Barbour County index., 1884-01-25
THE CROwSNEST GHOST.
a True story.

AhE NhVNNNENI GHOAI.
a True story.
10 would Dc almost impo..iblo IN i;s
cover any one more entirely devoid OF
superstition than myself. Neverthe-
Iess' when was seventeen years old
hh eNont happened which caused me 10
believe minc a haunted life. was
staymg IN Paris nj the house of my
Guardian, Sir Charles c., and dress
ing for my first ba.l-a ball NJ the En-
glish Embassy. Nv dress. n triumph
ot Parisian ttstc. had been fastened.
and | stood before the glass while INV
maid arranged the flower. In NV hair.
n splend bouquet lay bcsile NV
glove. aud fan upon the toilct-tablc.
Ah, now madcmOisello II bcauti.
iul'' exclaimed my maid Justine. In
French, rs sire stepped back 10 survey
her work admiringfy.
blushcd with pleasure. Ii was the
nrst compliment that hal been paid
me, and my glass told me IL was true.
wonder who sent mo these iow-
ersF' | said. taking up the bouquet
preparatory to leaving the room.
" Madcmois lie will doubtless dis
cover her udmircr among her partner,
tonight, was the girls reply.
~ this moment there was n knock
Mt tn door. \ telegram was handed
TO me.
- Mrs. Northcotc is dangerously ill.,.
anu WISHES To- sec her step-daughtcr be-
fOro she dies"
startled, dismayod, but beyond nll
measure veVcd at receiving such an un-
timely message, dropped the paper
upon the fOor. Bring me n railway
guide -quick"' said TO Justine.
Mrs. Norihcote WIS my step-mother.
nut we had never met. My father had
madc n mcsaliiancc out i'm india by tax
ing halt-casto for his second wife. and
when he died he left Co his widow. for
her life, the family estate Of Grows
nest To which he had only lust sue
rcrIcd. i found by The railway guide
That u | changed my dress with speed
There Was time to catch the last train
that night from Paris. Bv noon next
uay should reach Dash,hirc. i'm which
county Crow nest Is situated.
justine. I cried. cNcItedlv, ..brinr
ne my travelling dress. You must ro
with me tonight to England --"
Mon dieu. madcmoiselle Would
YOU take ol that ravshing dress that
suits YOU to such maryclP Would Won
give up The ball -"
Once moro | looked M NV reflection
IN the glass. Once more took nm tho
railway Timetable to study its contents
NJ nine a clock next morning there was
uh"'h' r train. Mcditatiycly |
ra scd the bouquet {, my face. Who
was % sald: "ihc woman who hesitatcs
y lust' The sweet perfume of the
flowers pcrmcatcd my senses. Who
bad srnt thcmP Curiosity prevailed. /
would wait till the morrow, 90 To- tho
lall' and solve the mystery. Sir Charles
anu Lazy c. were wa ting 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 brilliant in the extreme.
and l completely intoxicated with the
ndulat.On / received LA iolie An
glaise!' "Ihc new debutanter' was
ON everybody's lips. The night was
hall over before | even remembered the
sN"wed object Of my deferred departure
lor England-namcly. 10 discover the
sender Ot the flowers
VI what were YOU thinking so pro-
touudly, Miss NOrthcOtcP' asked n ven
llrman, In way that made me start
lhc speaker was Mr.. Weston. lie had
been introduced 10 me n few days be-
tore at my guardians house.
" was thinking II the sender of this
lovely bouquet. and wondering who ne
ls. See, my name. Nina "a spelt ont
In white violots.' / answered. holding
The flowers toward him.
i hope you were thinking kindly Of
tho donOrpn
Indeed I was"
Thank You. VIII you always so
think Of him Of meP'
My surprise was too great TO frame
Rn immediate reply. Besides. his
mann r embarrassed me. IL Inferred
20 much more than the mere words.
l danced with him more frequently than
with any one else. and found new
and strange attraction i'm 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.
"Iou might have saved few hours
dear, ----,' she said
''OMy n very few. And then should
have missed the most delightful expert
oucc Of all my lifer' answered, fer
vently.
"But Il was case Of life and death,
my child" she added. gently. And
telt she had given me n rcproof.
My trunks were soon packed by JUS
tine, who accompanied me to England.
Sir Charles c.. as my legal guardi-
an, also insisted on going with me, and
late on the following night we were
driving through the moonless darkness
II country roads TO Crowsnest. A
stat N housekcepcr met us ia the hall.
Miss Northcoie. You come too late. =
she said, and there was more austerity
than sadness in her tone. sAIv dear
mistress died three hours ago. If Won
had left Parisl last night you would have
been In time. NV lady had n comnu-
nicatiou she desired 10 make to YOU"
"Whatwas it?' | asked. in much dis
tress.
That no one wi ever know In thi,
world, was the answer. And | fell
from that moment az though MyH. sto'
Tens was ny enemy