The daily gazette., 1881-08-23
le.den weight that did not feel, only

| leaden weight that did not feel, only
pressed all the life out of her.
oh, If she could die and 60 to Alec
But she could not die. She would 60
on living for length Of years, and her
youth would pass, and wrinkles come,
and her pretty hair grow thin {; and even
her love would fade in the long years,
leaving her only sad, spirtless old
maid. And poor little Ruby's mind
wandered in these sad labyrinths of
thought, hour after hour, as she lay In
the darkened room. One memory after
another passed before her, each more
full of pain than the other. Only yes
terdsy she was sitting at her drawing,
and saw him coming In from the gar
den through that very door, now 90
heavily curta,ned. She lived that scene
over again In her mind, feverishly re-
calling every word and look. She had
told him an old legend about the house
they lived in and then she remembered
what she had said about spirits, and
his look, and the halfspoken words.
How she hated Mr.. Raddles for inter-
rupting them. II she could only have
told one word of her lovel But now
Alec would never know 1t. Ah! II her
belief were but true, and his spirit could
come to her, and show her that "loye
was stronger than the grave"
All at once sudden light broke on
the darkness. She turned her heavy
eyes, and there, between the curtains,
stood her lost love, In the sunshine, look
ing tenderly at her.
Ruby halt raised herself, held out her
trembling hands, and cried:
"Alec, my love, you have come to me
am not afraid not ct all afraid ~
aAfraid of what, darling ?" replied the
phantom, IN tone Of the greatest sur
prise. s.Coms to you9 Of curse l
bave-straight from the station. Have
you headache that the room is so
darkened ?"
The last words were lost upon Ruby.
He was kneeling by her, her head up
on his breast, and torrent of tears
was utterly spelling the specter's shirt
front. Gradually, with great difficulty,
he learned the truth and by dint Of
soothing and caressing, and laughing
a little at her, the tears dwindled into
an occasional sob, the color came back
to the rosebud mouth, the light to the
eyes, and Ruby was herself again.
"It was that gossiping Miss Rad
dles," Alec explained. "That family
seems destined to annoy us. I had in
tended coming by that train" (Ruby
shuddered, and had to be restored BY
a kiss,) "but / found my business
would not let me. I was vexed at the
time, little thinking from what / wa,
preserved. I mentioned to Miss Rad
dies by chance what time should
come back and as did not turn uI
by that train, she added me to her list
Of killed and wounded. OF course
hurried here as soon as IreturDed, "a nd
came in this way, hoping to find you
alone. was in dreadful suspense
and when heard my darling's frs
words"
"But 1 should never have sale
them," whispered Ruby, blushine
very much, "if I hadn't thought yor
were"
ga ghost" he answered, laughing
"I know that it was owing to certain
young lady's belief in apparitions tina
was spared the torture of formal!
declaring my love-for it Is a tortur,
to shy follow like me. Now dom
say word more, but keep quiet, an,
get your nerves all right again." sas.
| Ruby pleaded to say one word, whic
was, 81 never cried at all about you
Alec, till found nothing had happen
ed to you"
But he didn't seem to take that YER
much to heart.
| According to the rules of fictior
Ruby ought to have had brain fever
and even to have furnished touchin
death.bed scence but all the effect
of the fright on this unromantIc youn
person were that she did not get quit
strong for few days, during whic
time q great deal of Mr.. Harding
company was required to divert an
. amuse her.
In after years, when little Rub.
/, and Alecs clamored for story, SON
one would say, "Ask mamma if 81
, ever saw ghost," and mamma wou
only look up and smile, saying notl
D ing.