The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-01-19
From Finleys Magazine.l
IN THE CEDAR CHAMBER.

1lN ILL OADA4e Ol2k2u1OLIll
Itwould be almost impossible TO dis
cover any one more entirely devoid of
superstition than myself. Nevertheless,
when I was II years old an event hap
pened which caused me to believe mine
haunted life. L was staying in Paris
at the house of my guardian, Sir Charles
C, and dressing for my first ball
"a ball at the English embassy. My
dress, triumph of Partisan taste, had
been fastened, and | stood before the
glass while my maid arranged the flow
ers IN my hair. A splendid bouquet lay
beside my gloves and fan upon the tot
let table.
"Ah, now nademoiselle is beautiful p
exclaimed my maid, Justine, in French,
as she stepped back to survey her work
anmiringly.
L blushed with pleasure. It was the
first compliment that had been paid me,
and my glass told me it was true.
Z" wonder who sent me these dow-
ers?" / said, taking up the bouquet
preparatory to leaving the room.
Mademoiselle will doubtless discover
her admirer among her partners to-
night" was the girls reply.
At this moment there was knock at
the door. A telegram was handed to
me.
Mrs. Northcote is dangerously i'll,
and wishes to see her stepdaughter be-
fore she dies"
Startled, dismayed, but beyond all
measure vexed at receiving such an un-
timely message, | dropped the paper
upon the floor. Bring me a railway
guide-quick!' / said to Justine.
Mrs. Northcote was nv stepmother,
but we have never met. My father had
made mesalliance out IL India by TAX
ing 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 succeed
ed. [ found by the railway guide tina;
II [ changed my dress with speed there
was time to catch the last train that
night from Paris. By noon next day
should reach Dashire, in which county
CIowsnest is situated.
Justine" cried, excitedly, "brine
me my travelling dress. You must e.
with me tonight to England"
Mon dieu, mddenloaseite! WoGlG
you take off that ravishing dress that suitt
You to such marvel? Would you give
up the BALI"
Once more L looked at my reflection
IN the glass. Once more / took up the
railway time table to study its contents,
At 8 o'clock next morning there was an.
other train. Meditatively
raised the bouquet to my face. Who
was it said, The woman who hesitates
is lost? The sweet perfumes of the
flowers permeated my senses. Who ha6
sent them Curiosity prevailed.
would wait till the morrow, go to the
ball aud solve the mystery. SIR Charles
and Lady C were waiting for me
when | descended the stairs. | did no
say anything about the telegram; we en-
tered the carriage and were driven tt
the embassy.
The ball was brilliant in the extreme
and l completely intoxicated with the
adulation / received. La jOlie an
Qtdise!" "The new debutante," was OF
every body's lips. The night was bal
over before l even remembered the
avowed object OF my deferred departure
for Overwhelmingly, to discover III,
sender of the flowers.
OF what were you thinking so pro
foundry, Miss Northcote 2" asked gen
tleman IN a way that made me start
The speaker. was MIR. Weston. He hae
been introduced to me few days befor,
at my guardians house.
q was thinking of the sender of this
lovely bouquet, and wondering who b,
is. See, my name, Nina, is spelt GU
in white violets," / answered, holding
the flowers towards him.
81 hope you were thinking kindly o
the donor?'
Indeed / was"
Thank you. Will you always sc
think of hlm-of me?'
My surprise was too great to form al
immediate reply. Besides, his manne
embarrassed me. 1t inferred SO mucl
more than the mere mords. / danced
with him more frequently than with any
one else, and found a new and strange
attraction IN his presence. On returning
from the ball l told my kind host an(
hostess of the telegram, and my deter
mination to start for England on the
morrow.
Lady C looked grave when she
read the message.
You might have saved few hours,
dear, -" she said.
"Only a very few. And then l should
have missed the most delightful expert
ence OF all my hfer' / answered fer
vently.
But it was case of life and death, my
child, she answered gently. And l fell
she had given ma a reproof
My trunks 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 late
on the following night we were driving
through the moonless darkness of coun-
try roads to Crowsnest. A stately house
keeper met us in the hall:
Miss Northcote, you come too lete, u
she said, and there was more austerity
than sadness IN her tone. ''My dear miss
tress died three hours ago. If you had
left Paris last night you would have been
IN time. My lady had communication
she desired to make to you"
What was lt?" l asked, in much dis
tress.
THAT no one will ever know in this
world" was the answer. and l felt
from that moment as if Mrs. Stevens
was my enemy.
Sir Charles c. remained at Crows
nest until after the funeral. Then, in
vain, he urged me to return with him to
Paris. was bent on remaining a few
weeks longer in the quaint old fashioned
house, which now to all intents and pur-
poses was mine. With the exec ption of