The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-08

DO be a little more adventurous?' she ex-
claimed 1.-The outside edge is the easiest
thing IN the world. Can you not cut some
agures?"
"One, as you see," reioined, laughing.
My awkwardness speaks for itself; but this
singular state of things supposes anything
but an advance in the plural direction"
You are not SO very bad" she said, with
long critical look. s'Mr. Lexington has
come to grief twice already. He offered me
his hand at starting, or rather made clutch
at mine, but managed a release"
Mr. Lexington was the aspiring engineer
who had laid himself out to be agreeable on
the preceding evening, and whose sanguine
nature still kept him up. He was beside us
even as Miss Forester spoke.
'Acmes' are not perfection after ALL"
he said gaily Something went wrong
with mine, but I'm all right now," and he
made successful spin. That Lucia should
follow him was not matter for surprise, but
that should be left behind was certasnly
one for vexation. Lucia mystiied me-,
and therefore attracted me. l wanted to
understand her, but that could scarcely be
done at distance. In the present instance
could keep my footing, though speed was
beyond me; yet this plainly was the one
thing desirable Reckessness may be de-
cried in other paths of life, but on the most
slippery one OF all it seems a rightful ex-
change LOT prudence, an lnulSpcnSaolc I'M
petuS to advance.
After a while the young lady grew tired
either OF the exercise or the escort and was
back again with me. l am afraid Ihad been
contemplating rashness with too favorable
an eye, for was led away by it unwarrant;t-
bly, now. | began to question Lucia re-
specting her strange disappearance from the
scene on the occasion of my last visit. Break
ing the ice is hazardous work, and certain
lv mot To I, of tod 1,nra T
dangered myself, if not another. Lucia
rarely flushed. Shade rather than color,
passed into her face from the effect OF emo
ton or annoyance. "A change of the kind
was noticeable as spoke and tried hast
lily to recover my former footing. But my
companion would not letgme quite escape the
consequences ofmy temerity
"You seem to have good memory she
remarked. "But 1 am1afraid it is only for
trifes. These you should forget, and net
even remember that you are forgetting
I'VE are apt to estimate matters different
ly," said sit might be little to you to
keep in seclusion you had cause to prefer;
but your absence was not exactly trife TO
another"
81 know it was not SO; but what it should
have been is my point of view. Try to look
at things in pleasant light. 1t makes life
easier" @
IAN effort in that line need not be recon-
mended now, was my response. "There are
moments when we have to set realities be-
fore us to subdue too seductive Illusion"
"You had better turn to the mainland
then, and away from this slippery surface, if
this should be one of those instants;" and
with the words she was Swimming off from
me anew. ~
l saw her rejoin Lexington, but could
scarcely feel jealousy, it was so evident that
his society was as Indifferent to her as my
own. But the fact that she was unimpres-
sionable was not reassuring, taken in con-
junction with her own too strong power of
fascination. would rather she had shown
susceptibility to almost any emotion than
have terplexed me by her unruffled love-
illness. 5z yE
Was / dreaming or walking? My senses,
no doubt, were inwrapt by the stiffness of
frost-bound midnight; but surely they were
too watchful and observant to be unclaimed
likewise by the more potent spell of sleep!
With eyes wide open l started upright on
my couch. The room had been allotted on
my arrival at Forrest Hall was one hitherto
unoccupied by me. But I could scarcely
takeexception to its comfort CT position in
the establishment, considering that it was
the one chosen by the late master of the
house, and which was known as Uncle
Geoffrey's ROOM The bed, an old-fashon-
ed one, faced large mirror reaching from
floor to ceiling and set into the wall On
the right-hand side of the 'four-poster' there
was door opening into a dressing-closet
This was always left Enclosed at night; in
fine summer to give full ventilation to the
sleeping which was low and
somewhat gloomy, and in the winter time to
admit the subdued light and warmth from a
fire that was kindled in wide CRATE in the
dressing-room. Such had been the habit of
my uncle's life, and / made no change in
the arrangements. Looking now into the
mirror saw form reflected at full length.
1t was moving slowly across the floor in the
inner closet and advancing toward the man
tlepiece. There was bright blaze from a
wood-fre, and the glass being opposite to the
door and my bed, gave back the clear parti-
culars of the scene. 1t was a strange one
and some ghostly stories, which had been re-
counted for the benefit of the company by
my cousin Lucia that night, came wildly to
of my uncle Groffrey. Clothed in wel-re-
membered dressing gown of India pattern
and gorgeous coloring,I saw his spare frame
and his bent head just as I had last seen
them in life. When he gained the chimney
corner he stretched out his hand toward a
huge snuff-box of tortoise-shell which lay on
the marble ledge above.
Atthis moment bounded from my couch.
My own wakefulness at least was proved by
the action; but it led to no further discovery.
l lost sight for an instant of the mirror
scene; and when sprang through the open
door of communication into the dressing
room there was no reality here to justify the
spectral appearance. Tbs cabinet had it's
freight glow and its usual air of comfort,
but no occupant. The second door, which
gave access to the outer corridor, was closed,
and not sound or football disturbed the |
quietude of the house. I looked around |
me. There was no hiding-place in the small |
chamber. Wherever the apparition had |
come from, it had sought the same shrouded |
precincts again. I paused in a perplexity |
which was not exactly fear. 1 saw little |
reason for apprehension in warm well-lt |
room, which showed no token of habitation, |
no other possessions than my own. NY coat |
was on chair as had last thrown it, my |
dressing-case open on the table. There was |
nothing to remind me of a nocturnal in |
truder, and could no longer conjure up !
even the vision of such. Ireturned to rest, |
and sleep came later, though it was some
time ere removed fixed gaze from the
long glass opposite the couch.
was down early the next morning, and |
the first person saw in the breakfast room
was my cousin Lucia. She had on a beauti-
fully made dress of some warm ruby shade.
VAoAA - oo"AoSAihS5 liutlC uOW db LuC THROAT,
slumbering in lace.
"Good-morning," she said, gaily. "You
are more active than usual Were your slum-
bers lighter or more profound? There was
some change, suppose?"
''For the better, of course, since the effect
is good" returned. "But fear indulge
too much in waking dreams. They are cru
ely illusive.''
'Then give them up. That cannot be diff
ficult, if you dislike them.''
''Did say that? Some of them are only
too dear, that is my objection
so, the fault is in yourself, 1 see; not in
the visions. thought there was reproach
somewhere, but 1 am glad to find it is to
your own person."
eyes, Lucia, I am guilty of folly no
doubt: There might be cure for it, but
don't look for it.''
"Why not? Hopefulness is pleasant ell
ement in life. You ought to cultivate it. 1t
might repay exertion.''
What did she mean? Had she under
stood me; and, speaking to scarcely breathed
longing, was l To know that she had faith
omed it and was pitiful?
might have been too daring, but the for
tunate entrance of Mrs. Forester arrested