The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-16
ANlSTASlA'S GHOST.

November night! Some vague present.
ment OF evil weighed upon my heart, a
/ SGT alone in the twilight And ye
there was nothing, apparently, to make
me gloomy. Ga the contrary, I ought L
have been more than usually cheerful
| had I not received q delicious promis,
rom Kate Nelson that very afternoon
T. seemed odd, to be sUrey that a gray
haired old vi3OWer like myself was Il
marry this young girl OF eighteen. He
mother had been a housekeen5r in on
amilv, but died soon after Kete's birth
So il happened that she was adopted by
us. as We had no children Of cur own
/ Ny wife treated her kindly, bat without
much warmth O feeling. Anastasia wst
of such E peculiar disposition that
actually Believed that she was Jealous o.
this infant
Poor Aa9stasia she warned ne sol
emily on her dea.h bed never to marry
again, and threatened to rise from heI
grave In sucL an event.
Kate was in her tenth year whe1 my
wife died. sent her away to b0ard-
ing school, and, as business called me
abroad, did nos see her again until my
return, eight years aiterward. ! was
scnlewhat bewildered to find a lovely
woman instead Ct the little girl had lett
10 Qhort dresses. OF course you can
guess the seQue, / fell in love with
this charming adopted daughter. There
was something in the frankness OF her
manner that completely won my heart
It was evident that she was deeply
attached to nae. could not help seeing
how much higher sho valued my society
than that of my nephew, Charles Ray
mOnd, who had accompanied me from
abroad. She never addressed him eX-
cept in n0nosyllables, and would blush
all over with embarrassment il he but
entered the room. But with me she was
always self-possessed, and so laxative
and sOCiable that | could not help pity
ing Charlie. He was really g0Od-lOOking,
and | used TO wonder sometimes at her
antipRthy. Poor fellow Eow | dreaded
to tell him Of nay approaching happiness!
Il would De great blow to hzs hopes, for
lie expected to inherit my fortune
Kate wssn't bit like other girls that
| had ever known anything about. In
stead Of blUsbing at Ey confession that
afternoon, she turned pale, and sh;vered
So If struck by i sudden chi / noticed,
too, that there was q strange culver in
her voice when she finally consented to
be my WIFE | was apprehensive that
Charlie told her what Anastssia had
said on her death-bed And yet l could
NOT believe that he wolld be 30 incon.
siderate.
Somehow, I couldn't forget that warn
ing.
Anastasia was remarkable woman,
and would surely keep her word, if
ghosts are permitted to walk the earth.
Thinking thus, began to grow frightened
at the shadows in ny room, and hastily
rang the bell for lights,
-" " by are you 50 late, Bridget" |
asked, sharply as the servant entered
the room.
"lndeed, Fir, and It's mese'f tha.'s been
with Miss Kate every blessed minuIt,
and she's a'mCs. kilt with pain in her
head"
Could this De the result of our CONVEX,
sation that afternoon Considerably
startled, | questioned Bridget eagerly.
Charlie came IN while we were talking.
katie i'll 2" he said, with a shadow
on his brow. " Is it any thing serious,
uncle?"
What business had he to take any
special interest in Kate?
"Only headache" answered, cOldly.
" She is subject to such attacks. Bring
in the tea Bridget"
" We shall have q lonesome evening"
Charlie sighed.
! half believe that he was in love with
the girl himself.
Il was cherries, though, without
Katie. l missed her bright face behind
the tea-tray. Charlie left bis tea un.
tasted. My jealousy was aroused, and |
watched him keenly.
As soon as we we're alone | said, half
angriy: What is the matter, Charlie?
You look as if you hadn't friend on
earth. ! didn't know peIoIe that you
liked Kate so we'll"
The crimson leaPed up to his very
brow.
Il SIN glad that you do" | continued
hastily, "for you will soon be connected
by the ties of relationship. She has
promised to be my wife"
You are jes5iDg, uncle" he said,
dolbtingly.
81 was never more serious in my life"
| answered.
Charlie showed evident signs of sgita>
ton.
You have no right to sacrifice that
young girl" he said, bitterly. "You are
old enough to be her father. O! course,
she accepted you from gratitude. How
dare you think OF such a thing?'
" No wonder you rave l replied,
with mocking smile; "you were disap-
pointed of your inheritance"
At that mOment the wind gave fear
full shrek outside, and l thought of
Anastasis.
care you not afraid to marry again ?'
Charlie inquired msliciOusly. "You re.
member the warningw
Nonsense % l answered; at will
take something more than a ghost to
brighten me out of this marrisge."
| had scarcely finished speaking when
there came a gust of wind and crashing
of glass, and the storm actually swept
into the room. We glanced around us
in dismay. The boughs of large elm
tree that stood in front of the house had
fallen against the window.
Charlie gave peculiar look as l COW.
cred over the fire, and then barred the
window in such manner as TO keep out
the rain. A strange gloom enveloped US
both, and we did not return again to the
subject we had been discussing. Our
was ftful, and it seemed 8
relief when we separated at bedtime.