The Portland daily press., 1881-04-09

der to conquer it | took up a book which
had at hand. just as l did SO became
aware of some change of light in the room.
l raised my eyes to the mirror opposite to
me, and saw that shadowy form was
crossing by the table, with the lamp on it,
toward the chimney-piece in the closet. 1t
was my uncle Godfrey. Arrayed in the
same Powered dressing gown, with his head
bent, and stick in his hand, he went slow
ly along, and faint groan was heard. The
sound chilled my blood; it caused sort of
horror mingled with alarm which was all
the more unnerving because it was in
measure indefinite. What could the scene
mean? This life-like yet ghostly apparition,
whence came it and for what purpose?
Was il reality or illusion? Action was
more to the purpose now than questioning,
and the next moment l, too, was in Persian
garb, and stealing across the floor of my
chamber toward the outer door of this
apartment. / had left it ajar, and as /
gained the corridor saw that the dressing
room door, which was close beside, was
partly open as well. In a second I closed it
noiselessly, turned the key in the lock and
was back again in my former quarters. As
/ re-entered paused, and a creeping SEN
sation of unknown dread paralyzed further
movement. The mirror was full before me
and in the same reflection the bowed,
mournful figure of my uncle Godfrey. He
was at the mantlepiece now, was stoop-
ing over with his back turned
toward me, and one hand stretched out III
the act of grasping his ancient snuff-boX.
The lid had been raised, though it could
scarcely have been with the view of putting
the box to its ordinary purpose of use, for
the thin fingers of the old man were placing
something within the receptacle, not alb
stracting anything therefrom. To turn
from tho Ulacq tn gain the innQr dpor
of communication with the dressing-room,
must necessarily lose the mirrored picture
for second, and fail to come directly upon
the reality, having first to pass by the foot
of the bed. This knowledge held me en-
chained a moment longer. Then the form,
whether spirit or matter, began to glide off,
> and felt that the crisis had come. must
follow it all hazards. With quick bound
was on the threshold of the cabinet: but an
room was empty! All remained as l had
left it ere retired to rest. The lamp was
burning brightly; the wood-fire was cheer
ftii, and ruddy in its CLEAN as ever. Moth
Ing ghostly or CHASTITY threw a lurid coloring
on the quiet aspect of the scene. More be-
wildered, more awe-stricken than if had
beheld the phantom which had been such a
vivid revelation, could only stand and gaze.
Then / approached the chimney-corner.
The tortoise-shell box was on the high mar
ble-ledge above; but it was shut. 1t seemed
hard to believe that pallid hand had but
recently been laid on it, had opened it,
reclosed it. Yet all this had seen. 1t
was no trick of the Imagination. l had
been wakeful, expectant. Involuntarily,
half mechanically, I lifted the box and
touched the silver spring at the side. The
lid flew back at the action and revealed
something novel and unexpected. The i'll
terstice within was not filled with the usual
contents. A small folded paper had taken
their place. To withdraw it, to read it, was
the work of second. 1 was not dreaming
before; but surely. said to myself, there
must be something of illusion now. The
wsll-remembered characters had a forcible
popularity of their own, which 1, for one,
was not likely to forget. AS I gazed
upon them had present to me, in new
vision, his aged form, his withered hand.
But the substance of the paper was dream
like in the extteme and made me pass my
hand more than once across my eyes to clear
off any filmy veil of drowsiness. Here, in a
few words, bequest was made to me. Half
the Forrest Hall property was mine without
reserve or condition; but an express wish
followed on the bequest-that should be-
come the husband of my cousin, Lucia For
roster. The document seemed to be codi-
Gil to my uncle's will, and / noticed at once
that the date was later one than that of
the testament which had been produced and
proved at his death.
When sleep came to me that night I had
still the paper In my hand. knew through
disturbed slumbers that had never let 60
OF it, yet If on awakening had failed to
grasp it,, could have felt little surprise.
The mode Of its discovery, the nature of its
contents scarcely pointed to the scenes of
real life They warh moro IN, har with
the visions which are fleeing. But there
was substance and no shadow, here. The
precious paper was close in my clasp, and at
its touch thrill of delightful hope ran
through me. l was no longer an impover-
ished man, fortune-seeking sutton. How
ever clear might stand in my own sight of
the latter reproach, had needed hitherto
the boldness which could defy the criticisms
of others. had it now, and no further de-
lay should interpose between suspense and
possible happiness.
When / saw Lucia in the breakfast-room
that morning she was more bewitching,
more beautiful. than ever. / was naturally
followed still by sense of mystery, and felt
for the first time drawn to belief in spirit
ual manifestations. In no other way could
account for the extraordinary scene of the
night. said to myself that my uncle must
have appeared to ME to make known his
will as well as his wishes; and if this were
so, was clearly called upon to carry out the
latter. For reasons OF my own mentioned
this second vision in the presence of INV
cousin Godfrey and his wife, as we'll as that
of the other members of the party. 1 gave
no details, but spoke of the vividness of the
apparition. Again Mrs. Forester showed
tremor of apprehension, and a deadly pallor
in her face. Godfrey started, too, and then
l glanced anxiously toward Lucia. She was
smiling, and maintained through all my as
sertions and remarks gay incredulity. NV
resolves were taken forthwith. 1 felt her to
be guiltless of any participation in posi-
BILE conspiracy to suppress the proofs of my
claim to portion of the property; and an
hour or two later I had asked her to be my
wife. She had been pleasant, if little CO.
quettish, with me all the morning, and on
the other hand had treated Lexington with
provoking n0nchalance which quickened
his perceptions to recall some important en-
gagement in town. He said goodbye and
was off from the Hall by an early train.
III.
You may make what changes in it you
please, but it won't change it for me- Lu-
cha. l will never occupy the apartment"
We were standing in the long corridor at
Forrest Hail. We implies enough She
was my wife now, and thought she had a
rlSnt 10 40 anything with me. Her design
In the present instance turned fortunately
toward transformation in the house-not
in its master. Yet even here l rebeled.
When she proposed that uncle Geoffreys
room and dressing closet should no longer
be shut up. but put 10 some practical use, l
uttered the aboveeprotest. Though the VS.
ion seen in the apartment had pointed only
to path of brightness, still there was mys-
terry associated with it which left sense of
awe on my mind that might be always over
shadowing.
The Forrest He'll mansion fell to my share
in the new division of the property which
had been made on the production of the CO.
dicil to the will, and my cousin Godfrey
had gone abroad then with his wife, leaving
bride and bridegroom to settle down in their
home-life and happiness.
"There are rooms enough in the house."
added now, "to exercise your taste upon =,
Lucia. Those in the west wing are newer and
brighter. Leave these in the peace which is
rightful enjoyment of the antiquated:'
George, you are superstitious, said the
young bride decisvely. 1T is not right to
humor you In weakness. / could never
fancy you we're 30 silly-a believer In
dreams"
Life is dream, If you like," interpos-
ed. "But for me there Is as much reality in
one episode of 1t which concerns the night,
as in any lit up by the cearest sunshine.