The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-10-28

ing yelled lady behind him, for we could distin-
guish her with sufficient cearness to see tbe folds
of her veil floating in the breeze We coniact1roJ
in vain as to whom it might be- when to onr
amazement, as he rode to the foot of the steps the
lady was no longer to be seen. Almost before We
had greeted him, we exclaimed:
her.? WIN
"'W What lady " he asked Il am sure I sawno
lady during my ride to-day, excepting the wife Of
the landlord at the inn, twenty miles Distant
g But we both the lady mounted behind
yOu-a lady wearing a long veil-and she did not
leave you until you were sufficiently near for US
to distinguish her hand, she held it about your
waist
"Sir Hugh looked much annoyed, and said he
was so weary and hungry that he could relish rest
and refreshment much more than meaningless
jokes. This remark ended all our badnage, and ]
think the strange circumstance was never referred
to again
" Sir Hugh volunteered nothing to anyo1 ON
the subject of his trip, and his evident reserve
prevented my intruding any question or remark
bearing on the point. | could not however Jut
be impressed with hIs extreme sadness
ut may be fortunate in the general arrs ge-
ment of Providence, that the future is cOnct aled
from us but do think that preternatural vision
would at certain times be better for us all i for
instance, what was to transpire in our household
at that time could have been revealed TO me.
imagine that much suffering might have en
averted. An Overburdened heart like a batJery
Overcharged deals destructive shocks upon the
human system, and sympathy is a great and safe
tremendous
otherwise tear and rend the human vitality. /
am trying TO say that, had induced Sir Hugh to
cOnfide his secret to me, such an outlet would
have benefited his mental condition. A pent-up
sorrow, like fixed air. STILES him who breathes it.
But 1t is needless now to speak of what l might
have done, or its probable results Suffice it to
say that in few weeks after his return Sir Hugh
slckened, and though all was done which science,
skill or the closest attention could do it had no
visible effect. He said but little during his illness
about his situation. He apparently calm,
NJ Tnan gI Ii aNa.4
his recovery as thing not to be expected Sew
eral times we thought him delrious, because he
was evidently talking with some one who we
thought was not present. But few days before
his death his attendants insisted that on several
occasions they saw feminine figure near him.
which was closely veiled. !, for one, can testify
to the fact that there certainly was palpable,
visible, intangible presence, more distinct in a
faint light than in a full light; and this 1 sup
pose, was the reason why Sir Hugh cried so ear
nestly, Light more lightu
The nearer he approached dissolution the more
dlstlnct the image became, until we all felt
though a stranger was present, of whose home or
name none of us knew aught After many pangs,
sir Hugh breathed his last. The night was close
ana sullen, and the stiffness of death pervaded
everything, when deep moan penetrated every
portion of the house, from room to room, through
stairway and hall, then passed into the wide air,
ana with II went the everlasting soul of him who,
but few days before, had been the fortunate pos
SCISSOR OF all that makes life grand and sweet
There has always been a superstition cOntin-
ued Cousin William, "that on the anniversary of
his death the same strange moan permeatos the
airu
"Do you believe it" I asked
81 can't say believe it, he replied; ''yet here
are strange condolences in the case. l was not
thinking of this being the anniversary, until my
ears were arrested by a singular mOan'
II heard it, said l, ''but thought it was the
sudden swelling of the wind"
and so did - eXclaimedmy son and daughter.
"If it was the wind" said Cousin William sit
Is the only blast we have had tonight"
''What became of his wife ?' / asked.
''She returned to her family"
"And the fair woman of the mountains ~
81 afterward ascertained that she died in n
arms of Sir Hugh Ii her summons at
called him away on that memorable day. q ei
for his desertion killed her. Her last words w.re
Meet me soon words that it seems were lbut
too faithfully obeyed.n