Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-12-10


t,ken my fancy from the first. IL was
l,ng and large and low; the walls pan
e,ed with cedar-wood. On the panels
hung framed tapestry pictures, the work
| of past generations of Northcotcs. The
ceiling of cedar-wood, with curiously
carved rafters, made the walls look even
lower than they were A time-mel-
lowed square of Indian carpet covered
the center of tho cedar floor on which
stood the bed-of the same wood and
richly carved-raised on a dais. There
were two windows; that nearest the
bed, bay with diamond panes, the
hanging 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
q modern gas bracket, which struck me
as q strange anomaly and the only in
congruity amid the antique surround
ings. 1t was in this chamber my step
mother died, but utterly devoid of all
| supersttious weakness | decided TO
occupy il myself. No sooner had my kind
guardian left Crowsnest than told Mrs.
Stevens of my intention, 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. North
cote's wish that that room should not
be used. She died in it,"
"And do you suppose L am so foolish
as to be afraid to sleep there on that
account" l asked.
at is not my province to suppose
anything, Miss Northcote. My late
mistress entertained the fancy, and il
you had seen her before she died it is
my belief she would have given you her
reasons herself. As il is"
"As it is, Mrs. Stevens" answered,
seeing that she paused, irresolutely, 81
am now mistress here, and have set my
heart on that particular bedroom. Have
it prepared, please, for l wish to occupy
il Mt once
"As you WILL" she said, Indifferent
ly. But rs she turned away l caught a
peculiar look on her face, which per-
picked rs much as it annoyed me. My
belongings were promptly removed into
the coveted room, my maid, Justine,
occupying small dressing-room ad-
joining, but to which there was no
through communication. The first
night of my taking possessiln of my
new quarters was close and oppressive,
and | remember waking to find the
scent of the ccdar-wood slightly over
towering. 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 JUS.
tine left me, | desired her not to turn
the gas quite out. Three nights later ]
cgain woke with sense of laDguor and
oppression. did not want to be at the
trouble of rising to open the window,
but looked up sleepily. The gas be.
side the window gave out n dim light;
beyond it faint moonbeam slanting
across the room in which lay the shadow
of n pear-trce that grew outside close
to the house. l could trace the shadows
of the branches and the leaves, and
watched them as they flickered, stirred
by the night wind. Keeping my eyes
open in half-sleepy manner, as have
said, all at once l became conscious OF
seeing something else besides the
gaslight and the moonlight, something
that seemed to be between the two. II
was faint and indistiDct, certainly, but
none the less it bore resemblance to 9
female form. The head appeared rest.
ing on the hand, the hair with a ruddy
CLEAN on it floated backward on the
shoulders. The rest OF the figure was
lost in darkness. | was sufficiently
awake to know it was no freak of fancy,
and yet the figure was altogether SC
family defined and vague in detail that
before long fell asleep and next morn
ing remembered it as dream only.
The succeeding night, however,
again awoke and on opening my eyes
bcheld the self-samc figure. But this
time it was more clearly visible, espe.
cially the face, which, turned TOWARD
me, saw to be that of a very beautiful
woman. Moreover, to my unspeakablC
horror and dismay, discovered i'm it /;
resemblance TO my step-mother, whom
i had seen once, and once only, as she
lay dead within her coffin. The sight
was the more distressing to me mas.
much as the face wore an expression Of
mournful sadness combined with one Of
reproach. Had the spirit of my faith
er's wife returned to earth to upbrait
me for not obeying the summons to hel
dying bed?
A strangely commingled feeling o
awe and incredulity possessed me. o
eve, inspired by the presence of be
ing from another world; of incredulity
that such a visitation could be possible
In vain closed my eyes, pressing my
hands upon them to wipe out, rs i
were, the sight. Whenever l opened
them saw the beautiful, rcproachfu
face, and it was not until the early sum
mer morning dawned that il cntircl,
disappeared and l rose from my bee
sad ut heart and worn in body with tn,
weary vigil of the night. Twice NOR,
the visitation came; after that for two
or three weeks the visits ceased; theI
were once more resumed. Before / hat
been two months ut Crowsnest all my
Wanted courage fled; my entire natur,
underwent change. Though Ispoke o
what had seen to no one, was, never
theless, sensitively conscious that Mrs
Stevens remarked something amiss will
me. was even morbidly fearful tina
she had suspicion of the cause. wa
convinced of this one morning whel
she said, not by any means unkindly:
"Justine tells me you have not beer
sleeping well, Miss Northcote. Indeed
am concerned to see how i'll you look
DO you not find the cedar chamber com
fortablep"
Perfectly comfortable, delightful!
would not change il for the world"
replied, evasively.
Comfortable, and with that haunt
ing presencep Heaven forgive me TO
the subterfuge! As To Justine, she wa
continually urging me to quit what sh
termed zee villain pays" attributin;
my depression to the climate, to the dul
life led, TO anything rather than to tn
true cause. But ut length her persist
cncy, added to besecching letters iron
my guardian, prevailed, and / rcturne
to Paris.
, There i renewed my acquaintanc
with Mr.. Weston. 1t was impossible
, to be blind to his feelings, his inten
tons. Every word and look told m
that he loved me, and the day cam