, 1880-05-31
"Hum!" said the old lady, thought

fully; and then the subject dropped.
| We were shown for the night, Laura
and I, into spacious, low ceiled cham
ber, with numerous, narrow windows.
Laura threw open sash, and looked
out into the bright moonlight. Pres
emily sac turned slowly round and
spoke to me in a low voice that some
how seemed to have far-away sound,
while her eyes had look as if gazing
into the distance.
"Anne, do you believe that we have
lived life previous to this.
We cannot say that we believe in
such things, Laura, SO uncertain are
they to our human judgment; yet, the
thought has sometimes occurred to
me-"
She was silent for moment, gazing
out in the same dreamy manner. Then
she spoke again, in an abrupt way:
81 should like to go down to that
tream-the Blackwa'er-to the bridges
and the willows
Not tonight"
Eyes; now"
Laura, you are dreaming"
Z" believe So" she said, with sigh.
have felt like one in dream ever
since first caught sight of this place
to-day. It all seems SO familiar-evon
this room. wish could awaken, for
it is not pleasant. A sort of horrible
shadow seems to me to brood over this
place, and especially over the bridge
and those willows"
"Then why should you wish to 60
there ?" inquired.
81 don't know. Do you never have
impulses that you feel compelled to
obey against your own will?"
Never"
81 do, often; and then l don't feel
like myself. 1t is as though another
spirit we're within me, urging
me on"
Absurd!' I began to feel seme-
what impatient at her weakness.
"I know it is foolish, yet I cannot
help it; wish could" she sighed.
As I lay awake, after retiring, I
thought of Laura thought of her
words on this and many other occasions,
and the idea would intrude itself:
"Were these things the result of any
mental alteration or arrangement?
Would Laura come to be in time insane?
The thought was SO painful that reso-
lutely banished it from my mind and
was soon asleep.
It had been Judge BIS intention
to remain but few days in Black
water, yet sudden and violent rainy
spell, such as at certain seasons these
regions are subject to, protracted our
stay. The roads were impossible. we
we're told, and the streams overfowed
everywhere.
Laura wandered dreamily about the
house. and talked. but little; yet once
or twice remark of hers struck both
Mrs. Whiting and myself-especially
when once in our own room, turning
suddenly to the wall behind her, she
said:
"It seems to me that there ought to
be door here; that there has been
one."
"My father walled up the door be-
fore was born, replied Mrs. Whiting.
81 suppose Aunt Alma mentioned it
to you"
Laura made no reply, yet 1 knew
that Aunt Alma, the old negress who
attended on us, had not given her any
such information.
On the day following, the rain ceased
as suddenly as it had come on, and the
sun shone out fitfully. Laura was
tired of the confinement of the house,
and despite remonstrances concerning
damp and taking cold, she wrapped
herself in shawl, donned rubber over
shoes, and strolled down to the bridge.
Mrs. Whiting watched her a moment
from the window.
Her father said she did not per-
sonally resemble any one of our family
of the Writings, mean; but think
she does. and very strongly. 1t is
strange how family likeness will show
itself, even after the lapse of several
generations. Come up stairs with me,
my dear; [ have something to show
you"
She led the way to gloomy attic,
where, pulling out from heap of dis
carded furniture tattered canvas on
broken frame, she brought it to the
window, and carefully wiping off the
thick dust, she turned it to the light.
Wonderful p was my involuntary
exclamation. "Why it is Laura
Laura herself !'
"One would think so. The features,
the color of the hair, eyes, and pale
dark complexion-but most of all. I
think. something strange and dreamy
in the representatives are all the
counterparts of Laura B."
It was so. The resemblance grew
more upon me as looked.
This is the portrait of Honoria
Whiting. daughter of the Whiting
who built this house. She was not a
perfect character, have been told-a
sort of black sheep in the family" Here
T wondered If she were aware that she