The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-22

y
upon back piazza, and from thence by
ten or twelve steps into yard.
On one side of this hall were the two
parlors.
| l was sitting in the back parlor before
a table covered with hooks. The table
was near the center of the room.
/ sat with my back to the fire place,
and consequently facing the door which
led into the hall.
1t was summer time, and the doors
were all standing open; the gas was only
lighted in the back parlor, and the jet OF
the drop light, over which was a shade
such as are of common use in libraries.
! The folding doors were pushed saffi-
GENTLY apart to allow the free ingress and
egress OF one person, and consequently
the front parlor was but dimly lighted.
/ While / was engaged in my studies
my attention was attracted by footballs
upon the back steps leading from the
yard up into the piazza, and which L at
the moment presumed were those OF one
of the servants bent upon some house
hold mission.
They reached the piazza, lightly crossed
it, and entered the halle Of the house.
/ On they came, and in an instant more l
was, without looking up, aware OF the
presence of some one in the room.
| When | did look saw woman stand
ing at the door.
She was little above the medium
height, very thin and emaciated, with
red, sunken eyes, which were bent upon
me.
She was dressed in loose pale-gray
robe of cashmere, drawn together at the
waist by black belt; large flowing col
lar reached to the point of shoulder, the
, edge of which was bound in black about
half an inch in width; at her throat was
: fastened bunch of black ribbon, which
e fell low upon her bosom; her hair was
drawn smoothly down over her fore
' head and back, SO as to conceal her ears
There was nothing in the appearance
r of the woman to startle me; but hel
strange mode of entrance occasioned mt
some surprise.
The next instant concluded that sht
9 was some patient of my brother, and will
!, that idea in mind, said:
"It is the doctor you wish to see, pre-
: sumeY'
e She made no reply, but moved slowly
and in direct line across the room t(
the front parlor and noticed that il
9 passing she DETECTED from a straight
coarse in order to avoid contact with tht
r corner of the table at which sat
Through the folding door she passec
into the front parlor.
Still impressed with the idea that she
was seeking my brother, who had his Of
flee in that room, | called out in louder
2 tone, thinking that she had not heard my
, first remark:
"Madam, the doctor is not in"
After moments pause / arose and fol
lowed her, and when l reached the fold
: ing-door the figure was standing a littl
to the left of the center of the room.
/ She had turned around and was facin;
G me, and now her left hand was raised ant
pointed to the closet
Stepping back moment to the tabl
, at which 1 had been sitting / removed
the shade from the drop-light, and thel
, with some force threw back the folding
door.
D My back was only turned an instant tt
! accomplish this.
When returned to the other room sh
r was gone.
at once proceeded to the hall door o
that room and found it locked.
! recrossed the room to the closet a
t which she had stood pointing, and foun
l. it was also locked.
d There was no other place in the room
II now lighted. where she could have COL
T. ceaed herself.
Although astounded at what l ha
d seen, at once began to run over in M
SIS mind the various tests which the scier
tific have suggested.
d | seated myself again at my table.
I looked at my watch and found
1T wanted seven minutes to o'clock.
y I remembered to have heard the be
$ ring at the usual time-quarter to n
1t had been my habit for several yea
d, to devote the hours between eight an
1f twelve at night TO study, when / had a
lie ways found my mind not only free frol
drowsiness, but, more than at my othe
,f hours Of the twenty-four, clear and viz
ie orous.
4 Believing then that I had been undt
strange optical illusion, I awaite
], with impatience the return of m
brother.
y In couple of hours he returned, and
d described to him fully what had seen.
lie He was much interested in the a
le count, and made a memorandum of
I'd saying it was remarkable instance
optical delusion.
So The next day spoke of the circur
he stance to some Of my most intima
as friends, one of whom said
"Why, you have seen Miss Betty Fa
IT. ren! You not only describe her feature
n but the very dress which she was accu
US toned to wear, and which was SO peculi
nd as to be readily remembered"
or Some one inquired as to the situate
at of the house in which l resided, and upt
ca my giving the desired information, sal
he with a face full of CONSERVATION: