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

chamber, and betook myself to RESI-, In assum
ng this attitude was far from feeling dispc-
sltlon TO siumber. On the contrary, ] was
never more wakefui "a my life; but wsy re-
solved that the apparent routine OF matter;
sDouid 60 on a. Oh ojher nights, and taat nc
ag,,s Watchrulness on my part should
Time passed, midnight approached, AMI re-
nembered with qncsenlng OF Ihs pulse.
which rose az least TO expectation, that IL was
Just at this hour that the mirror before me had
rehected such strange scene on the precedi ag
evening. The moment was exciting, was nof
superst1tious. lie was suspicion rather whtcn
strained and acute. the night was gloomy
one and rain had begun to fall with such
Weight and persistency that the thick ever
green's outside S no longer formed resisting
shower, which maintained a ceaseiess echo OF
that which came direct from the skies The
,s a sounds without, the stiffness OF my
significance OF It's own which was some what
sad and portentous. ! could scarcely SAY what
l appIehended, but my memory had gone back
10 circumstances OF far away past. / had
heard when boy that my cousin Geoffrey
had lost himself In our uncleS good graces
through his habits OF Wild and reckless extrav-
sgance Having had final quarrel with
him on this mead the nephew had gone
abroad where he managed for a time to su0Sist
IN some some speculative fashion Of bis own. h
rather more considerable than uSu ally fails to
the lot OF foreigners and from this point In his
career nttle more was neard OF hlm Till he re-
turned to Forrest Hall with his daughter, a
lovely girl OF sixteen. and paid visit of policy
to its fast falling owner. strange nOtio1
crossed my mind as recalled these d.tails /
IelC tnat 1e was quite possible, ind led most
proOaDle, That my cousin had become involved
In fresh emoarrassmsntS when he made Tn.
successful move which had gained him the
rorl 1 HAN property. Could II be that he had
ialse play with It's late master? Had a fictitious
aeath oeen managed, and was Uncle Geofrrey
sun awe ana q prisoner in some dark and
mysterious way In his own house? The vision
nad seen gave some color to the thought, bat
II was DISMISSED again as mere freak of the
aeeemnis6menf spc Wa,, kas s ea and its
q reality Of days like the present.
MeHtaClon evokeS dreamlneSs. and In order
TO conquer It took up book which 1 had at
mana just as l did so / became aware of
some change In the light In the room. raised
my eyes to the mirror opposite to me, and saw
That a a shadowy form was crossing by the table,
piece In the closet. II Was that Of n nv Uncle
Geof1rey. Arrayed In the same lowered dress
ing-goWn, with his head bent, and stick In
groan was heard. The sound chilled nv blo1d:
lJ caused sort OF horror mingled with
alarm which was all the more unnerving be-
cause It was In measure indefinite. what
could the scene mean? This life-Iike Yet
ghostly apparation. whence came 1t and fer
what purpose?
Was it reality or Illusion, Action was more
next moment l too was 10 Persian garb and
stealing across the floor OF my chamber toward
tne outer door OF this apartment. had left 1t
ajar, and as l gained the corridor | saw that
tne dressing-room door, which was close be-
side, was partly open as we'll. In second
closed 1t noiselessly, turned the key In the lock
ana 40 was BACK again IN my former quarters. AS
re-entered l paused, aud creeping sensa-
ton OF unknown dread paralyzed further
movement. The mirror was full before me.
and In 1t the same reflection, the bowed,
nn1
was at the mantelpiece now, was STOPPING
over 1t with his back turned toward .ae: and
one on. hand stretched out In the act Of grasping
raised, though 1t could scarcely have been with
the view or putting the box to its ordinary
purpose OF use, for the thin fingers of the Old
tacle not abstracung anything therefrom. 10
turn away from the glass, TO gain the inner
door OF communication With The dressing room,
must aa necessarily lose the mrrored picture for
second, and fall to come directly upon the re-
anty, having first to pass by the foot OF the bed
This knowledge held me unclaimed moment
longer ION Then the form, whether spirit or mat
ter, began to glide off. and felt that the crisis
mad come. must follow 1t at all hazards With
quick bound was on the threshold OF the
cabinet but an actual cry parted my lips at the
as had left 1t ere retired to rest. The lamp
was burning brightly; the wood-f1re was che r.
1ul, and rudy IN its CLEAN as ever. Nothing
ghostly or CHASTITY threw a lurid colorlng
on the quiet aspect OF the scene More be.
WildeIed, more awe stricken than If had be-
held the phantom Which had been such vivid
revelation, could only stand and gaze. Then
approached the chimney corner. The tortoise
smell Dox was On the high marble ledge ABOVE;
but 1t was Shut. 1t seemed hard to believe that
pallld hand had but recently been laid on 1t,
seen. 1t was no trick Of the Imagination. /
had been wakeful, expectant. InVoluntarlIy.
hall mechanically, lifted the box and touched
the silver spring at the side. The lid few
novel and unexpected. The inter5t1ce within
was not filled with the usual contents. small
loided paper mad taken their place. To with.
draw 1t, to read it, was the work OF second. |
was not dreaming before; but surely, said to
my self, there must be something OF Illusion now.
The writing l had perused was that OF my
BILE. The well remembered characters had a
forcible popularity OF their own, which I, for
one, was not likely to forget. AS gazed upon
aged form, his withered hand. But the sub
stance OF the paper was dreamuke In the ex.
tIeme and made me pass my hand more than
once across my eyes to clear of any hlmy veil
OF drowsiness, Here, In few words be-
quest was made to me. Halt the Forrest Hal
property was mine withoutreserve or condition;
but an express wish followed on the bequest-
that should become the husband OF my cousin
Lucia Forester. The document seemed to be a
codicll to my uncle's WILL and noted at once
that the date was later one than that of the
testament which had been produced and
When sleep came to me that night had still
the paper In my hand. l knew through dis.
turbed SlumberS that had never let It 90 yer
II on awakening had failed to grasp it or per-
cefve 1t, could have felt little surprise rhe
MODE OF lts discovery, the nature Of its contents
scarcely pointed to the scenes OF real life. They
were more In harmony with the visions which
are fieet1ng. But there was substance and no
shadow here. The precious paper was close In
my clasp, and at its touch a thrill OF delightful
hope ran through me. was no longer an i'm
poyeriShed man, q fortune seeking sutton How.
ever clear l might stand In my own sight OF
the latter reprOach, had needed hitherto the
DoldneSs which could defy the criticisms OF
others. had 1t now, and no further delay
should tnterpose between suspense and pos
sible happiness.
When saw Lucia In the breakfast-room that
morning she was more bew1tchlng, more beau
t1fui, than ever. was naturally followed still
by 8 sense of mystery, and felt for the first
Time drawn to belief In spiritual manifesto
lions. In no other way could / account for
the extraordinary scene Of the night l said
TO me to make known his will as well as his
wishes; and II this were so was clearly called
upon to carry out the latter. For reasons OF
my own mentioned this second vision in tie
presence OF my cousin Godfrey and his wife
as well as that OF the other members OF the
party. l gave no details, but spoke of the
Vlv1dneSS or the apparition. Again Mrs. For
roster showed tremor Of apprehension and
deadly pall0r In her face. Godfrey started TOO
and Then glanced anXiou5iy towards Lucia
She was smiling, and maintained through all
my assertions and remarks gay incredulity
MY resolves were taken forthwith. ! felt ner