The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-01-23
ANASrAsIA's GHOST.

ANASTAsIA's GHOST.
How we'll | remember that dis
ma November night SUme vague
preseutimenI of evil weighed On my
heart. as | sat alone ia the twilight.
Aud yet there was nothing apparent
ly, TO make me gloomy. Ga The con
trary, | ought 10 have been more
than usually cheerful; had | not re-
ceived delicious promise from ka!e
Nelson tnat very afsernOo IL
st emed odd, 10 be sure, That gray
haired wido~er like myself VAS To
marry this girl OF eighteen. Her
mother had been n Bousekeensr Ia
Ous family, but died soaa after X kate's
bIrlh So 1t aappened that sue vas
al ped ay US, ss We had no children
Oh our own. Ny wife treated her
kindly, but without muen warmth If
feeling Auastasia MAS ut sucn a pc
cuiiar dlspJsitIon rnat ! actually Ue-
heved she Was jealou, vi tnaI infant
Poor Auastasla ehe warDed ue
soie mnly vu her oeath-bed never 10
marry again, and Threatened u iIse
Irem her grave Iu csse u such au
event.
Sa.e was III her Ieuth wear when
III, = lie died. | serL her away 10 u
b arding scbool and, as ou,Ia--s
Called me abroad, dId noI see
gain unlil my return eight years
ailer ards. was somes nat Devil
deI ed 10 find a lovely woman, iustead
of the littie giri | mad ieit in sh0rl
dresses. OF course you can guess
tho sequel J Tell in love with tbs
onarnlug adopted daughter. There
was something IN tue trauk tender
less ui her manner rnst completely
won nv heart.
IL was evident that she was deep
| iy attached 10 me. | could not help
seeing how much higher she valued
my society than that vi my nephew,
Charles Raymond, who had accom-
panied me from abroad. She never
addressed him except 10 munosylla
bles, aud would flush all over with
embarrassment II he entered the
rOum But with me she Was always
self-possessed, and so. talkstiye aud
zoCIable that | could not help pi ylug
Charlie He was really qulIe good
looking, aud | used 10 wonder, some
ttimes, al ner antlpsthy. Poor fellow;
how | dresdsd 10 tell nim of my ap-
preaching marriage. IL would be a
great blow 10 his hopes, Tor he bad
expec5ed 10 inherit my fortune,
Kaie wasn't BIT Ike other girls
lthat ! had ever known anything
about Instead Of blushIng at my
confession, that aileruovD, she turued
pale aud shivered as If struck BIZ d
sudden chill noticed, toe, that
there as strange qulyer Ia her
Voice when she fha!iy consented 10
De my wIie. Was apprenensiye
that Charlie had toll her what An
! d,ldsia uau oeiu VI uci uCdtu-pCN
Aud yet couldn't oeiieye ne would
DC SO Iacouslderate. Somehow |
couldn't forget that warning. Apas
tasIa was q remarkable woman, aud
would surely keep her word, If ghosts
are permitted to walk the earth.
Thinking TINS, | began to grow
frIg htened at the shadows in my
room, aud hastily raug tne bell for
hgh,s. Why are you so late, Brldg-
etin a-ked, sharply, a. the seryapl
entered the door.
"ludade, sir, iLs meseii that's been
with Nils. katle every blessed ml-
nute, aud she's almost kllG with a
paln in her head
/ Could this 0e result VI our con-
verssllon that AFTERNOON Cohsld-
erably startled | questioned BrldgeI
eag geriy. Charlie came la While We
were taking.
Katie III 7" he said, VITA . shad.
t ow an bis brow. lis Ii sly thing se-
rious, uncle 7"
What business had be to take any
special interest In ka,iel
'Ouly headsrhp." ! answered,
co,d.y-'iShe Is subject 10 such at
taeks. Bring in thelea, Bridget"
We shall have lonesome even.
ing,n Charlie sighed.
! l bs,f beiieve he was 10 love with
the girl himself.
/ IL was cheerless, though, without
Kate. ! missed her bgigat face be-
nlpd lac tes tray. Charlie left biz
Icup unlasled. My Jealousy was
aroused, and | watched nim keeply
| As soon - We were alone. l said,
hail sngrlIy, FWnat is the matter,
ChaIlie! You hook asif you hadn't
friend On earth. | didn't know be.
fore thar you liked Kate SO we'll"
The crimson leaped up to bis very
brow.
II am glad fiat roy d. sontip
lued ba-tilY nfor you viii soon hs
ccnneeted by ties Of relationship
She has prpnised TO be my wife.n
You are Jesting, uucle J" be said
doubtingiy.
Il was never more serious i'll my
life," answered.
Charlie showed evident sign. o
sgitation.
You haze no right to sserihc'
that young girl" he said, bitterly
"You are Old enough to be her grand
father How dare you think Of sucl
= thing r"
mo wonder that you rave" Ire