10 mischief in his eyes, something extr'
ordinary must have happened. 70
I are not usually SO tickle y