Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-13

along.
death by-what? Not dream, certainly; but,
whatever it was, by most marvellous inter-
position. or perhaps. as the guard said. .by
dream or entertain the notion of ghostly tnfiu-
| ence, when the earring picked up, by my own
hand was now safe In my pocket? Was It
suspended from the birds claw. wheel of
fortune 1t had indeed proved TO me-
And do you mean to tell me this Is fact?"
uscript. Every word OF it, as 1 am living
man. he answered. .'See, here is the earring
and he handed me the trinket. Well" con-
to do? How are you going to finish your story?n
"Oh, don't know. Can you give me notion?"
He knows have an eye for dramatic situations
suspect" And we talked good deal more, of
course about the strange affair before l left
him. and equally OF course, at the end Of two
years the story was not finished. My friend is
only dabbler, and seldom brings any of his
efforts In art or literature to fruitful issue. l
little thought that it would devolve on me to
see the girls face?' Not very clearly The
light was dim. l could not distinguish her
features precisely, nor the color OF her eyes,
nor any details exactly, you understand; yet
there was look"-he went on after a pause
(which reminded me or somebody, or tho light
1t did, could not tell whom that had seen
before. 1t was mere impression, quite I'M
formed, vague to degree / had forgotten,
even that anything OF the kind crossed my
mind until you asked the question" would
"Humph ."-he hestated-'I hardly know. l
think should If she were similarly dress I'd and
posed.n Then he said good-by; and for two
years do not think we have mentioned the
subject above twice; once. when inquired II he
had finished the story; and once later on, when.
II did not clear It up at least threw weird
light upon the mystery; the light by which am
enabled to make sort of second part to the
first which found him writing.
,,s my ienqs rooms again. LOOKING m9cn as
his desk. Again, as usual, keen for the time
being upon what he is doing, he does not rise
when I1I enter, enter and stand talking to him for
each other lately, and he rallies me good
humoredly about dropping the acquaintance OF
careless bachelors like himself since my mar
rlage-Ior that momentous event has happened
within the last six months. He was abroad at
the time, and does not know my wife yet. Soon
we passed from this interesting topic and said
something about the water-colOr drawing he
was working at, as l still stood Watching its
progress over his shoulder. 1t was a small
study; done the previous evening at life
school, as he told me, from what artists call the
draped model-a rustic figure OF girl seated on
a Stile
"But stay" he cried ''you should see it under
size: Wait, let me get it." He rose and went
to the other end OF the room. An idea struck
me; and taking from my pocket certain cabi-
net-SiZed photograph, which l had brought to
show him, ! stood it on the easel in front OF his
picture, which it exactly covered. Returning
with the mount, and talking volubly about
what he was going to do in painting, he auto
matically put the hollow center of the white
cardboard just over the photograph, but with
out, for moment. noticing the change l had
made. Suddenly he saw 1t, and, with an eXcla-
nation of wonder, started back.
How came that here?" he went on, pale and
agltated, as he looked inquringly from the pic
fq no 70 ba me- Dd you put IT 5hese? Do you
certainly. / haven't seen her for some years
now; but l should know that likeness any
where" He bit his lip and paused. and then
added,''l didn't know you knew her." Il DON'T
answered, land never knew that such per-
son had ever lived till yesterday" "Then, how
do you come by her portrait?" and why do you
bring it to me?" ITO ascertain if it really was
the same person." "Same person as who?-
what? l don't understand
why, whether, by any strange coincidence,
this lady-my Wifes old friend and school fel-
downright happen to be the lady you once
well, shall say once knew under very peculiar
circumstances" He looked at me now some
what angrily as he said, 'See here, old fellow,
there are matters sometimes in mans life that
he doesn't care about having raked up again.
| tell you honestly this is one of them. and
on my word continued; "and If am touch
ing on anything unpleasant, please forgive me;
for | have purpose. Not that imagined you
were so sensitive on the subject, especially as
you contemplated turning IL to literary &C
count"
"I?-literary account? What do you mean?'
dShtu as lei GllnN
Of turning cannibal as of turning anything con-
nected with that young lady to account, as you
call it." was little puzzled now; so l said:
We'll, but who do you say the young lady is"
"Her name-if you mean that-waS Miss
Naughton, Rose Naughton when knew her;
but confess don't see that because she hap
pens to be friend of your wifes you are war
quaintance with her." my dear fellow" l
cried, 81 had no idea of this, believeme. hadn't
notion that you knew her name, and we are
P1t baar
with me minute longer. Admitting that this
is portrait of the Miss Rose Naughton whom
you seem to have known, though never could
have guessed that just look at it carefully
again, and see IL it does not remind you of some
one else-Some one whom you once saw, l re-
peat, under very peculiar circumstances"
He bends forward to examine the photograph
and presently says No" Then I say "Wni
this help your memory" and while he Is still
looking at tae portrait, put down on the ledge
OF the easel, just under his eyes, an earring.
Good God" he cries, ''what are you up to?
What have you taken this out Of the cabinet
for?" 81 have not been near the cabinet, If you
mean the place where you keep your Jewels"
Then what on earth" He hesitates, and,
taking up the earring, walks with 1t across the
room 10 his treasure store. l cannot help. with
my dramatic instincts, watching him eagerly;
and 1t is as good as play to see his surprise
and wonder when, opening the cabinet, he
takes forth the earring he picked up in the rail
way carriage, and finds that he has the fellow
to it in his other hand.
Yes; there they are, clearly the pair-two
birds claws, each holding a revolving wheel.
Now look at the portrait again." say, whcn
he had stood for minute. regarding me with
blank amaZement. II don't say that You Will
because 1t Is mere speculation, but do you not
see in the portrait or Miss Naughton something
to remind you Of the young lady, your mySterl-
GUS travelling companion" He IS examining the
photograph again. "Well, it Is very absurd
but really, now you put 1t to me. there might
be something of the same look In 1t, and"
He ponders WAS it she, then-RoSe-aft
all, that In measure was reminded OF that
night? On my honor seem to think it mus
have BEEN Then, turning to me, he asks:
- But what is the meaning Of all tnis? Why d.
you want TO know whether | can see any reSem-
blance in this Photograph to that girl, aa1
where, above ALL did you get this other earring
from: Explain yourself, for Gods sake"
Because, as l say l replied sit seems to
me just possible that, II there be such thing as
ghostly influence. or spifitualism, or clairToy-
ance, or whatever one may choose to call such
Observation-Disclosures, say, II such things exist
you may have received the warning to leave
your seat as you did through the mysterious
influence OF Miss Naughton herself, for she was
in that railway train that same night and
those earrings belonged to her." Again the
wonder in his face would have been amusing
had 1t not been mingled with an expression OF
pain. Incredible, preposterous!" he said at
length. "You say that Miss Naughton is a
friend of your wifes?"
''Yes; and will explain how came upon The
fact forthwith. Yesterday, as my wife was
dressing, she asked me TO fetch her brooch
from the drawer In her dressing case. On OPEN
ing 1t, the first thing which caught my eye