The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-28


thing you want done, and ! do not expect
i ;".You are very kind, y in sarcastic tone,
i perhaps you imagine I am IN the habit o.
having people do for me what do no
My spirit got the better OF my discretion
and answered, THAT Is not your reputa'
ton. madame" y {; (
This reply, which feared would blast
my hopes, had q different effect, she
dropped her sarcasm and came at once. to
business arrangements, and agreed 10 be.
come her nurse and to enteg on my duties
the following day. b d.
Meantime. I observed the invalid and
her surroundings, I knew she: had once
been famous beauty, now her face had
not even the the loveliness OF peace and
repose, which We expect itfthe worry aged,
but was marred by the traces OF her mas,
ter passions, suspicion and avarice. Her
eyes were wonderful, changeable eyes !
called them, they variedso with her moods,
but all tho time their glances were uncom'
lortably piercing. (. /; =. i5.,g
The furniture, like the house, had an air
| Of decay and neglect. g,gI' ~ 4.,,z5
The following day, despite my cousins
protests, kept my promise. ~ 4; q
hethree months that followed will al.
ways seem to mo unreal, as q dream; It
was like liie In some enchanted chapel.
Some Of Mrs. shipton's requirements
were strange ones. Every afternoon she
devoted two hours 10 the inspection OF
dresses and laces worn In the fur past.
patiently folded and unfolded them, in
obedience to her whims, though the touch
Of those ghostly garments filled me with
horror. at these times she rehearsed her
social triumphs, and sketched the charac.
tens Of the great politicians with whom she
had been associated. t,5a
She became q widow in middle life, and
for many years following, she spent each
winter in Washington, for she had large
claim upon the Government for her hns.
bands services in building tho National
road from Wheeling TO Washington.
Chiefly through the influence Of great
statesman, half this claim was allowed, but
to the day OF her death, she coveted the
remainder. ~. g@
Il was amazed ut the utter selfshness OF
the life revealed to me. She apparently
never had an utterly disinterested thought.
At times she had spent money layislily on
dress and entertainments, but It wasaways
70 gam the influence Of great people, or to
shine in their reflected glory. a
The way in which she chung to life was
surprise TO mo. II ever q mortal forgot
death she did, and death seemed to have
forgotten her. i..5
At seven o'clock every evening l was
released from attendance upon Mrs. Ship.
ton, and the servants were sent 10 their
quarters. Then my time was al my own
disposal, and instituted search for the
will. AS l resolved to scrutinize every
thing in the house, the quest promised 10
be II long one. 'G '1 y
Evidently, during her century OF life she
had given nothing away, and her possess.
ionSwould have stocked museum Of an
tiguities. $50
For the first week 1t was pleasant moon.
light nights, and my Investigations were
conducted without much suffering from
nervousness. Then, long autumn storm
swept over the country, and in my night
wanderings heard strange sounds: light
footsteps seemed TO follow me up and
down through the long halls, and from dis
tant parts OF the house l heard echoes Of
voices. Was it fancy or reality? could
not answer the question then, and I can
not - -
! missed the CHEEKY evenings in my
Wheeling home,. and l would speedily
have given up the task l had set myself,
only TOR my great anxiety to further
Ernest's project. On the nights when my
courage was particularly tried sustained |
It by continually whispering to myself,
For Ernest's sake. Soon found that nv
CHIEF motive for continuing to subject my
sell TO the horrors OF my situation, was |
desire 10 win my cousins lifelong gratitude |
TO be associated in his mind with the at |
tainment Of the sublime Object OF his
future.
AS the autumn wore on my nervousness
increased, and became the prey OF SUPER |
stitious fancies. In stories I had some. |
times read Of friendly ghosts who haunted |
the scenes Of life till some one interpreted
their wishes, and they were able TO make |
restitution Tor the wrongs done in the body, |
and enter upon eternal rest. =
Degan to expect that for this purpose |
Albert Shipton's spirit would come to me,
on some night when the storm was at its |
height, and the winds wildly shreking,
and all the voices of the night calling 10 |
nc. Eut weeks passed, and no ghosts,
friendly or malignant, appeared, and no
discovery OF value rewarded my efforts.
sometimes omitted the search and gave
up my evening to picturing tho long past. |
INDUCED these reveries in the great
ball room. To me it was peopled with |
guests-the distinguished persons who had
long passed beyond the reach OF earthly
pain or pleasure. watched shadowy Ge.
ures moving to the solemn music OF old.
time minuets.
Among these stately danes and old
school gentlemen, was always a youthful
pair, i'll the earthly paradise OF first love.
They held conversation which Dictated
l, 10 whom never word OF love had been
spoken. In time, to my indispensable con-
sternatlon, l WIS forced 10 acknowledge
that they represented Ernest and myself.
was dismayed at my own weakness in
giving my love unsousht. l decided that
the best way TO combat this infatuation
would DC to hasten my return to the pres
ence OF my hero. Absence, doubtless, was
to blame for throwing over him the CLAM
our OF romance.
With all my diligence, the twenty fourth
day OF December came before was ready
to give up my task, and there was still one
small room that had not reached. As it
adjoined Mrs. Symptoms, left it to the
last, fearing that she might surprise me ut
my work; for age had not dullcd her acute
hearing, and she had grown so much
stronger that she could move about slowly,
leaning upon cane.
l had resolved to leave her service Christ.
mas day, for had borne the desolation OF
my life as long rs it was possible.
My nerves were strung to the highest
tension as came to the closing act OF my
desperate enterprise. Ii ! succeeded I
might have magnificent Christmas gift
to bestow upon my relatives.
For half IN hour l stcalthiy folded and
unfolded papers without finding my legal
documents. t.l5 z. ~ s5,73
j was SO absorbed that had not looked
around for some time, when my attention
u0s ottrnrta1 IN Tim door md T ,urpa,J