Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-01-15

y
gTell me where I am to come," 1
said.
'sHere in my garden, in the ar
bor.''
ssThere is no arbor here" / return
ed "only solid rock out of which
you seem to be speaking"
- Saints protect me" answered the
voice. ssIt is too awful. / dare not
stay here longer. Spirit or man,
farewell
ssBut you will come again." I
pleaded. ''Let me hear you speak
once more. Will you not be here
Tomorrow at the same hour?'
II dare not-but your voice
sounds as if you would do me no
harm. Yes, I will come
Then there was utter silence, the
mysterious speaker had gone. / re-
turned home in state of stupid
wonder, questioning myself if [ had
not my senses and if the whole oc-
currence was not a delusion. / was
faithful to my appointment with the
voice on the following morning, how
ever. / had waited but few mo-
ments, when the soft, trembling ac-
cents broke the silence, saying:
Il am here"
"And /, too," l answered, 81 am
grateful to you for coming"
81 have not slept the whole night"
said the voice, 81 was so terrified.
[ am very much afraid that / am do
ing wrong to come"
'Are you still afraid of me?'
mot exactly, but it is seems so
strange"
"Will you tell me your name?"
II don't know-Lenore. What is
yours? 2"
"George," l answered, initiating
her example and giving her my first
name only. Shall we not be friends,
Lenore?''
"Oh, yes," answered the voice
with silvery peal of laughter. Ev-
identity its owner was getting over
her fears. Don't be offended,
George. 1t if so strange-two peo-
Pile who cannot see each other and
perhaps never will, making friends"
Il will solve the mystery yet, Le-
nore,' l answered. "and find out
where you are. Would you be glad
to see me in my proper person?"
"Yes," was the reply, Il should
like to see you"
''And would give great deal to
see you, Lenore. You must be very
beautiful if your face is like your
voice. .
''Oh, hush - was the agitated an
swer. ''It is not right to speak
thus"
"Why not? Do you know. Le-
more, that if this goes on l shall end
by falling in love with you, though |
never see you"
"You are very audacious," was the
reply. ''If you were really here be-
fore me l should punish you for it.
AS it is | am going now.'
''But you will come again to-mor-
row, Lenore?''
"If you will be more discreet,
George, yes.
AS may be imagined, l did not fail
to keep my engagement with my in
visible friend. For many consecu-
tive days these strange meetings con-
tinued. AS absurd as it may seem,
the voice was beginning to make a
powerful impression upon me. l felt
in its soft tones the manifestations
of sweet, refined woman's soul.
True, l had made no progress to-
ward unravelling the mystery. New
ertheless | was confident that through
some inexplicable dispensation of
Providence, l had been permitted to
hold communion with a real, living,
lovely woman, from an unknown dis
tance. She had not yet told me
more than her first name, and / die
not press her for more as yet. Hel
only answer to my question as te
where she was, was, ''In the garden.
She did not seem capable of grasp
ing the fact that | was not invisibly
near her and capable of seeing her
She seemed content with matters al
they now stood, and for the presen
/ could do no more.
/ made no one my confidante as t.
my daily occupation; first, becaus
l knew that l should be regarded a
madman upon a mere statement 0
the facts, and next, because | shrunl
from having an auditor at my myste
rious conferences. Will it be believed
/ was in love with the invisible girl
in love with a voice Absurd, o
course, but / am not the first ma
who has been in love with woman
voice. Beside, / was confident tha
it was only a matter of time befor
/ should see the girl in person.
One day toward the end of sum
mer we had been talking as usual
and had said:
my stay in Italy is nearly ovel
[ Lenore.'
.sAh," was the quick reply-''yo
will leave me, George
mo, Lenore," 1 answered.
if you wish me to stay
, ''How can / help it, Georg'
whether you go or stay? ] have ne