The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-18

4 dAAos a W % DCHb OA LCL1dAH1lIS q 4Cu
weeks longer in the quaint old-fash-
Toned house, which now to all intents
and purposes was mine. With the ex-
ception of one bedroom in it, descrip-
ton of Crowsnest is not necessary to the
development of my tale, but to describe
that is imperative. This room had
ken my fancy from the first. 1t was
long and large and low; the walls pan
eed with cedar-wood. On the panels
hung framed tapestry pictures, the work
of past generations of Northcotes. 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 the cedar floor on which
stood the bed-of the same wood and
richly caryed-raised on 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
modern gas bracket, which struck me
as 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
superstitious weakness | decided to
occupy it myself. No sooner had my kind
guardian left Crowsnest than | told Mrs.
Stevens of my intention, whereon she
looked troubled, urging various reasons
why I should not do so, none of
which appeared to me of any weight.
At last she said: cit was Mrs. North
cote's wish that that room should not
be used. She died in it.
. 'And do you suppose I am SO foolish
as to be afraid to sleep there on that
account" | asked.
1T is not my province to suppose
anything, Miss Northcote. Ny late
mistress entertained the fancy, and if
you had seen her before she died it is
my belief she would have given you her
reasons herself. As it is"
AS it is, Mrs. Stevens" / answered,
seeing that she paused, irresolutely, II
am now mistress here, and have set my
heart on that particular bedroom. Have
it prepared, please, for wish to occupy
it at once"
"As you WILL" she said, Indifferent
". But as she turned away caught a
peculiar look on her face, which per-
picked as much as it annoyed me. My
belongings were promptly removed into
the coveted room, my maid, Justine,
occupying small dressing-room adj
joining, but to which there was no
through communication. The first
night of my taking possession of my
new quarters was close and oppressive,
and l remember waking to find the
scent of the cedar-wood slightly over
powering. 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
again woke with sense of languor and
oppression. l 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 dim light;
beyond it a faint moonbeam slantng
across the room in which lay the shadow
of pear-tree that grew outside close
to the house. / could trace the shadows
of the branches and the leaves, and
watched them as they fickered, stirred
by the night wind Keeping my eyes
open in half-sleepy manner, as have
said, all at once | became conscious of
seeing something else besides the
gaslight and the moonlight, something
fn no hot lo
was faint and indistinct, certainly, but
none the less it bore resemblance to a
female form. The head appeared rest
ing on the hand, the hair with ruddy
CLEAN on it foated 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 so
family defined and vague in detail that
before long | fell asleep and next morn
ing remembered it as dream only.
The succeeding night, however, I
again awoke and on opening nv ewes
beheld the self-same figure. But this
time it was more clearly visible, espe-
cially the face, which, turned toward
me, saw to be that of very beautiful
woman. Moreover, to my unspeakable
horror and dismay, discovered in it a
resemblance to my step-mother, whom
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 upbraid
me for not obeying the summons to her
dying bedP
A strangely commingled feeling of
awe and incredulity possessed me. OF
awe, inspired by the presence of a be-
ing from another world; of incredulity,
that such visitation could be possible.
In vain | closed my eyes, pressing my
hands upon them to wipe out, as It
were, the sight. Whenever l opened
them | saw the beautiful, reproachful
face, and it was not until the early sum-
mer morning dawned that it entirely
| disappeared and rose from my bed
sad at heart and worn in body with the
weary vigil of the night. Twice more
the visitation came; after that for two
or three weeks the visits ceased; then
were once more resumed. Before had
been two months at Crowsnest all nv
Wanted courage fed; my entire nature
underwent change. Though spoke of
what | had seen to no one, | was, never
theless, sensitively conscious that Mrs.
Stevens remarked something amiss with
me. [ was even morbidly fearful that
she had suspicion of the cause. / was
convinced of this one morning when
she said, not by any means unkindly:
Justine tells me you have not been
sleeping well, Miss Northcote. Indeed,
| am concerned to see how i'll you look.
Do you not find the cedar chamber COM
fortable?"
Perfectly comfortable, delightful!
would not change it for the world" |
replied, evasiyely.
Comfortable, and with that haunt
ing presence? Heaven forgive me for
the subterfuge! As to Justine, she was
continually urging me to quit what she
termed see villain pays, attributing
my depression to the climate, to the dull