Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-09-28

| tAo uiSHt UelOIe, anu looked lovingly
at the creamy satin and the point lace
veil that Mr.. Saxton had sent. There
was case of pearls, too-his gift, /
wore them last night for the first time
since. All, well, now comes the mys-
terry. When the morning came the
dress and veil were gone"
Stolen ~ I volunteered.
Spirited away. 1t was bad omen,
was it not ?" she asked, looking visit
fully in my face. "But now-do not
laugh at me-I would give anything
in the world to believe that they were
stolen"
"But how else would you account
for it p / asked.
II cannot, cannot believe they were
stolen-for-yesl I will confde to
you what never told any human
being. I saw a wraith-like creature
steal into my room, array herself deli
cately in that wedding dress and ar
range the veil at the glass, then steal
softly out of the room.''
"Did you see the face?"
eyes"
"Did you know it?"
"I ought to know it better than any
other in the world. It was my ownF'
she said, with dreary emphasis.
l did not laugh. I felt an uncanny
chill in my blood again.
"You know what it means when
one sees such sights" she said. "I
was never a merry girl again. I told
Mr.. Saxton it was warning against
the marriage. Perhaps it meant that
my wedding dress should be my shroud.
He did not urge it much. He was
very kind. He had made will, leav-
ing everything to me on that very
night-the night before my wedding
day. Ere my father died soon after,
he promised him that he would not
revoke it. He had no nearer friends,
so when a year afterWard he was
found dead in his bed was an heiress.
was very lonely and forlorn, not
withstanding the suitors that f1ocked
about me. There was one, young
artist, cousin many times removed,
poor and delicate in health, in whom l
began to take an interst. It com
menced with pity. Not did not end
in love. But I knew I could
be of use to him. The doctor said
winter in Pau might save him.
He-Arthur Clare himself that
only my love could save him; that if |
turned from him he would fling his
life away like a worthless weed. Ibe
lieved this. I felt as if I had mis-
sion in saving that gifted young being.
| laid aside all considerations of self.
Arthur had persuaded me that the
spiriting away of my wedding dress
was a blessing instead of a bad omen.
1t had been kept from sacrificing my
selfto an oldman. Sol yielded. The day
was fixed. / was notso childish about
my fnery this time; still I did not
resist the impulse to view it the last
thing. Stiff and stately folds of moire
under cloudy illusion. I locked the
door more carefully than usual, and
sprung the bolt. Spite Of all my rea-
soning | had an odd tremor at nv
heart, and did not sleep for long
time. I was watching for the strange
wraith-like creature. If / saw it this
time I was sure I would break the
spell that had held me powerless be-
fore, and spring forward and seize her
and hold her FAST But, then, how can
one hold a phantom ?"
She paused, her hands dropped idly
in her lap.
did not speak. I saw strange
look in her face. Her voice was very
hollow and weak when she asked:
"What chance has flesh and blood
against spirit? and, after all, what
made me powerless was an odd feeling
that. it was myself this wan, weird
creaturel At all events, I saw her
walk out Of the door in my second
wedding dress. She had arranged the
veil at the glass as before. She seemed
very particular about the wreath of
orange-fowers, and I watched in
breathless fascination. I thought in
the morning it had been dream till I
examined my room. The dress and
veil were gonel"
"My dear girl" I said, ayour maid
was.a thief
Ny door was still locked and
bolted, and every window fastened and
burglar-proof So, you see, there is a
fatality pursuing me. can never
never bring that presence to my bed
side again."
"The third time will break the
spell" I said. I am not frightened.
I am ready to brave fate for you. Let
us be married without. the wedding
dress. Some afternoon we will nuiatlv