The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-03
AGhOst story,

About ten days ago a gentlemen known
throughout the country gave dinner to fou
friends at his home in New York. Among
the guests were two men of letters we'll known
on both sides of the Atlantic whose home:
are in London, an English nobleman OF high
scientific attainments and myself. The topics
discussed were various, and after taking a
wide range the conversation very naturally
settled down to the question of the SOULS
Immortality and the value Of the evidence the
appearance of ghosts furnished in support OF
it. Mr.. W, remarked in the NOSE
casual way, remark in which his two friends
concurred, that there was scarce y family OF
any antiquity across the water that did not
have a well established ghost. Nor was the
appearance of this unearthly visitor sttested
merely by the testimony of a single individual
who may be the victim of deranged vision
or disordered fancy. Many noted ghosts
were seen simultaneously by several persons,
which, of course, dispels the illusion explana-
ton.
'.Be good enough to tell Mr.. Normile the
remarkable experience of our friend M"
was suggested to Mr.. W.
'You are doubtless aware that NJ il
perhaps the foremost English artist, remarked
| W, addressing himself more particularly
to me, land the strange story | am about to
relate is we'll known and fully attested, indie
pendent Of his own testimony, in most particu-
lars" 1t was on pleasant day that the ar
list drove to the railway station, took car
and proceeded to the country on a visit.
Stopping for minute at the first village,
young lady stepped from the platform into
| the compartment in which he sat. The train
again moved on. The most furtive glance at
| his new companion revealed woman about
20, wonderful, deep hazel eyes, wealth OF
rich dark brown hair, mouth OF matchleSS
beauty, and face that once seen is always re-
membered. Engaging in such conversation as
English etiquette warrants, they commented
on the fresh and fragrant hawthorn hedge,
on the meadows decked with daisies, on the
smiling landscape resting in the soft shadows
of the fleecy cloud, and on dozen rural OBJ
cts pleasant to the eye of an artist just freed
from the dreary scenes and fogs of the city.
Never had he met lady SO strangely and in
deScribably fascinating, and when, couple
of hou later, he left that train and took
another branching off to the left, he felt
parting a regret all the more poignant on &C
count of his ignorance Of even the name of the
interesting stranger whom he could scarcely
hope to meet again. Arriving at the house to
which he was invited, and descending into the
saw the mysterious beauty leaning lis lessly
against the mante, on which her ri ht elbow
rested, supporting her head with her fore
finger She smiled in an arch and winning
manner at the perplexed air with which he in
CURED how she arrived, as she was but
short time before travelling sixty miles an hour
in an opposite direction With an evaSlve re
ply after a minute or two, she excused
herself end left the room. He had hoped
that she would be assigned him to
lead in to dinner, and anXiOusly watched for
her return. She did not appear at dinner, but,
on returning to the dIawing-room an hour
later, he Joined her as she sat turning the
leaves OF folio of choice engraved portraits.
With customary gallantry he remarked that he
had missed her at dinner and inquired why she
had not graCed the repast with her presence.
Evading the question, she tore from the costly
volume the likeness of lady taken in her own
iavorie attitude, remarking that when she
called at his London studio she wished to be
painted thus. An hour was passed in pleas
ant chat, when, taking up one of the lighted
candles, she bowed him good night She did
not appear at breakfast.
''Will not your beautiful guest join US this
morning?" he inquired of the hostess, who sat
at the table.
''My dear Mr.. Nj, we are all here"
81 mean the lady travelled with, whom |
met on my arrival here; why the lady with
whom passed last evening in the drawing
room. She gave me this evening"
"My dear Mr.. NJ" the hostess
blandly answered, my FIVE lady guests are
all present, and they noted how ungallant it
was in your prefernng talking to yourself last
evening to conversing with them. Your
interview with the .engravings was so anima-
ted that you tore" And noticing that the
subject was not pleasant if pursued further,
she changed it abruptly.
A month or so after the artist was in his
studio, when about midday his servant an
nounced the arrival of lady who withheld
her name, but who proved to be
The mysterious stranger, of whom, after
a four-hours sitting, he completed q
spirited preparatory sketch. 1t was
Oxford, where he graduated thirty years be-
fore, he took it among other sketches in his
portfolio. Wishing to call on his old teacher
in drawing on his way back, he wrote him his
purpose, receiving from him a cordial request
to call at the address which was enclosed |
Arriving at the house indicated he learned |
that he had been dead for year.
Dead" exclaimed the artist, as a young
girl invited him into the parlor; "why, have
here letter written to me by him but yester- |
day." he continued.
"Would you be so good as to speak to my
papa about it ?" was her gentle response.
He did, and the old professor was dead
more than year. il was certain. Dinner be- |
I'M caryad the artict yuac aCLad IN partale