The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-17

huge bOugh oil lniStlet0e depenued,
which was the cause of much fun and
No sooner did any unwary
maiden wander beneath 1t than some
cavalier, instantly taking advantage Of
the occasion thus offered. claimed the
legal kiss, when would ensuc struggles
of resistance, either assumed or real,
which called forth such sounds oflaugh-
Ter as made the old room ring again.
Alice | could have kissed several
times, but lacked the courage and in
clination to do so. Alice's manner had
been very cold towards me during the
few minutes that was allowed to enjoy
her society; for directly the dancing
commenced, and / saw little of her. /
was no proficient in the Terpsichorean
art myself.
l was the more surprised and graft
fed, then, when she came over to me
and said, with very sweet smile,
"Don't you dance, Fergus?"
'No," replied, wishing with all my
heart / could give different answer
cor at least" fastened to add, Every
indifferently."
(Which means that YOU are afraid of
being laughed at-did you make the at
tempt?" she resumed mischievously.
"Not at all, but though do not OBJ
ject to making myself food for mirth on
an occasion like the present, should
greatly regret having rendered lady
such"
ooh, if that is your scruple, lay it
aside at once, and as fear laugh as
little as you do, accept my guidance
through the next quadrille. You must,
every one is dancing tonight"
Though she laughed as she said this,
the real kindness intended was unmis-
taxable. What could / do but yield ?
So when the next dance was forming we
rose, and with the knowledge had un-
consciously gained from watching 9TH
ers, and the whispered directions and
signs she favored me with, | acquitted
myself very creditably.
Once during the evening found N.Y.
self quite alone with Alice, when put
a question to her which had had it in
my heart to ask so long, and the answer
she made me gave me. the right to kiss
her without being under the mistletoe.
1t was late when l reached my room
that night, but feeling no desire to sleep
l opened my window, and, leaning out,
smoked a cigar.
The room occupied was in the left
wing of the house, its one window look
ing on to a broad terrace, from which @
handsome flight of steps led down TO the
beech avenue. The snow which had
fallen heavily all day had nearly ceased
only few feathery flakes descended on
the white carpet beneath, while in the
air was that strange stiffness which Q
M i.Nn alx ,NrA1,,noc
stood watching the patches of ligh,
thrown from the windows along the ter.
race disappear one by one, till my sec
ond cigar being finished, went to bed
| had been to sleep about two hours, a;
far as could Judge, when l awoke sud
denly with the conviction that some one
had pronounced my name. listened
all was silent. i spoke aloud; there
was no answer, and by the imperfect
light i could see there was no one in tht
room.
Twas just about to lay my head OH thi
pillow again, persuading myself that
was the victim OF my own Imagination
when close beside me rose a low, wall
ing cry; it was so mounfnl, SO weird
that had not an instant's doubt as t
its identity. 'Thc Banshecv" l cried
starting from the bed, all my old horro
returned and intensified; but the word
had scarcely passed my lips ere shad
ow passed my window. | sprang TO
wards it, tho sound dying away as | di,
so. At first | could see nothing unusua
outside to attract my attention, but aftc
a keen survey, discerned tall, shad
owy form moving in direction oppo
site to the house. put my hand owe
my eyes-was l mad OF dreaming?
knew | was neither.
When looked again it had reache,
the avenue, where, though further of
| could distinguish it more clearly, tn
dark tree-trunks offering better back
ground than the snow. 1t continued t
fit among the tree shadows for som
time, when ii seemed to vanish alto
gether.
My first impulse, though did not &C
upon ii, was TO rush out into the all
and penetrate, if possible, the myster
that cnshrouded me. waited long i
the hope that the spectre would return
but this hope I was forced to abandon
when the gray light of a winters morn
ing began to steal into my chamber;
seemed to have lost all conception {
time. Then l threw myself on the bee
dressed as was, and thoroughly eS
hansted, fell into dreamless sleep.
1t was late when awoke. The mex
day wore slowly, even tediously on, i
my anxiety for the night to arrive; fo
then | had determined to wait on @
near the spot where l had lost sight {
: the figure on the preceding night
!, spoke 10 no one of the dread fore
bodings ! was a prey to, not even NJ
rah, for knew she held the same bt
lief as myself, and was unwilling I
cause her any uneasiness; but | trie(
, though fruitlessly, to learn whether sh
. had received any warning of the evi
which l felt the future held for one G
both of us.
Ii was the greatest possible relief [
me when the daylight began TO civ
, out, and night to spread its dark curtai
, over the sky. The state of suspense
, was in was uncomfortable; even Alice
dear voice, as she sang my favoriie air
, seemed 10 have lost something of il
, charm-lor The time at least-and he
, smile the magic power TO cheer me. Bl
| never lclt her so reluctantly, or wit
such n heavy heart. as when we partc
for the night, for The long hours wei
: before me i'll which, something whi
pered, should be an actor in some te
, rible drama,
Once in my room, SAT over tho iii
, till IL boasted few duh ombers, M
brain busily engaged with i'e events {
the past night. BY my watch il wante
quarter to one, when arose, wrappe
| boat cloak round me, and taking
/ pistol which had placed in READINGS
. and opening the window as quietly .
2 possible, dropped ont on g., terrace
/ where the snow lay so thick that m
footsteps were rendered almost maud
2 Bile.
= soon reached the spot which il
c tended making my post of observation
: and, screening myself from view amor
the trees, waited the issue of event
c There was moon, though not brig
4 one. The wind, which moaned in Il
4 distance, swept by in cold, biting blast
III shaking the lcafless branches oycrhea