The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-09-13

confessed that a deceased friend. who
should be nameless. was 4 every much
inclined to believe in such things :;
and, in return for Mr.. Barstead's mar
rations, she told him of an apparation
distinctly seen and sworn to by a friend
of her married sisters cousin.
vt an early hour, Mr.. Barstcad re
tired to his room, fortified by no Sc
curity against fear beyond the assurance
of his hostncss' admiration for his cou-
age, and 4 nightlsht, which he pro
posed to burn all night.
The spirit of reckless hardihood was
in no degree shared by the old lady.
The prospect of passing the night alone
was too much for her and, on the pre-
text of not feeling well, the housemaid
was requested to share her mistress
room. But, in spite of this, she could
not sleep.
The distance of Mr.. Barstead's room
from her own precluded the possibility
of her hearing anything that might oc-
cur there but twice during the night
she covered moist and trembling be
meath the Dedclothcs, as she fancied
sho heard strange noises coming from
the direction of the haunted chamber.
When Miss Annerslcigh said GOO
morning" to her guest at breakfast she
started with surprise at the change the
night had wrought in him. He was
pale, haggard and wan, AMI, to her cx-
pectant eyes, presented just the APP
pearance that tradition and fancy would
attribute to one after holding commun
ion with shade of the departed
"He must have enjoyed hissclf with
that bottle pretty considerably last
night" WIS the mental comment of the
old servitor on noticing the same symp-
tons.
Mr.. Barstcad was in no hurry to re-
veal the secrets of the dead chamber,
but the sickly, expressive smile with
which he acknowledged the salutary OF
his hostess conveyed all it was intended
to-
Miss Annersleigh pretended to be in
terested in the platitudal comments on
the weather, past the prospective, in
which the ghost-seer INDUCED while &C
cupicd over his first cup OF coffee but
her impotence and curiosity at length
asserted themselves. Leaning over the
table, she peered into the face of her
guest, and whispered, did it Gomez
Mr.. Barstead hesitatcd minute, as
Il man does who is called upon to make
statement that he feels no one will
believe.
REALLY, fear l am causing YOU I'M
necessary agitation over a simple, not
to say silly, matter" he answered.
Miss Annersleigh stoutly asserted
that she was not in the slightest degree
agitatcd or upset, but confessed to an
amount of curiosity.
"WeIl, then" he resumed, up to
this morning | was quite prepared to
believe that all had experienced was
the effect of a disorlercd imagination T;
but there are certain facts which we
cannot get over" and he paused con-
templatively, while he played with a
piece of paper in his side pocket. But
III tell you what occurred. | dropped
off to sleep very quickly" said he,
again hesitatinS, as if to allow his list
ener time to express her admiration for
his GOODNESS. Il had been asleep about
two hours, when | was awakened by 4
consciousness that some one was stand
ing over me. | glanced toward the
foot of the bed, and there stood the
figure | had seen on the previous night.
| saw it SO distinctly that | was able to
distinguish several features | failed to
notice on the first occasion. The fig
ure was tall, had a bald patch on its
head and small scar beneath the chin. u
Good heavens :" exclaimed Miss
Annerslcigh, excitedly.
"Perhaps it would be better if you re
Trained from giving me any clue as to
the Identification of the person. inter-
rupted Mr.. Barstead, suavely. IF
there is anything in it, | can then be
satisfied that this apparition is not the
result of any previous knowledge on my
part of the person you suppose it to
be-"
Miss AnnersIeigh saw the logic of
the suggestion and promised to abstain
from further Interruptions. Mr.. Bar
stead continued:
after a moment Or two the figure
beCkoned to me, and made Il sign, as
if desiring me to write. | got out of
bed, procured writing material, and sat
at the table. The figure approached
me slowly and noiselessly. I>recollect
placing the pen upon the paper as if
about to begin to write, but nothing
more. The next thing of which | was
conscious was suddenly awaking. feel
ing perfectly chilled. / was sitting at
the table holding the pen, and my light
had gone out. got into bed, being
certain that | was suffering from night
mare, and after an effort fell off to sleep.
On rising this morning | Immediately
looked at the paper. You may mag
inc my establishment on finding it writ
ten upon in Il hand | did not rccog-
nize."
As he spoke he produced the paper,