The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-06-07
A GHOSTS STORY.

A GHOSTS STORY.
/ had always been something of
dreamer, and when the fancy took m
to rent for the summer an old mansion
by the sea, whose owner was abroad
and to occupy it alone, with the ex
ception OF two servants, my friends sal,
it was just like me, and expressed n,
surprise. 1t was June when took VI
my quarters by the sea, and spen
nearly all that month in becoming &C
quainted with the house and its his
tory and in exploring the surrounding
country.
In July the heat was extreme. and
passed my days lying in some sheltered
nook on the shore where could hea,
the lazy murmurs of the waves, and
with half-shu eyes give myself I'M &c
revery. The evenings and, indeed, the
nights, ii it were very warm, l spent in
hammock on the long piazza, where
the moonlight filtered through the vines
and fell upon my face as swung gently
TO and fro or lay asleep.
One day storm arose that lasted far
into the night. After q struggling SALLY
to the beach, I came back with q broken
umbrella and drenched clothes, and
having no mind to battle further with
powers SO evidently superior, dressed
in dry clothes and gave myself up to
meditation and reading by bright FIRE
of driftwocd. The day wore On and
night fell, so that I could no longer see
from the parlor windows the white caps
as they tossed ike signals of distress
far out at sea. Icould still, however.
hear the swirl of the wind as it flung IT,
self around the corners of the house.
and the cracking of the old trees "a
their stilf, aged limbs tried to bend be.
fore it.
These sounds, with the occasional
dash OF rain upon the pAnes of the side
windows, gave a feeling of additional
comfort to my safe and comfortable re.
treat. The leaping flames in the FIRE.
place shone on the polished andirous
and lighted spectral fires in the dark
wainscoting. The candles in their
brass sconces remained unlighted, and
only the fitful blaze of the driftwood
gave me occasional glimpses of the tan.
STRAIGHTFORWARD chairs and mahogany
table and cabinet. On the walls hung
two or three portraits, one of the Young
owner OF the house, who was now Il,
Europe on his wedding journey. I had
often examined the face and thought it
handsome-to-night in the dim light /
seemed to see traits that were hidden
BY day. The lips looked self-induleent.
he eyes languid, the whole face an.
Deared that Of one who could not bear
pain, who shrank weakly from suffer-
ng of any kind.
fell into . train of thought so alb |
'orbing that l sat for hours motionles,
q my armchair, only aroused nv the
I'D clock in the hallway, which struck |
welve.
l arose with . start and went to the
window. The rain and wind continued.
hough In a somewhat subdued fashion.
ike the sobbing of child after 3 burst
4 tears.
AS stood there . strange feeling
anne over me that caused me to loof
'ack over my shoulder, az IL l expected
see some one behind me. did ace
ONE one. The chair which / had inst
EFT, pushing it back as I did SO. was
gain drawn up to the fire, and in II at
woman. Wondering IL by any posi-
iiity this could be an insane person
onined in the house and waited on by
lealth, l stood still looking at her and
'aiting to see what she would do. Her
ress was apparently of some thin.
hite material and without decided
mes OF any kind, seeming simply 10
nvelop her person and then to cease ir
.me vague way, like the fleecy edges
cloud. Her facet could see r. In
rofile only-was pale, painfully male.
nd her dark hair looked as n h were
cavity streaked with gray. After
ard, when came to look at IL morn I
osely, | saw it was covered with the ]
me thin mist that dulled the lines of I
sr gown. could scarcely see her
'es. Tor she was looking straight at the
g, but l knew from the expression Of q
n mouth that they must show the
'epest detection. She put out her thin
'nds to the fire with slow SILVER.
wing: ;
LIT is 30 cold-so coldr' G
On her left hand, noticed. CLEANED
heavy wedding ring, almost too much
weight for the fragile finger to v
Or. Coming 10 the conclusion that. q
loever she might be, she was certainly Il
'uo.ect for hospitality on such night. u
approached her slowly and quietly. z
TO startle her, and said:
You have surely not been out in the o
rm, MADAME
she did not start, though she showed o,
her look that she had not before n
own of my presence. no
NO. mol have not been in the .,
rm, she said, ..but it would not m
. hurt me n had" -
Mad - Hamlet" thought l. rs l Ii
aed against the high mautsl-shelf Is
looked down At her. She continued "a
gaze into the fire for awhile. then
|. simply. by way Of explanation. III
apology, 90
always come q twelve. beesuse RI