Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-01-10
THE CRONySNEST GHOST.

THE CRONVSNEST GHOST.
1t would be almost impossible tC
discover any one more entirely devoiC
of superstition than myself. Neverthe
less, when | was seventeen years ole
an event happened which caused me tt
believe mine haunted life. | wa,
staying in Paris at the house of my
guardian, Sir Charles C, ant
dressing for my iiIs. ball-a ball at the
English Embassy. My dress. n tri
umph of Partisan taste, had beer
fastened, and | stood before TIE glass
while my maid arranged the flowers il
my hair. A splendid bouquet lay
beside my gloves and fan upon th,
toilet table.
"Ah, now mademoiselleis beautiful
exclaimed my maid Justine in Frencl
as she stepped back to survey her worl
admiringly.
| blushed with pleasure. 1t was thj
first compliment that had been paid me
and my glass told me it was true.
II wonder who sent me these llow
ersF' said, taking up tho bouque
preparatory to leaving the room.
"Mademsiselle will doubtless dscov
er her admirer among her partner:
tonight" was the girls reply.
At this moment there was Il knock a
the door. A telegram was handed Il
me.
"NIrs. Northcote is dangerously ILL.,
and wishes to see her stepdaughtei
before she dies"
Startled, dismayed, but beyond al
measure veXed at receiving such an
untimely message, dropped the paper
on the floor. Bring me railway
guide-quick" said to Justine.
Mrs. Northcote was my stepmother
but we had never met. My father had
made q mesallianco out in India by
taking half-caste for his second wife
and when he died he left to his widow
for her life, the family estate of Grows
nest" to which he had only Just sue,
ceeded. l found by the railway guide
that if changed my dress with speed
there was time to catch the last train
that night from Paris. By noon mex
day | should reach Dashshrc, in whicl
county Crowsnest is situated.
Justine" | cried, exciliedly, "bring
me my travelling dress. You must &C
with me tonight to England"
"Mon dieu, mademoisellc! Would
you take off that ravishing dress that
suits you to such marvel? Would you
give up the ball--?"
Once more | looked at my reflection
in the glass. Once more | took up the
railway timetable to study its contents.
AT Q o'clock next morning there was
another train. Meditatively
| raised the bouquet to my face. Who
was it said, "rho woman who hesitatcs
is lostp" The sweet perfume of the
flowers permeated my senses. Who
had sent themP Curiosity prevailed.
| would wait till the morrow, go to the
ball, and solve the mystery. Sir
Charles and Lady C were waiting
for me when | descended the stairs. /
did not say anything about the tele-
gram; we entered the carriage and
were driven to the Embassy.
Tho ball was Brilliant in the extreme,
and | completely intoxicated with the
adulation | received. "La iolie
Anglaise!' "Tho now debutante!'
was on everybody's lips. The night
was half over before | even remem-
bered tho avowed object of my de-
ferred departure for Overwhelmingly,
to discover the sender of the flowers.
"Of what were you thinking so
profoundly, Miss NorthcoteP" asked a
gentleman in a way that made me start.
The speaker was Mr.. Weston. He had
been introduced to me Il few davs
before at my guardians house.
al was thinking of the s4nder of this
lovely bouquet, and wondering who he
is. See, my name. Nina is spet out
in white violets," | answered, holding
the flowers towards him.
81 hope you were thinking kindly of
the donorP"
"Indeed was"
"Ihank you. VIII you always 50
think of him-of me?"
My surprise was too great to frame
an immediate reply. Besides, his man
ner embarrassed me. 1t inferred so
much more than the mere words.
danced with him more frequently than
with any ono else, aud found n new
and strange attraction in his presence.
On returning from the ball | told my
kind host and hostess of the telegram,
and Of my determination to start for
England on the morrow.
Lady C. looked grave when she
read the message.
"You might have saved few hours,
dear, -" she SAID.
"0nly very few. And then | should
have missed the most delightful ex.
perience of all my life!" l answered
fervently.
"But It was case of life and death,
my child" she added gently. And |
felt she had given me reproof.
My trunks were soon packed by JUS
tine, who accompanied me to England
Sir Charles c., as my legal guard.
an, also insisted on going with me, and
late OH the following night we were
driving through the moonless darkness
of country roads to Crowsnest. A
stately housekeeper met us in tho hall;
"Miss Northcote, you come too late,"
she said, and there was more austerity
than sadness in her tone. "My dear
mistress died three hours ago. If you
had left Paris last night you would
have been in time. My lady had n
Communication she desired to make to
you"
"What was itP" asked in much dis.
tress.
"That no one will ever know in this
world" was the answer. And ] felt
from that moment as though Mrs.
Stevens was my enemy.
Sir Charles c. remained at Crows
nest uutil after the funeral. Then, in
vain, he urged me to return with him
to Paris. | was bent en- remaining a
few weeks longer in the quaint old
fashioned house, which now 10 all In