The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-08-27

4
nation at the horrid draft that always
came mp that passage, and they went
ON their way. Whatever was To do /!
rushed frantically along the dimly.
lighted corridor before them. /
spread out my long shadowy arms.
with their flowing drap-ry. and waved
them tn aud fro. l printed and
gesiiculatei. and one of the younger
ones at last crcpt clhse to her eldest
sister aud murinuresl she ihouxhs she
saw som-thing queer down before
them. Now, mt last INV hopes rose
now ! should be acknowledged. Not
a hit Of it. My sister pressed the
shrinking child closer To her. and
whispered. 1T was only the shadow
Edwards candle cast"
] scarcely heard the enl If the SEN
tenc- - hurried on, for new idea
CAME Z" me. would seat myself in
the centre f u step half way up the.
staircase. where anv passer-by mus,
Of necessity stumble over me. |
waited snxiously. as with much laugh.
ing and merriment the noisy party
approached me. \ couple linked arm
n-arm came frst-in another moment
they would he upon me. and I should
nO longer be an ouicsst from home
AMI friends. There were f.w
seconds of agonizing suspense. and
then with joke ON their lip-. my
brother aud sister walked straight
through m-. Now indeed | felt all
efforts To make myself known were
useless. No substance, no bo.lv. no
anything tangible or material belong.
ed To a,e WAS an outca-t Of far less
account than the moth that b,Izzed
round Il candle. How can | describe
NV misery and despair! To be sepa.
ratel bv distance frUm dear friends j.
harl. but how UNNECESSARILY harder
to he cl'-e tn them. tn hear their
voices. to feel their very breath. and
vet To b. hopeIessly invisible tn them {!
And such was NV case. But my very
despair endowed me with super-human
perseverance,. Ny sisters reached
their rom. and entered with them
Standing tar hack in dim corner. ]
listened {" the simple talk Of their
hopes and plans with such an aching
sensation ot utter nulliiy. At last
they began to speak Of myself and nv
journey. ''1e will lie there by this
time" said one. as she opened drawer
Ia put away some article Of dress. ]
sped across the ruom. ] crept into
the drawer. and extended myself
across the dresses land in it. | was
light object. surely the dark silks
must throw ME into dark relief
Again failed; nv sister turned over
the clothes i"r a few minutes, then she
shut up the drawer, and me in il.
''Perhap~ it is a> WELL" I thought.
''whrn morning c,,m-s some one will
open it. and see me- Alas, ! had vel
To learn that daylight was nv worst
enemy. Contrary 10 INV expectations,
however. ! WAS n II destined to remain
a prisoner. The girls had no sooner
put out the light than one of them
exc:aime,i-''Mary. you have left the
corner Of your white jacket hanging
out Of Your drawers" so I have
how very careless" she answered, and
As she opened the drawer, l slipped
out and siood behind her. '.No. you
are mistaken Su>y; the jacket Is all
right, she continued; "and you have
given me all the trouble of lighting
the candle. ard getting out of nv
warm he'd tor nothing" Wei! | am
sorry" returned Susy. but / am sure
YOU saw something white n we'll ~
did" Il certainly thought I did;
but We must have been mistaken. II
WIS then the moons shadow, mo doubt. "
And once more the light was extin-
guished, and in q snort time the moon,
which was credited with having PLAYED
them such prank. SHINE upon two
young faces wrapped IA the slumber
youth alone enjoys. But l knew that
It was the skirt Of my shadowy gar
ment the sisters had seen, an.i u faint
hope once more dawnri in my heart
for found ] YVES more visible in the
JaI kness than the light.
Time passed on. The clock in the
neighborns church tower struck the
hour, ant, Is the twelfth struke sound
cal 4 shuJ,lcr ran through me. and
some subtle influence seemed To draw
closer AMI tighter my immatei iality. |
aud I" give me all outline more akin lO
human form. What was happening ! |
| knew not; only as ! turned |
again To the bed, felt |
that someihing disturbed the
quiet sleepers. They moaned and
tossed from side Ia side As I Ieant ove T |
them. and finally. when l touched one !
Of my sisters with my fingers, she
partly opend her eyes and spoke.
MARY, Mary, don't hurt me :" The
tone was half unconscious. and she
turned To sleep again; but it was
evident to me now ! could make my
presence felt. and ] placed myself on
the ted and tried again to rouse her.
Wonder Of wonders nv Efforts were
ut last successful. With = yawn she
awoke fully and gazed directly uppn
me. But it was look Of wild ago
nized fear. instead Of one Of glad re.
cognition, and it was q piercing
shrek that told me my presence was
visible ut last ; and it gave me q fur
bitter pang than all nv past troubles
had done to find that ! was simply an
object of terror and alarm tn those l
Owed the best. Mary awoke with
her sisters screams. and a perfect
paralysis Of terror tell upon her alec
when she saw me, which indeed
rounded me more than the loudest
'utcry. l tried to calm the terrified
.irls, but to no purpose; and soon
ights we're seen in the passage and
he rUOm door was Opened bv INV