The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-02-27
TIE HAUNTED ROOM.

1t would oe almost impossible to dis
cover any one more entirely devoid of
superstii ,on than myself Nevertheless,
wnen was seventeen years old an event
heppc ned which caused me to believe mine
no .unted life. / was staying in Paris at
IN . house of my guardian, Sir Charles
-, and dressing for my first ball--a ball
at the English embassy. My dress, a
triumph Of Partisan taste, had been fas-
tened, and l stood before the glass while
my maid arranged the flowers in ny hair.
A splendid bouquet lay beside my gloves
and fan upon the toilet table.
''Ah, now mademoiselle is beautiful !"
exclaimed my maid Justine, in French, as
she stepped back to survey her work adj
miringly.
1 blushed with pleasure. 1t was the
first compliment that had been paid me,
and my glass told me it was true.
81 wonder who sent me these fowers"
said, taking up the bouquet preparatory
TO leaving the room.
"Mademoiselle will doubtless discover
heradmirer among her partners ts-night," "
was the girls reply.
, At this moment there was knock Mt
the door. A telegram was handed to
: inc.
''Mrs. Northcote is dangerously ill,
and wishes TO sec her stepdaughter be-
fore she dies. y
Startled, disnayed, but beyond all
measure vexed at receiving such an un-
timely message, ! dropped the paper
I upon the floor. Bring me railway
guidc-quick !" / said to Justine.
Mrs. Northcote was my stepmother,
but we had never met, My father had
made q mesalliance out in India by
taking a half-caste for his second wife.
and when he died he left to his widow,
for her life, the family estate of "Crows-
nest" to which he had only just sue
ceeded. 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 next
day should reach Dashshire, in which
county Crowsnest is situated.
Justine l cried, eXcitedly, "bring
me my travelling dress. You must go
with me tonight to England
"Mon dieu, mademoiselle! Would you
take off that ravishing dress that suits
you to such marvel2 Would you give up
the ball-W
Once more looked at my reflection in
the glass. Once more l took up the rail
way timetable to study its contents. At
o O'Clock next morning there was another
train. Meditatively l raise
the bouquet to my face. Who was it
said "The woman who hestates is lost n
The sweet perfume of the flowers pcInle-
ated my senses. Who had sent the mi
Curiosity prevailed. l would wait till
the morrow, 90 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 telegram; We entered the carriage
and were driven TO the embassy.
The ball was brl liant in the extreme,
and 1 completely intoxicated with the
adulahon / received. LA jolie Ang
laisel" "The new debutante!" was OF
everybody's lips. The night was hall
over before l even remembered tho
avowed object of my deferred departure
for England-namely, to discover the
sender of the flowers.
"Of what were you thinking so pro
foundly, Miss Northcote ~ ai ked gen
tIeman in a way that made me start
The speaker was Mr.. Westoll He haC
been introduced to me a few days before
at my guardians house.
~ was thinking of the sender of tn
lovely bouquet, and wondering who hC
is. Sec, my name, Nina, is spelt ou
in white violets," / answered, holding
the flowers towards him.
81 hope you were thinking kindly o
the donor ~
"Indeed was"
"Thank you. Will you plways Sc
think of him--of me Z"
My surprise was too great to frame al
immediate reply. Beside, his manne
embarrassed me. 1t inferred 10 mucl
more than the mere words. l dance'
with him more frequently than with an
one else, and found new and strang
attraction in his presence. On ret urninl
from the ball 1 told my kind host an,
hostess Of the telegram, and of my de
termination to start for England on tn
morrow.
Lady c. looked grave when sh
read the message
"You might have saved few hours
dear. - she said.
.sOnly very few. And then shoul,
have missed the most delightful expert
ence of all my life" ! answered, feryent
ly.
'But it was case of life and death
my childn she added, gently. And
felt she had given me a reprOof
My trun&s were soon packed by Jus
tine, who accompanied me TO England
Sir Charles c., as my legal guardian
also insisted on going with me, and LAT
on the following night we were drivin
through the moonless darkness Of countr