Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-01
THE INVISIBLE GIRL.

/ found what | wanted in the outskirts
| of the ancient city of Lucca, one Of the
| loveliest spots on the peninsula. The
house was quite new, and in every way
| desirable, while the rent asked for it
was absurdly low. / questioned the
/ agent in regard to this circumstance.
Having my money safe, he could afford
/ to be truthful.
| "There is nothing against the house
| itself but the grounds have the reputa-
! ton of being haunted. Strange sounds
| are said To be heard near the ledge of
/ rock in the park yonder. We Italians
| are superstitiOus, signor," he added,
with bow, "but l presume to an
| American a ghost is no objection"
$50 little" / replied, laughing, "that
| am obliged to you for the opportunity
of making the acquaintance OF this
| one"
Such superstitions are common in
| Italy, and the agents story made very
| little impression upon me.
During the tour of inspection around
! the premises, | came upon the rock In
| question, Ii consisted of two walls OF
| granite, perhaps twenty feet in height,
! meeting at an Oblique angle, covered
! over their greater extent with wild
/ vines. 1t struck me as an exceedingly
| beautiful nook, and appropriate for my
! hours of outdoor lounging.
On the following morning, provided
! with book and cigar, went thlther,
| and disposed myself comfortably III the
! shade of an olive. had become alb
/ sorbed in the volume, when l was star
tied by the sound ola voice near me.
| 1t was evidently that of a woman, won
derfully soft and sweet, singing one OF
! the ballads of the country. i could dis
! tinguish the words as perfectly rs II
! spoken at arms length from me.
! | started up in amaZement. had no
! visitors, and my only servant was an
| old man. Nevertheless, made
| thorough exploration Of the nelghOor-
| hood, and satisfied myself that there
| was no one i'm the grounds. The only
| public road WAS half mile distant.
/ The nearest dwelling was directly OPP
| pOsite, across q level plain-in sight,
| but far out of ear-shOt. In word, L
| could make nothing of it.
| l observed that when | left my Origi-
nal position under the olive, the voice
! became instantly silent. 1t was only
within the circumference of circle OF
/ about two wards i'm diameter that it was
! audible at all.
1t appeared to proceed from the angle
/ between the two walls of rock. The
| minutest examination failed to reveal
! ANYTHING but the bare rock. Yet it was
| out of this bare rock that the voice
| issued.
returned to my former station in
| downright bcwilderment. The agents
story occurred to me, but even now | at
4 ~, | a a.
teal man, and was firmly convinced
that there must be some rational ex-
PLANTATION of the mystery, if | could but
discover il. The voice was certainly
that of Young girl. But where was
she? Was the old fable OF the Wood
nymph truth after all? Had L dis
covered dryad embOsOmed N the rock?
I smiled scOrnfully evCnas these fancieS
ran through my head.
For more than haitian hour the sing
ing continued. Then it ceased, and,
though | waited patiently for its re-
pewal. heard no more Oft that-day.
When returned to the house l made
no mention of the matter, resolving TO
keep it to myself until had solved the
mystery.
The next morning Mt an early hour
reluTDeu 10 the SpoJs <AltSl q bt'AA'NT
interval the singing began again. 1t
went softly and dreamily through one
verse of song, then ceased. Presently
heard deep sigh, and then in slow,
thoughtful tone, the voice said:
"Oh, how lonesome it is! Am | to
pass my whole life in this dreary
place."
There was no answer. Evidently the
person was only solilOquizing. Could
She hear me if | spoke, aS | heard her:
surprising her to he living being at
all. determined to hazard the expert
ment.
"Who is it that is speaking" l
asked.
For some minutes there was no reply;
then in low, frightened whisper, the
voice said:
"What is it? | heard voice!"
eyes" answered; "yOu heard mine.
spoke to you"
dWho are you"" asked the voice,
TREMENDOUSLY; ARE you a spirit:
~ am living man." / returned.
Can YOU not see me-"
"No,n answered the voice." / can
only hear you. Oh, where are you?
Pray do not frighten me. Come out of
your concealment and let me see you"
Indeed, don't wish to alarm you,"
replied. IL am not hidden. l am
standing directly in front of the spot
whence your voice seems TO come.
"NOu are invisible" was the trem-
bling answer. "EOur voice comes to
me out of the air. Holy Virgin! you
must be a spirit. What have L done to
deserve this?"
"Have no fear of me, entreat you,"
| said, earnestly. at is as much of |
mystery to me as it is to you. | hear |
you speak, but you are otherwise in
visible"
care you real living being?" asked |
/ not see YOU" Come To me. will sit |
here. | will not fly"
Tell me where l am to come"
said.
"Here n my garden in the arbor."
There Is no arbOr here returned,
only solid rock, outOf which you seem
to be speaking"
saints protect me-" answered the
voice. at is too awful. L dare not
stay here longer. Spirit or man, fare
we'll"
"But you will come again" 1 pleaded.
LET me hear you speak once more.
VIII you no. be here at the same
hour"
al dare not-but yet your voice sounds
as if you would do me no harm. Yes,
| will Gomez
Then there was utter silence-the
mysterious speaker had gone. re-
turned home in safe of stupid Won
der, questioning myself if L had lost my
senses, and if the whole occurrence was
not delusion. was faithful to my
appointment with the voice on the fol-
lowing morning, however. had wait
ed but few moments, when the soft,
trembling accents broke the silence,
saying:
81 am here"
"And l too" answered.; 81 am
grateful to you for coming"
"lhaVe not slept the whole night"