The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-10-15

saw IL, a plllar OF WHITE Inlst-pct"ceil
five and six feet high, as well as could
judge-was moving before me at the edge
of the road OR my left hand. When L
stopped, the white mist stopped. When
| went on, the mist went on. pushed
my horse to trot-the pillar of the mist
was with me. l urged him to u gallop-
the pillar of mist was with me. | stop
ped him again--the pillar OF mist stood
still
The color of it was the white color Of
the mist which had seen over the riv-
er-on the night when had gone TO bid
her farewell. And the chill which had
then crept through me to the bones was
the chill which was creeping through me
now.
went on again slowly. The white
mist went on again slowly-wit the
clear bright night all round it.
was awed rather than frightened.
There was one moment, and one only,
when the fear came to me that my reas-
on might be shaken. l caught myself
keeping time TO the slow tramp
of the horses feet with the slow
tramp utteranco of these words,
repeated over and over again:
"Jeromette is dead, Jeromette is dead
But my will was still my own. was
able to control myself, to impose silence
on nv own muttering lips. And rode
on quietly. And the pillar Of mist went
quietly with me.
Mygroom was waiting for my return
at the rectory gate. l pointed to the
mist, passing through the gate with me.
DO you see anything there?" | said.
The man looked at me in establishment.
entered the rectory. The house
keeper met me in the hall. pointed to
the mist entering with me.
"Do you see anything at my side? !
asked
The housekeper looked at me as the
groom had looked.
I'm afraid you are not well, sir, she
said. Your color is all gone-you are
shivering Let me fetch you glass OF
VINE
| went into my study, on the ground
floor, and took the chair ut my desk. The
photograph still lay where had left 1t.
The pillar Of mist fioated around the Ia
Bile, and stopped opposite to me, behind
the photograph.
The houSckeeper brought In the vino.
put the glass to my lips and sat it down
again. The chill ofthc mist was in the
wine. The presence OF the housckccper
oppressed me. My dog had followed her
into the room. l said:
leave me TO myself and take the dog
with you"
They went out and len me alone in the
room. sat looking nj the pillar of mist
lowering opposite to me.
1t heightened slowly until 1t reached
the ceiling. AS it heightened 1t grew
brighta land luminous. \ time passed. and
q shadowy appearance showed itself In
the centre OF the light. Little by littl" the
shadowy appearance took the outline of
a human form. soft brown eyes, tender
and melancholy, looked at me through
the unearthly light in the mist. The head
and the rest OF the face broke next slowly
on my view. Then the figure gradually
revealed itself, moment bymomcnt down
ward to the feet. She stood before me rs
! last seen her, in her purple mcrino dress,
with the black silk apron, with the white
handkerchief tied lOoSly around her neck.
She stood before me in gentle beauty,
that rcmembcrcdko well, and Hooked at
me as she looked nj me when she gave me
her last l,ISs-whcn her tears had dropped
on NV cheek. fell on my knees Mt the
table. stretched out my hands To her
irnploringly., / said, "spcak 10 me--O, once
again, speak TO me, Jeromette"
Her ewes rested upon me with divine
COMMISSION in them. She lifted her hand
and pointed to the photograph on my
desk, with n gesture which made me turn
the card. turned it. The name OF the
man who had left my house that morning
WAS inscribed on il in her own haudwrit-
ing.
looked at her again, when had read
it, She lifted her hand once more ana
poiutcd To the handkerchief round her
neck. As looked att the fair white silk
changed horribly in color--th" fair white
silk became darlicncd and drrnchcd in
blood.
\ moment more and the vision of her
BEGAN 10 grow dim. BY slow degrees the
figure. then the face, faded back into tn"
Shadowy appearance had first seen. Tn"
luminous inner sht died ont in the whit"
mist. The mist Itself dropped slowly
Aforementioned n moment in airy cir
cles on tho floor-yaniShri. Nothing was
before me- but the familiar wall Of tn"
room. and the photograph iaing face
downward on my desk.
y