Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-12
SEEN IN THE MIRROR
4 Real Ghost story.

ter OF acquiescence than OF apology; or po,s1bly
the latent curiosity whica had kept in check
for so long had asserted Itself at last to the de-
reat or reason and resolution.
Three years before had spent a week at FIR
rest Hall; and when / brought my STAY 10 an
aorupt conclusion. had all but registered q
nU shral vow tnat would never repeat the ex-
pertinent OIL visit again. Yet Mr.. FORESTER
my most. mad been courteous, even cordial: his
WE showed herself as agreeable az a fOraignpr
VINO spoke English but imperfectly, could be:
anu tnere was no other visible inmate OF the
mouse 10 give umhrage or disturbance. The ad-
lecIVe may seem expressive; but Ii 1t Is taken
10 IMPLY that suffered annoyance from noe
turnal yisitants OF a spiritual cast 1t says too
much. Ii was not thus that my seven DAYS
so1ourn at the hall was rendered irritable and
almost unenduraole. But i need not pause
itself later.
1t was on the eve of Christmas day that
drove beneath the ived portal which gave en-
trance to the romantic old place that / had
once looked upon as my own. IL had belonged
few years ago to my uncle, Mr.. Godfrey For
roster. He had never married; 1 was his favor
lie nephew; and though the son OF his youngest
brother. &c had been an assumed aim ost ST.
tied thing. that i, George Forester was to be
ms helr The disappointment In these expec.
Iaolons came 70 me before that ominous and
Some months before my uncles decease d..
vfned that bis intentions respe citing the dis
posal OF his property had varied, and that for
favor shown to another. changes were
made. which were to work Strangely
eldest on arter lie: The son Of his
Ia Italy, With an only and very lovely Young
daughter. They were naturally invited to For,
resi- han; and before the visit ended knew
ana siat a lOrmer enlargement between the uncle
auu nepaeW was diSslpated by the friendly
intercourse OF the present, and more especially
and entirely by the fascination exercised over
s sns on, h gentleman oy the winning brightness
aOu beauty or Lucia Forester. Her mother
was an Italian, and was still In her own coun-
Try, while the father and daughter paid this
visit Of policy to the fast failing owner of For
rest Hall. They remained with him to the
with the, exception OF a small bequest to
myself, the whole OF my uncle's property
in reversion to his only Child Lucia. had met
the latter had spent q fortnight In the house
with her. and had admitted that her power of
attraction was deep and inconrestable. /
thought of her now as was borne swiftly along
the drive. and came presently In view of the
0ld EIzaoethan mansion, which was her home.
Though me weather was bleaE. with piercing
W1Rd blowing on the open road without the de.
mesne. her there was comparative shelter NV
! ncle eeofrey had carried out one of his
IancleS 10 successful issue, and had sur
rounded himself with the green and shada of
summer when there was winter elsewhere. The
whole ground were planted thickly with ever
when nourlshed almost like trees, so care
1ully nad their growth and luXurlance been pro-
NOTED; and nov, at this Christmas season.
outer decorations as we'll as inner might have
p pll specially got up Judging from the glossy
molly branches. ivy wreaths and laurel bOuphs
Wh1cn nlled the view on all sides.
III IL was evening; the house was brilliantly
lighted up; and as the hall-door was thrown
open, the warm glow within was all the
pleasanter in contrast to the frosty air and
lifting moonshine which held the world In a
cold spell without. Something else was more
i II l than all 1t was sight which met
ny eyes 1n the first moment of entering
Young lady was crossing the hall, and turning,
lust ID The doorway leading to room oppo-
SITE, she gave me smile OF welcome. She
was BEAUTIFULLY dressed In silk OF creamy
shade, with some draperteS OF rich violet vel.
vet, relieving an otherwise colorless picture:
TOT the tint OF her skin and hair harmonized
10 tone. But there was nothing tnsipid in a
face which beamed with expression, which had
peWtchfngly lovely features, and a pair OF
dark blue eyes, set like stars beneath the deli.
cate pencfling or her brows.
Lucia exclaimed, and sprang forward
eagerly. Have We met at iasI?"
have you come at last?" she retorted
quickly. Three invitatians and three refusals
speak pretty fairly for our friendship but not
:. An invitation to place is nothing-the
people sa are everything" ! said: When was
Can you wonder did not come agaln?"
This was the mere fact Oh the case. On the
occasion OF that former Christmas visit my
cousin Lucia had not once shown herself. l
was told she was III, and l had felt bound to
believe the statement till IL was strangely
negatlVed by a sight which rendered me at
once perplexed and indignant. | had started
one day Tor ride when Something went wrong
with the equipment Of my steed, and | was
Obliged TO return Unexpectedly to the house. |
was walking along the avenue OF the hall,
leading the morse by the bridle when In a
pathway among the eyergreens, l caught a
glimpse OF well remembered figure. The
tall, slight proportions the giriIsh step. and
the pale amber OF the hair, which was roll9d
low upon the neck and rested on the glossy
DARKNESS OF sealsk1n Jlcket. were sufficient In
themselves to identify the lady; but any doubt
diSS1pated By full view or the face
Miss Forester had evidently herd the
SOUND OF advancing steps on the drive for she
brow at the moment; but before word or ges-
ture could express questioning surprise on my
part she was gone Hurrytng on ward left
The horse In the care ola groom and went at
once 10 the house. My quick inquiry for Miss
FORESTER was met by the reply that the young
lady was still very unwen was confined to her
ioem ana could see no one Hall an hour
later had left Forrest Hall, anger having pre-
dominated over the feeling or mystif1c alton
which might have led me to prolong my stay
In the hope OF dssipatlng 1t by penetration or
investigation. felt that my cousin, who was
the heiress now. was determined to arrest any
lnclp1ent attentions OF the former heir by
showing him, in the most pointed manner her
dlslncllnation even to tolerate his presence. 1t
was CALLING enough to have to return as an
impoverished guest to place where had once
noped TO dispense hospitality, on my part
Witnoul lLcnrring the additional humiliation
vi Delng SUBJECT to an unjust suspicion. /
coulo see nothing else In the strange with
ura"ai OF my cousin Lucia from my society
She plainly thought might become too au-
caclous as sutton, and was determined that
me inheritance i had lost should NOT be re-
gained through her. This was the view of her
conouct which l took at the time, and which
nettled me so much that when an limitation
came each succeeding Christmas to spend IL
at Forrest Hall refused until the present oc-
casion. F W.
A little silvery laugh and sweet beWitch
Ing glance dlsSipated everything but az sense of
enhancement now. They had been the only
reply TO my inquiry, but they were sufficient IN
arrest the questiOn1ngs OF the past In view OF a
less perplexing future.
was soon In the drawing. room to which
Lucia led the way; amid the excitement OF
Christmas festivities / was greeted cordially
Dy Mrs. FORESTER and my cousin Geofrrey.
MY hostess was tall thin lady. scarcely for
elgn- looking in appearance, as her confa lexion
retained In faded form the traces of fair.
ness almost as dazzling as her daughters.
Sne was stili In the prime or life but peculiar
ar OF leebleness was given to her aspect by the
S NAY IN winch she carried her head. 1t was
aiWays signify on one side, was envelOped with
muslin or lace ties high up about the throat.
ana might have been bandaged on, so nervous
was lts balance. and so little action was al
lowed 10 Its movements. She spoke generally
IN ltancs, ana emphasized her reception of me
now IN q ay which was very gratifying,
80 glad TO see you, Mr. Forester! hut You
should have come before. Your absence was
too bad. Did we offend your
got out OF the difficulty with q smile IL Was
easy 10 summon up With Lucia close by and