St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-23


years of age. He carried in his band-why,
bless me, yes, it was that very bookr' e1-
claimed Mr. Barstead, indicating q veilum-
bound cssh-booL upon an adjacent table.
which was a book in which the departed
curate used to keep a record Of Miss Amer
sleigh's financial dealings with her multi
farious charities.
Now, like most persons sufficiently strong
minded TO be eccentric, Miss Annersieigh
was, when she pleased, very shrewd aud cal
culating, and, though not indisposed 70 sub
scribe to the theories of the ghost-seers.
she was not so creduiOus as TO be
blind TO the chances of deception
A moments reflection suggested the hypo-
thesis that Mr.. Barstead had been told oy the
servants that man had died in his room.
and That the vision was the effect OF morbid
cogitations, or even nervousness.
''Haye any of the servants told you VIVA.
has occurred in this housef' she asked.
Told me what has occurred You surely
don't mean 10 say that the house has the rep
utation OF being hauntedl''
Certainly not that am aware Of: but
there has been a death here" she added.
slowly.
''Then please don't tell me any more, -
quickly interrupted Mr.. Barstead. 81 had
assumed as much, but assure you had no
knowledge OF the fact. But since YOU have
told me this, my curiosity has been aroused,
and whila, disclaiming any belief in The su-
pernatural, am an XiOus 70 be afforded an
opportunity OF investigating any alleged pine
nomena, must confess that my dream has
made a very great impression upon me, AS
you have doubtless observed. May | ask II
the description ! gave you bears any rcsem-
blance 10 that Of the person you say died
herel"
ut is exact" said Miss Annrrsleigh, in
an awesome whisper. "And that incident
OF the book is marvellous He had il 50 mucL
in his possession
Mr.. Barstead appeared thunderstruck, and
unused a minute before again speaking.
This is most remarkable" said be. Il
have been frequently told that l am a me
dunn
"a mediuml'' exclaimed Miss Amer.
sleigh, excitedly, the revelations having
made deeper impression upon her than she
cared TO own.
eyes; a medium, and, as such, ] should
have the faculty OF seeing ghosts when they
are to be seen. Now should very much
like 10 occupy that room again, 10 see If any
further manifestations occur"
Miss Annersieigh entered a mild protest
on the score of the alarm such a course
might occasion her visitor, but he assured
her most emphatically that his nerves we're
equal 10 the strain. After a short conversa-
ton, therefore, in which the curiosity andin-
terest OF Miss Annersleigh asserted them
selves more than she was aware, Mr.. Bar
stead's proposal was agreed 10, he mphasiz-
ing the necessity OF being kept in ignorance
OF any facts affecting the late Mr. Hartley
that might stimulate his Imagination.
The day turned out stormy and miserable,
and Mr.. Barstead, TO whom time seemed OF
no importance, agreed 10 postpone his in
tended visit 10 the vicar, and the further de-
velopment OF his phiianthropic scheme. This
new distraction had completely monopolized
all the attention of his hostess, who aban-
dOned herself TO listening to the numberless
stories and theories bearing on the subject
OF the Occult, with which her guest seemed
surprisingly familiar.
When tete-a-tete in the COW dining room
after dinner, Miss Annersleigh grew spirit
ualistically confident. She confessed that a
deceased friend, who should be namelrss,
was Every much inclined 70 believe in such
things" and, in return for Mr.. Barstead's
narrations, she told him of an appsrition dis
tinctly seen and sworn 10 by a friend of her
married sisters cousin.
AT an early hour Mr.. Bsrstead retired 10
his room, fortified by no security against fear
beyond the assurance of his hostess admira-
ton for his courage, aud night light, which
he proposed to burn all night.
This spirit of reckless hardihood was in no
degree shared by the old lady. The prospect
of passing the night alone was too much for
her, and, on the pretex of not feeling well,
the housemaid was requested TO share her
mistress room. But, in spite of this, she
could not sleep.
The distance of Mr. Barstead's room from
her own produced the possibility OF her hear
az anything that might occur there: but
zee during the night she covered moist
aud trembling beneath the bed clothes. as
sue fancied she heard strange noises coming
from the direction of the haunted chambe
When Miss Annersleigh said ''good morn
ing" to her guest at breakfast, she started
with surprise at the change the night had
wrought in him. He was pale, haggard, and
wan, TO her expectant eyes, presented Just
the appearance that tradition and fancy
would attribute TO one after holding COM
munion with a shade of the departed.
"He must have enjoyed himself with that
bottle considerably last night" was the
mental comment Of tina old seryitor on
noticing the same SYMPTOMS.
Mr.. Barstead was in no hurry to reveal the
secrets Of the dead chamber, but the siclIly
expressive smile with which he acknowledged
the salutation of his hostess conveyed all ii
was intended TO.
Miss Annersleigh pretended to be inter
ested in the platitudal comments on the
weather, past and prospective, in which the
ghost-seer INDUCED while occupied over his
first cup Of coffee; but her impotence and
curiosity at length asserted themselves
Leaning over the table, she peered into the
face of her guest and whispered. ''Did it
comet"
Mr.. Barstead hesitated minute, as a man
does who is called upon to make statement
that he feels no one will believe
REALLY, am causing you unnecessary
agitation over a simple, not to say silly. mat
ter" he answered.
Miss An1ersleigh stoutly asserted that she
was not in the slightest degree agitated or
upset, but confessed to an amount OF eurios-
ity.
swell, then,' he resumed, Cup to this
morning was quite prepared TO believe that
all had experienced was the effect of a dis
ordered Imagination; but there are
certain facts that we cannot get over" and
he paused contemplatively, while
he played with piece of paper in his side
pocket.
"But I'll tell you what occurred. dropped
of to sleep very quickly" he said, again
hesitatingly, as If to allow his. listner time TO
express her admiration for his GOODNESS 81
had been asleep about two hours, when was
awakened by consciousness that someone
was standing over me. glanced toward
the foot of the bed, and there stood the figure
had seen on the previous night. I saw II
so distinctly that was able to distinguish
several features failed to notice on the first
occasion. The figure was tall. had a bald
patch on its head, and a small scar beneath
the chin ~