New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-28

well. that's all. Poor Philip died there
| died suddenly of heart diseas', and what few
papers and so on he left wenf to my aunfs
where on her death found them. There were
notes and memoranda and Miss FOrtescue was
sometimes mentioned"
al shall Introduce yOu as n cousin
well not."
Their talk rambled off after that to other sub
iccs, and never came back to the relationship
! between the beautiful countess and the young
! soldier until the two friends were driving to the
dinner party which they had discussed over
| their cigars.
"Wel, Charlie Murchison then said, "will
| you go in for cousinship not ?"
Not-at any rate not at present; so please
| keep quiet on the subject"
| As You like. Here we are.'
They were all but late. So near it, indeed,
that Conway bad but one momentary glimpse
! Of Lady Daintry as she received them before
! dinner was announced. He found himself,
hO.yever, at no great distance from her at table,
and MurchisOn smiled TO himself as he saw his
| friends eyes turn instantly toward her.
All" he thought silly, he'll be glad enough
! by and by 10 claim kindred"
But as dinner progressed, Conway still looked
at the countess. He said nothing to the lady
beside, him he put away the dishes that We're
| offered hm-hc did nothing but stare fixedy at
his hostess. Again and again his intrOducer
glanced across the table at him with surprise
and dspieasure he noticed his extraordinary
behavior and tired to attract bis attention.
No efforts were of the least use. CONWAY, when
spoken TO, either answered shortly or not M all!
when merely looked at remained evidently
unconscious of the look. One ali er another the
people who sat near seemed a. become aware
of something singular III his demeanOr the
countess alone paid no heed to 1t. Perhaps she
was too much accustomed Ia admiration to be
discOmp0sed by the regard OF n stranger-and
vet the one now fixed on her might have been
embarrassing from the very fact that 1t was not
admiring. What did 1t express? Fearf sur
prise incredibly ? hoTOrf All these, perhaps
nothing less strange and misplaced.
" What the deuce does the fellow mean ?"
MnIchsOn thought to himself uneasily. Has
he gone mad all ut once 7 or what is IT ?
Everybody Is beginning to notice him. Won't |
give him blowing up when get hold of him :"
But as the long ceremony of dinner progressed,
Ralph grew more and more uncomfortable. He
saw that the influence OF his friends silence
and strange behavior was making itself felt-it
seemed at last even to reach the countess. Size
still talked with her usual grace to those beside
her; but she grew slightly palCr and once
looked for moment steadily nc Conway.
MurchisOn watching anXiOusy, was struck by
the fact that, while her eyes evidently rested
for that moment on the young soldiers face,
his did not change or faltcr a. ii he met her
glance. but rather seemed TO look over or be
yond her. She continued her conversation and
he his gaze.
At last. when dinner seemed to have lasted
The moment the ladies had passed out, and the
door was shut. Conway turned to the gentle
man next HIM, and IN n voice full OF horror
asked, Did you see itW
See what = the other returned and Ralph
leaned across the table to listen.
The figure that stood behind the countess
a tall man, who mmckcd everything she did,
Tine stranger drew a little further away; he
evidently thought hi neighbor was mad; and
Ralph. coming round, took the empty place
Did you see IL =
d" |. saw YOU behaving as if you were out Of
your senses WHAT on earth did 1t all mean =
" | don't know-cxcopt this As We sat down
TO tqbl thee came IA thing-and stood be
hind Lady Daintry's char. II seemed to come
with her into the room II stood there The
whole time. now on one side, aud now on the
other. Whatever She did, it did, and it fol-
lowed her away just now
He shuddcrcd. and Muichison shuddered too.
There conld bee no doubt that he believed lie
had seen thl~-thlng.
" l}ut what was II like y
Like the shadow of nnn-if it was like
anything. 4 shadow having substance, If YOU
eau understand that
dntcsay II was shadow
Look AT the place where il stood. The light
is iull, bright. equally diffuscd. No shadow
G puld be there
Ina -iuaton, then"
a. you will only never ask me to sit in tie |
room with Il again
Mrchi,on paused for a moment. He tried to |
persuade himself that Conway WAS practising |
foolish hoaX-that hc had had too much vine
even that this might he the first Illusion of |
coming fever. But none OF THESE theories
would stand. Conway was of a cool lnS0ucidRt
temper. rot the least given ia practical JOKES
he had not swallowed single glass of wine;
and he had not the ialntest sign OF physical III
ness about him. What hc did show were
strong. uumistakabe symptoms of horror and
III perfect good faith.
Yet it might have been some fantastic effect
IF iIcht aud shade; and if so, It would certainly
not Icapp,ar M the druwIug-loom.
Come. hc said, " let lis 20 and JON the ladies.
II II was a sh3 dow II Will stay here.
" Ii Is no u.c. And, 10 tell the truth, J shall
be- glad 10 get ont of the house Make some ex-
use for mc-thcIcs good fellow
And leo You go away with the IDEA that yOu
nave seen IA ghost? / thought you had more
" Look here, Ralph, 1t is no use talking in
hat WY. | say nothing about ghosts. | only
ay that ! have sccn-and ! don't know why
on should not have seen tOO-what described
% you. II ] saw II again ever 80 often 1t would
maze no difference to me, except that 1t Il uu-
ann,-mOrc than that, horuhlc-to see II
landing thctc mockinE everything she does"
IL s.iuddcr,d. And | suppose you don't en-
ert'lin any idea OF trying 10 lay the ghost, rs
on call IT, doubt whether the countess would
hank YOU
&c The countess2 DO you imagine she has any
OuSclOusnCSs of II Y
" How can tel ? All know, You know"
:" Very we'll then. come into the drawing 4
nd Try 10 find out something more"
He was obstinate, being fairly divided now J
ctween bcef and nbclei and Conway was s
bli-ed to yield. There were about dozen
aides young and old, III the room when he en- :
cred Lady Dauutry was sitting on a sofa talk =
~ to a dOWa1cr IN black velvet and diamonds. !
hey were Il curious cOntrast-Onc o.d, wink
d, and shrivclled, gorgeous in black and scar J.
20 and flashing light the other In the very per !
rcuOn Oi beauty, in Iich quaint dress ot pure
'hlje. But behind them, standing 50 that the /
Duntcsss golden hair seemed TO touch ITS +
Ieast. stood the dark shadow. Conway tod Il
alph 10y look that { was there. ;
They separated Immediately, and Conway II