Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-01-25

O., THURSDAY
At first she was too bewildered to recall dis
tinctly what had happened, but presently it
all flashed over her, and as the remembrance
came to mind shudder convulsed her frame.
Almost unconsciously, she clung to her hus-
bands arm, as if for:protection and support,
while casting an apprehensive look around.
soothingly he pressed her cold hand in his,
as be sat down by her side.
"Has anything happened to disturb you,
or alarm you, while l was absents You look
as white as if you had seen ghost"
II have not seen one, but / have felt and
heard one, I believe" replied Geraldine, With
sickly attempt at smile. "You will no
doubt suppose what I tell you to be the re-
suit of mere fancy, but it was fearfully real
of that am assured" And in a low tone,
as if the sound of her own recital brought
back her fears, she related what had oc-
Cured.
1T was mere vision-a passing fantasy,
said the Earl though a troubled look rested
on his face. "You had, doubtless, been In
dulging in some uncomfortable thoughts
perhaps the solitude of the room and the
dreariness of the weather affected your spirits,
and this imaginary visitation was the re-
suit" .'.. 3D..
Geraldine shook her head. ut is true, l
had felt somewhat depressed" she replied ;
but my thoug hts had not been engaged on any
ghostly subject, nor reverted, in the least to
any such possible occurrence. And am
the less inclined to accept your explanation,
from the recollection I have of something
which happened, of a similar nature, the first
night after my arrival here"
"And what was that?' asked the Earl.
She then told him of the figure she had seen
by moonlight, in the mirror, in her bedroom.
Of her investigation of the mystery, and its
unsatisfactory result.
"You see was perfectly calm and collect
ed on that OCCASION" she added, "for was
able to make thorough search of my room,
and I am perfectly sure that it was impossible
for any one to be hidden there. Besides, there
stood the reflection, beside my own, as if of
some person directly behind my shoulder, and
when turned and looked, there was no one
there
"And yet the reflection remained in the
mirror, after you had convinced yourself that
no one was standing beside you"
"Yes, for moment or two longer. Then,
as I watched it, it gradually, almost imper-
ceptibly, melted away"
"And why did you not speak to me OF this,
Geraldine?"
"Because thought it likely that you would
regard it merely as fancy on my part. or, as l
tried to think, you would think it an optical
delusion."
"And you do not think it was an optical de-
lusion ?"
mo, I do not-bscause you will ridi'
cule what I am about to say"
Il will not, indeed. Tell me candidly your
feelings on the subject" --
."Well, then, I believe forced to be-
lieY, against my will, against my reason,
against common sense, even-that there was
actually some presence in the room, revealed
to me only in this singular manner; because
felt cold breath pass over me, exactly as
did this evening; and because, as l stood be-
fore the glass, had sensation of horror i'm.
possible to describe-a feeling of absolute con-
viction that some one was beside me- though l
neither saw nor felt it-or her, suppose l
should say"
"You are sure the reflection was woman's =
"Perfectly sure; woman about my'own
height, perhaps little taller; slender in form,
and with wavy hair hanging about her. The
face could not distinctly see."
"Of what color was the hair!"
"That could not distinguish either; it
had dusky look"
"And the hand pointed, you say, toward
the doorp"
eyes, the whole time, without moving"
"Are you absolutely certain, Geraldine,
that all this was not dream ?"
II am as certain of it, my lord, as that l
am now sitting here in this ROOM"
Lord Desborough rose from bis chair and
walked up and down the apartment several
times in an agitated manner, his face wearing
a serious and perplexed expression. At
length be returned to his seat, and again ia
king his wife's hand in his own, resumed in
an earnest voice,
"Geraldine, since you have told me all this,
feel impelled in my turn to make you con.
fession, which had intended should never
pass my lips. You are woman Of sense and
understanding, and feel that you are en-.
tirely worthy of my confidence
At these words, uttered though they were
in serious and pre.occupied manner, as
though solely IN reference to the more impor'
tant subject which at that moment occupied
his mind, Gersldine's pulses again throbbed
with a feeling of tumultuous happiness, as
they done on the morning when he had be-
slowed on her his first caress. She glanced
timidly in his face in the momentary hope Of
reading there the sign IF some corresponding
emotion on his part; but be was thinking
then only of what he was about to say.
"After your own experience" he contin-
ued, "you will not be greatly startled, or in
clined to doubt my statement, when / inform
Won that r ton have twice had q mysterious