The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-10

once, and he said, cruelty, and with smile
which was hideous:
II consider thirteen rooms and stair
way sufficient for child to play in
''Heavensl thought |, "where did my
awful audacity spring from ?" But the
mystery seemed to increase, and | went tc
bed that night with the whole weight upon
nv young mind of the wing, the wall, my
husbands smile, and my own lonely situa
ton. And when | slept dreamed, and
my dream changed the whole course of my
life.
[ seemed to have been out, alone, in my
carriage, and had just returned at mid
night, finding the usually dark house full
of light, the source of which | could not
see
Pleased and wondrously happy was [ al
the sight, and, almost laughing aloud, !
actually jumped, like school girl, up the
steps and into the hallway. One becomes
wonderfully well bred under the influence
of dream, SO felt not the slightest sur
prise to find the east wing opened: beauti-
fully furnished, and its atmosphere almost
sufocating with perfume and the warmth
I from its dazzling Hight. stood entranced.
and felt my soul growing under the inhu-
ence of the grace and beauty which lay be-
fore it. The floor was tiled with Pompeiian
designs, Persian rugs, whose colors were
so bright and mingled so closely as to daz-
zle my sight; soft lace and softer satin fell
over long, low windows in mass to the floor.
The walls were painted to represent blue
sea in the distance, seen from veranda,
from the roof of which hung long vines
that, in fancy, could see swaying in the
breeze. Soft ottomans, oriental divans, and
gilded chairs seemed absolutely to grow out
of the beauty that surrounded them, so
naturally were they placed in their different
hooks and corners. The only article OF
furniture which seemed foreign to the
scene was piano but this was so richly
covered and so artfully curtained into a
small ante-room that it looked more pi-
quante than grotesque to my charmed eye.
A step farther, and discovered that the
room was occupied. A man was seated at
the instrument. His left elbow rested on
the music rack before him his temple
leaned heavily against the knuckles Of his
clenched hand, with his right hand he was
striking chords, which even at this distant
day sound to ME harsh and discordant; and,
as they granted upon my ears, | thought,
FThose chords spring from soul that can
find no peace on earth.
Half hidded by the heavy folds of the
curtains, could see woman, whose white
hand was thrown behind her, grasping the
curtain in a manner which told me every
nerve was at work in controlling her.
[ did not stop to wonder who these two
might be. did not need to, for, as we
say, when we fell cold touch upon the
cheek, chat is the breeze" so | said :
''This is my mother and my husband, as
they stood on the night of her disappear
ance fifteen years ago." and [ longed to
throw my arms about her, and call her
mother Not that loved her, or real
lied for moment what warm, tender
creature mother can be, for [ had been
brought up without one, and did not know
how to miss the love and care but wanted
to see how it would seem to say the word,
and feel soft, loving eyes turned upon me
with pride and joy.
[ tried to go to her, but [ seemed pow
erless to move; the atmosphere about me
seemed to be charmed and | was forced to
stand where I was and listen, for they were
talking. The old, sarcastic voice of my
husband was bringing to my ears these
words Either you leave this house alone
with me tonight, or you leave it never"
''What are you saying?" said my mother,
calmly. "Would you let this useless pas
sion of yours ruin my home, my life, and
the future of my infant child p
II care not for your home, nor for your
childs future You belong to me, and this
child would never have been had you been
true to me. Because you thought me dead,
you imagined yourself free from your
promise to me, and falsely accepted the
proposals of another man, leaving my life
the dreary blank it must become. The
memory of my past seems cursed, and future
seems like desert in the night This
room, which [ furnished with so much
beauty, because I thought you might some
time use it, has become but tomb for my
hopes, and now to see you standing here,
yet not belonging here, want to strangle
you and curse the day you were born, !
owe you no mercy. Once [ loved yon ten
derly, now I hate you fercely, and this
child of another's is but toad in my path,
way, which [ will either kill or torture !"
The hand that held the curtain seemed
to hold all the nerves of the body in its
grasp, SO firm and still it was, and the voice
which answered this devils speech was as
unmoved and strong as the hand
''And what, then, do you propose 70 do
since again refuse to leave all and follow
you?"
Her bearing and calmness seemed tC
madden him, for with a CLEAN in his eye
with which [ felt familiar, he sprang from
his seat like leopard from its hiding
place, and said, in a husky voice which its
master had no longer and control over:
"This-and this-and this" and the
strong young life was dashed out of the
proud form that had stood so fearlessly
there but moment before. He pulled
the curtain over the dead body, stepped
over it, and strobe out of the room.
For while all was dark; then again
found myself in the wing; but years hat
passed by, and all around me was in ruins
walked to the piano and seated myself
before it; instinctively 1 placed my elbow
on the music rack and my head on my
hand. My right hand raised itself to strike
the keys; then for the first time | noticed
how fruitless would be the act, since Ions
ago all power of sound must have left the
rusty case | again looked around thC
ROOM The curtains, the rugs, the cush.
ions, were falling to pieces, the frescoes oil
walls and ceilings were moldy and stained
with damp and mildew. Dust was deel
on everything, and in despair l struck witt
my hand the dead k5ys before me. To my
horror the same chord arose from under
my touch which | had heard before.
arose to leave the horrible place, when out
of the resting folds of satin came form
holding its left hand to its throat. 1 tried
to escape, but was held down by some un-
seen force, and the hand was slowly taker
away from the throat, leaving exposed tt
my unwilling eyes an ugly, discolorec
bruise.
covered my face, but felt the ghostly
hand pointing to me, and then | heard my