Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-12

| not matter for surprise, but that should :,
| IeiC oenlnd was certainly on, for vexation
| Lucia mySffhed me. and therefore attracted M
| wanted to understand her, bnt that could
scarcely be done at a distance In the pressn
instance could keep nv footing. though spec
was beyond me; yet this plainly was the on,
thing desirable. Recklessness may be DECREE
IN other paths OF life, but on the most slpoe-,
one OF all 1t seems rightful exchange for pru
dence, an Indispensable impetus to advance.
After while the young lady grew tired either
OF the exercise or the escort, and was bach
again With me. 1 am afraid had been con
tcmplating rashness with too favorable an eye
Tor was led away by 1t fundamentally now
l began to question Lucia respecting heI
strange disappearance from the scene On thu
occasion OF my last visit. Breaking the ice is
have attempted 1t here endangered myself
IL not another. Lucia rarely flushed. Shada
datner than color, passed into her face from the
the k1nd was noticeable as spoke, and Cried
hastily to recover my former footing. But my
companion would not let me quite escape the
consequences OF my temerity. N-
" You seem to have q good memory. she re
marked. But am afraid 1t Is only for trlfi %.
Ihese you should forget, and not even remem-
Der that you are forgetting"
I'VE are apt to estimate matters differently -
SAID. 1t might be little to you to keep IN a
secluslon you had cause to prefer; but your
absence E9o was not exactly triie to another"
nave been is my point OF view Try to look
az az things In pleasant light. 1t makes Life
IAN effort IN that line need not be recon.
nenoed now was my response. "There are
moments v hen we have u set realities before
us to subdue too seductive Illusion"
You had better turn to the mainland then,
and away from this slippery surfa g. IL this
should be one of those instants;" AMI with the
words she was Swimming Of from me anew.
saw her re1oin Lexington, but could scar ,ely
feel Jealousy. 1t was so evident that his soclety
was as Indifferent to her as my own, But the
TACT that she was unimpressionable was
not reassurlng. taken In conjunction with her
TOO strong power OF fascination I would
rather she had shown su5ceptibiIty IN aImost
any emotion than have perplexed me by her
unruf1led loneliness. "
Was dreaming or wakingg My senses. no
douot, were inwrapt by the stiffness of FROST
pound midnight; but surely they were too
Watchlul and observant to be unclaimed like
W WISE sc py the more potent spell OF Sleep With
Inc room had been allotted on my arrival at
FORREST Hall was one hitherto unoccuped nv
1 But could scarcely take exception to its
Cohllorl or position In the establishment con-
sldeIlng that 1t was the one chosen by the late
master OF the house. and which was known as
~ ncie deoffrey's room" The bed, an old fash
loneo one, laced large mirror reaching from
floor to ceiling and set into the wall. 5n the
door opening into dressing closet, This was
a,wayS IeIt unclosed at night; In the summer to
laent, which was low and somewhat gloomy.
and In the winter time to admit the subdned
gnu ana warmth from fire that was kindled
mad been the habit of my uncls's life and T
MADE no change in the arrangements Looking
now nov INTO the mirror saw form reflected at
i,aa iengtn. 10 was moving slowly across the
Inc mantelpiece. There was a bright blaze
rom wood fire. and the glass, being opposite
70 1he 1oor and nd my bd gave back clear
ana some ghoStly stories, which had been re.
counted for the benefit of the company by NV
cousin Lucia that night. came wildly to nv
my uncle Godfrey. Clothed In we'll .remem-
Dered dressing-gown Of India pattern and gor-
g geO9 b co69fing, saw his spare frame aud his
p 1eho mead JUST as had last seen them in life.
Wnen ne mad gained the chimney corner he
stretched out his hand toward huge snufr- box
above. '-o 'oNso
AT this moment bounded from my couch.
MY own WakefulneSS at least was proved by the
action, but 1t led to no further discovery. lost
slght Tor an instant OF the mirror scene; and
Wnen sprang through the open door of com.
munication into the dressing groom there was
no reality here TO justify the spectral appear
ance. the cabinet had its freight glow and
It's usual air Of comfort, but no occupant. The
second door, which gave access to the outer
corridor, was closed, and not sound or foot
1ail disturbed the quetude OF the house. I
looked around me. There was no hiding-place
In the small chamber. Wherever the apparl-
ton had come from it had sought the same
shrouded precincts again. paused in a per.
plexlty Which was not exactly fear. l saw little
reason for apprehension In a warm well-nt
room. which showed no token OF habitation.
no other possessions than my own. My ceat
was on chair as had last thrown 1t; my
dressing case open on the table. There was
nOtnlpg 10 remind me OF nocturnal intruder
and could no longer conjure up even the WIS.,
ION OF such. / returned to rest, and sleep
came later, though Ii was some time ere re.
moved NOV liked gaze from the long glass oppo-
was down early the mex. morning, and the
llrst person saw In the breakfast room was
my cousin Lucia She had on beautifully
made dress OF some warm ruby shade, with a
beWitching little bow at the throat sIumoerIng
10 lace.
Good morning." she said gatly. You are
lighter or more profounds e' Tere was some
change. Suppose?"
"For the better. OF course. since the effect
10 good" returned. "But l fear 1 indulge
zoo muen 10 waking dreams They are cruelty
:, Then give them up. That cannot be difficult,
DID say that? Some OF them are only too
dear, that Is my objection"
20, the fault Is In yourself. 1 see not in the
visions. | thought there was reproach some.
where, but am glad to find 1t is to your own
Yes, Lucia am guilty of folly, no doubt,
Inere might be cure for 1t, but don It look
Why not? Hopetulness is a pleasant ele-
ment in life. You ought to cultivate it. 1t
might repay exertion."
What did she mean? Had she understood me:
and, speaking to scarcely breathed longing,
was to know that she had fathomed iI and
was pitiful?
might have been too daring, but the fortu
nate entrance OF Mrs. Forester arrested me
Her head was Imply adjusted as usual but
there was no dubi0usneSS In her manner. 1t
was decidedly friendly.
was apt to put Ia more tardy Appearance
In the breakfast room, and her first Questions
ran therefore in the same vein as her daugh.
ter'S
Had slept well? The night had been so cold.
sne noped my fire had been properly attended
to, &c.
Yes, there was famous blaze" respond
ca. III showed me good deal more than the
dayhght brings OUT" and then mentioned the
strange apparttlOn in the dressing room,
NILS. FOrrester gaZed at me with q sort OF
terror In her blue eyes, and turned white az
0eath: Lucia was perfectly composed, and even
rallied me playfully on my weak surrender to
the sway OF Morpheus.
make better fight" she pursued, "but
acknowledge myself beaten in the end. You
seem 10 give way at once, and revenge yourself
on your opponent by mere denial OF the vic
tory" O '-o
mo, no; sleep is no enemy" interoosed.
81 never struggle against 1t; and for that very
reason, suppose, It has less interest In visiting
me- Last night, know, 1t was very tardy In
this?r
scarcely. with such clear evidence to the
fore slumber"
waking dreams may, and mine seem to be