The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-01-19

CroWsnest Is not necessary to the devel-
opment OF my tale, but to describe that
is Imperative. This room had taken nv
fancy from the first. 1t was long and
large and low; the walls paneled with
cedar wood. On the walls hung framed
tapestry pictures, the work of past gem
erauons of Northcotes. The ceiling of
cedarwood, with curiously carved raft
ers, made the walls look even lower than
they were. A tine-mellowed square of
Indian carpet covered the center of the
cedar floor on which stood the bed-of
the same wood, and richly carved
raised on dais. There were two win
dows; that nearest the bed, BAY with
diamond panes, the hangipgs, similar to
those OF the bed, of old-fashioned rich
brocade with faded pink satin Innings.
On the side of the bay window nearest
the bed was fixed modern gas-bracket.
Whlch struck me as strange anamoly,
and the only incongruity amid the an
tique surroundings. 1t was in this
chamber my step mother died, but ut
terly devoid of all superstitious weak
ness decided to occupy it myself. No
sooner had my kind guardian left Crows
nest than l told Mrs. Stevens of my in
tentlon, whereon she looked troubled.
urging various reasons why should not
DO SO. none OF which appeared to me of
| any weight. At last she said: .It was
Mrs. NorthcOte's wish that that room
should not be used. She died in it,"
And do you suppose am SO foolish
as to be afraid to sleep there on that ac-
| count?" / asked.
1t is not my province to suppose
anything, Miss Northcote. Ny late
mistress entertained the fancy, and if
you had seen her before she died. it is
my belief she would have given YOU her
reasons herself. AS it is"
6 As it Is, Mrs. Stevens" answered,
seeing that she paused irresolutely, !"
am now mistress here, and have set my
heart on that particular bedroom. Have
it prepared, please, for [ wish to occupy
| 1t at once"
80 As you will, she said indifferently.
But as she turned away l caught Pc
culiar look on her face which perplexed
as much as it annoyed me. My belong
ings were promptly removed into the
coveted room, my maid, Justine, occu,
| plying small dressing room adjoining,
bat to WIN ich there was no through
communication. The first night of my
taking possession of my new quarters
was close and oppressive, and remem
Der waking to find the scent of the &C.
dar wood slightly overpowering. About
midnight ! rose; threading my way
across the floor with difficulty, for the
room was almost in total darkness, ]
opened the nearest window. The next
night, before Justine left me, desired
her not to turn the gas quite out. Three
nights later I again woke with sense
of languor. and oppression. l did not
open the window, hut L looked up
sleepily. The gas beside the window
gave ont dim light; beyond it faint
moonheam slanting across the room in
which lay the shadow of q pear-tree that
grew outside close to the house. ]
| could trace the shadows of-the branches
anu the leaves, and watched them as
they tiickered, stirred by the night wind.
Keeping my eyes open in half-sleepy
manner, as [ have said, all at once be-
came conscious of seeing something else
beside the gaslight and the moonlight,
something that seemed to be between
| the two. It was faint and indistinct,
certainly, but none the less it bore re-
semblance to female form. The head
appeared resting on the hand, the haii
| with rudy CLEAN on it hoated back.
weird on the shoulders. The rest of the
figure was lost IN darkness. | was suf
ficiently awake TO know it was no freak
OF fancy. and yet the figure was alto.
gether so fatally defined and vague
in detail that before ~. I fell asleer
and the Text morning rem mbered it al
a dream only.
The succeeding night, however,
again awoke and on opening my eye:
beheld the self-same figure. But this
time it was more clearly visible, es
pecially the face, which, turned TOWARD
me, [ saw to be that of 8 very beautiful
woman. Moreover, to my unspeakablt
horror and dismay, / discovered in it
resemblance to my stepmother, whom
had seen once, and once only, as she lay
dead within her coffin. The sight wa,
the more distressing TO me inasmuch III
the face wore an expression of mournfu
sadness combined with one of reproach
Had the spirit of my fathers wife re
turned TO earth to upbraid me for MOI
obeying the summons to her dying bed
A strangely combined feeling of awe
and iDcredulity possessed me-of awe
inspired by the apparent presence of {
being from another world; of incredu
lily, that such d visitation could be pos
sible. In vain l closed my eyes, press
ing my hands upon them to wipe out, al
it we're, the sight. Whenever | opened
them / saw the sweet, reproachful face
and it was not until the early summel
morning dawned that it entirely disap
peared aad 1 rose from my bed sad a
heart and worn in body with the wear,
vigil of the night. Twice more the
visitation came: after that for two o.
three weeks the visits ceased; then wer,
once more resumed. Before had beer
two months at Crowsnest all my vauntet
courage fed; my entire nature under
went change. Though l spoke o
what | had seen to no one, | was
nevertheless, sensit; vely conscious tina
Mrs. Stevens remarked something amis
with me. [ was even morbidly fearfn
that she had suspicion OF the cause.
was convinced of this one morning whel
she said-not by any means unkindly:
"Justine tells me you have not beel
sleeping well, Miss Northcote. Indeed
| am concerned to see how i'll you look
, d. you not find the cedar chamber com
fortable?"
{ Perfectly comfortable, delightful
would not change it for the world" | re
Piled, evasively.
Comfortable, and with that haunt
ing presence? Heaven forgive me TO
the subterfugel AS to Justine, she wa
continually urging me to quit what sb'
termed see villain pays" attributing m.
depression to the climate, to the dull llf
led, to anything rather than to thu
true cause. But at length her persist
ency, added, to beseechingl letters iron
my guardian, prevailed, and returned t.
Paris.
There / renewed my Acquaintance
with Mr.. Weston. 1t was impossible t,
be blind to his feelings. his intentions