The Portland daily press., 1881-04-09

We may argue on this subject, but that
won't alter what is conviction more than
impression"
Lucia looked panied. She did not meet
me with her usual raillery, nor turn OH the
other hand to reasoning. There was some
thing of distinct truthfulness in her ma
ture which shrank from letting a misappre-
hension lie.in the mind of another which it
was in her power to dispel.
A minute later and felt her hand steal
ing within my arm, and she was drawing
me toward the closed door of uncle Geof
frey's chamber. Within its precincts, while
her sweet eyes anon asked pardon for a de-
ception and again sank in bashful confusion
from INV glance, learnt a full explanation
of the strange experiences of the past-Of all
that had seen in the mirror. The nara
ton took my fair coDfessor back to the date
of my first visit to Forrest Hall, after her ia
Their had become master of it. On the eve
of my arrival, in making some arrangements
in her room, she CHANGED to come across an
ornamental album which our uncle had
placed in her hands on the very day of his
death. He had murmured something about
special gift to her. and that he had re-
membered her wishes She thought he was
only wandering at the time, and, being only
occupied with watchful attendance on him,
she had put it away and not thought of it
since. She opened the book now casually,
and in doing so paper fell from between
the leaves-the very one which came fin
ally into my possession. What followed
was told with some rapidity, indeed confu-
sion; but pressed for no particulars, be-
lieving without word that however 9TH
ers may have acted, Lucia herself was free
from reproach. 1t appeared that her faith
er had made objection to the document on
the score of Illegally, and had represented
that it was better to put it aside. and not
raise up family questions and contentious
she held firmly to the view that shonld see
it in any case, and for this purpose she kept
it resolutely in her own hands. Her moth
er especially urged upon her to give it up;
and, owing to the last clause i'll it, declared
there would be something unmadenly son
her part in bringing it forward. Lucia ad-
mitted that this plea embarrassed her in a
measure. Still she would give no definite
assurance as to her suppression of the'paper;
and she found then that her course of oppo-
sition TO both parents was resented in an
unexpected manner. She was kept pris-
oner to her room during my stay; and it was
only on one occasion, when l was supposed
to be absent for the day, that she was allowed
in the exercise grounds. She was on the
point of returning to the house when 1
caught glimpse of her there, and feeling
that she could not well enter into explaua-
tons with me in hurried moment, she had
fed in confusion.
"And later?' 1 said. GLOW was it You
were able to welcome me at my next visit:''
81 promised" she returned, that I would
not give you the paper-and l did not do
so.' fEtE
''Who did ,then?"
''No one. You found it yourself"
''Then l am still to believe in ghostly in
tervention? may not assume you "a spir-
it, yet woman too?'
"Aa you please" she murmured. and
then, quick and light as the words fell from
her, she glided off from the mirror-room in
which we were standing, and disappeared
within the dressing-room. / followed her,
to find her gone; and while gazed around
me, in something of the old bewilderment,
she was back with me again, having entered
by the outer door from the corridor.
s"What IS the secretT' said. III you
want the rooms to be opened up, yon must
throw light on them to begin with"
ton in your nature" was the reply. You
would make neither an inventor nor explor-
er. l lind out things for myself. You
should be as clever"
am not as inquisitive, know"
II know it, at all events" she broke in
gaily. IF you had only examined the
quaint old snuff-box In the first instance,
instead OF admiring yourself in the mirror,
there would have been 70 need OF visitor.
But you were too stupid"
TOO vain, thought?'
both, II you like"
II should prefer neither, and as the impu-
tations are 80 unfouoded,we neeqn't quarrel
over them. You are quicker than am,