Litchfield enquirer., 1880-06-24
CHAPTER II.

If it is true that there is mo such thing a
 forgetting, it is certain that we so often mis
 lay the remembrance of things that it is almos as bad Cor good) as though we did forget.
 My adventure with the lady in white satin wa certainly noteworthy enough, yet week by
 week, and month by month, it faded as hel satin itself would have done, till in few years there was little of the original materia
 left in my inind knew that the thing hae happened, but could not have sworn to the details as when they were fresh in my mem ory. met the Tredgolds from time to time and when sly allusion, as some times hap pened, was made to the circumstance, found myself replying to their aspersions with less and less of vigor. Iknew I had not been drunk, knew had not been unreasonably excited by the play, and yet that much-wro cd lady h white became in a certain degree unreal even to myself. It was still one of those. experiences that one cannot explain (and which happen to more of us than care to con- fess to them); but no longer cudgeled my brains for an explanation of it. The circum. stance was still very strange, but (which had not struck me so forcibly in my boyhood) it was almost as much so that respectable fam. fly like the Tredgofds should have treated a 1 lady visitor with such rudeness and if they 1 had done so, it was still stranger that they should make est of it. Seven years afterward, and when had just taken my degree at the university, was din- ing with some friends at the Oxford and Cam 1 bridge Club, one of whom happened to pro- pose visit to Covent Garden Theatre As the office was closed, he sent out to the libra rlans for box, and when it came he observ- ed: By love, this is a cheap business; we have got the Guinea Box" He was man about town, and knew No. 16 but upon the | of ne o6o her we went up stairs to smoke and conse- quently arrived at the theatre at late and fashionable hour. l ohanced to be the first. of the party, and on stepping out of the little room into the box l turned and stopped the others. ''We have made mistake, '" l said !; ''there is some one in possession already"
 "Oh. pooh !r said my friend the man about town; ''were all right enough. Do you SUD- I pose 1 don't know No. 19?" ..
 But there's lady in it," said I, ''sitting there alone"
 "Then let me look at her." was the charac- teristic rejoinder. He pushed his way in, and exclaimed, "What lady!"
 "Why, there," said I, pointing to where 1 she sat-"the lady in white satin" As spoke the words the whole scene of seven years before recurred to me with vivid distinctness. saw the Tredgolds unconscious -wlllfuly, as had thought-of the intrud- CTS presence. 1 saw Lucy touch her brother, and heard him whisper in that quick, remen- strant tone, "What in the deuce is the matter with you?" Only this time it was somebody else that said it. One of my companions had I taken hold of my arm, and the rest were star ing at me while stared at the lady, 'I have seen her before, y muttered; ''it's | the same person; could swear to her among | thousand'
 My dear Garrard, you're not we'll" said some one-it was Grantham, my college chum. "Just come with me-" and he led me into the ante-room,
 ''But tue lady?" I said ''they have | sat down by her as though she was not | there." I.. -.f ....
 There's no lady there you're dreaming. | That champagne at the club is not sufficient ly dry wine"
 "What do you mean to say, as the other people did, that am drunk ?'
 "l don't know what the other people said. but, if 1 did not know your habits, should say you had delirium tre.nens.' ''It must be the box said I, in amazement -" the box must be haunted!" -..A 'Very likely was Grantham's grave reioin- der ''Let us get ont of the box and into the open air"
 He led me unresistingly into the street, and we walked round Covent Garden together,
 
 had happened on the previous occasion, and he pretended to explain my present haluci- nation, as he termed it, by the association of Ideas. ''YourecogniZe the box, and then the scene recurred to yOu.' There was seme- thing in that (for the scene hGd recurred to mel, but not enough to shake the evidence of my own senses a second time. II will not go back to tLe theatre said l. 'because I don't want to make row but will sift this mys- tery to the very bottom" " Do, said Grantham, s''and let me know what remains, if it's anything beyond head ache"
 Whereupon l went to my lodgings. and sat up half the night, with cigar in my mouth and my considering-cap on. In my friends eyes had made fool of myself twice in Box No. 16, and was resolved that it should not happen again. Nor should this be effected by absenting myself from the theatre. 1 meant to examine into that box very carefully, and somehow CT other te knock the bottom out of it.
 After breakfast next morning called at the library, where. as 1 saw in the paper, the Guinea Box" at Covents Garden was adver- tised as usual, and requested to See the pro- prietor of the establishment. That great man, it seemed, didno generally put in an appear ance ln connection with any matter under stall for the season. but nevertheless, gained admission to his august presence.
 Pray, Sir" said l, "have you ever heard any complaints of your Guinea Box ?'' 3a ''Compaints p he said. Ear from it it is one of the best and by far the cheapest have to let"
 Though his voice was firm, it struck me that his manner was a little embarrassed.
 ''When good things are cheap said |, ''there is generally reason for it. have twice had reason to be very much dissatisfied with that box. lady in white satin is in the habit of introducing herself there."
 saw sudden change in his face, which convinced me he was not hearing the informa- tion for the first time, but he answered coolly enough. 'sIf that is SO, the bex-keeper is the proper person to apply. to; and if she annoys you, the Police. l have not the honor of knowing your name, by the bye,'' he added. |. 1 gave him my card, and he looked at it at- tentivels. .sa1s,ul,f.r Aa5t ist ..s B. +Ha
 'sIn matter of this kind cannot advise you, he Continued ''it is not my affair at all. You must complain to the people at the the atre." itta S ar tees# s.-5y sat.i lFs.g3
 T have reason to believe replied I, ::that that would be useless, I intend to write to the papers to warn folks against the Guinea Box. '" iSt5sa s2-& sr i' 't"- h~ '7ti
 tsThen you'll have an action for libel brought against you, young gentleman, as sure as you live. The box belongs to a gentleman of the highest responsibility and position, and has been placed in my hands for these twenty years" esaah v j ea eaa :y.ls.e
 And am to understand from you definite ly that no such complaint, has ever been made to you as make to-day P" f7' 'I decline to answer any such question, Sir" replied the librarian. ,g4.g ,s..f # e,.t4f. '''Very good. Do you also decline to give me the -name of the proprietor of the box" a'i
 'Well, you could find that out for yourself by application at Coyent Garden, but have TO objection to save you that trouble. The box belongs to MT. Ralph, Tresillian"
 "What ! Of Windbarrow Hall?" exclainedI inaastonishment. s'Why that's my uncle.'t 1oj The libraran's face exhibited increduIity, not unmixed, as It seemed me, with posi- tive alarm :" '--N t''''S v l J"Thad a letter from him this very morning. Y