The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-08-22

richly carved--raised on das. There
were two windows that nearest the
bed, bay with diamond pancs, the
hangings similar to those of the bed,
of fashioned rich brocade with fa-
ded 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 incongruity amid the antique
surroundings. II was in this chamber
my stepmother died, but utterly devoid
of superstitious weakness, decided to
occupy it myself. No sooner had my
kind guardian left Gro wsnest than |
told Mrs. Stevens of my intention,
whereon she looked troubled, urging
various reasons why l should not do
30, none of which appeared to me of
any weight. AT last she said at
was Mrs. Northcote's wish that that
room should not be used. She died in
| it,
"AHd do you suppose am so foolish
as to be afraid to sleep there on that
account = l asked.
at is not my province to suppose
anything, Miss Northcote. My 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"
GAS il is, Mrs. Stevens" l answered,
seeing that she paused irresolutely, 81
am now mistress here, and have set my
heart on that particular bedroom.
Have it prepared, please, for l wish to
occupy it at once.
GAS you WILL" she 1aid indifferently.
But as she turned away caught pc
culiar look on her face, which perplex.
ed as much as it annoyed me. My be-
longings were promptly removed into
the covered room, my maid, Justine,
occupying small dressing room ad-
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 remember awaking 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 awoke with a sense of languor
and oppression. 1 did not go to the
trouble of rising to open the window,
but looked up sleepily. The gas be-
side the window gave out DIM light /;
beyond it faint moon beam slanting
across the room in which lay the shad-
ow OF pear tree that grew outside
close to the house. could trace the
shadow of the branches and the leaves
and watched them as they flickered,
stirred by the night wind. Keeping
my eyes open in half lf,sleepy manner,
ds / have said, all at once / became
conscious of seeing something else be-
side the gaslight and moonlight, some
thing that seemed to be between the
two. 1t was faint and indistinct, Ger.
tainly, but none the less it bore resem-
blance to female form. The head
appeared resting on the hand, the hair,
with ruddy CLEAN on it, foated back
ward 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 80 family defined and vague
in detail that before long fell asleep
and next morning remembered it as a
dream only.
The succeeding night, however,
again awoke and on opening my eyes
beheld the selfsame figure. But this
time it was more clearly visible, espec.
tally the face, which, turned towards
me, saw to be that of very beauti-
full woman. Moreover, to my un.
speakable horror and dismay, discov.
cred in it resemblance to my step
mother, whom had seen once, and
once only, as she lay dead within her
coffin. The sight was the more dis.
tressing to me inasmuch as the face
wore an expression of mournful sad
ness combined with one of reproach.
Had the spirit of my fathers wife re.
turned to earth to upbraid me for not
obeying the summons to her dying
bed,
| A strangely commingled feeling OF
awe and incredulity possessed me. Of
awe, inspired by the apparent presence
of being from another world; of in
credulity, that such visitation could
be possible In vain l closed my eyes
pressing my hands upon them TO wipe
out, as it were, the sight. Whenever
| opened them ! saw the eautiful, re-
preached face, and it was not until the
early summer morning dawned that it
entirely disappeared and l 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 my yaunted courage fled
my entire nature underwent change.
Though / spoke of what l had seen to
one, l was, nevertheless, sensitively
conscious that Mrs. Stevens remarked
something amiss with me. l 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. In.
deed, | am concerned to see how i'll
you look. DO you not find the cedar
chamber comfortable ?"
perfectly comfortable, delightful !
| would not change it for the world, y
| replied, evasively.
Comfortable" and with that haunt,
ing presence! Heaven forgive me for
that subtearuge, As to Justine, she
was continually urging me to quit what
she termed zee villain pays" attribut
ing my depression to the climate, to
the dull life led, to anything rather
than TO the true cause. But at length
her persistency, added to beseeching
letters from my guardian, prevailed,
and returned to Paris.
There l renewed my acquaintance
with Mr.. Weston. 1t was impossible
To he blind IN his faalinua his ;ntan