Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-01-17
THE CROWSNEST GHOST.


1t would be almost impossible to dis
cover any one more entirely devoid OF
superstition than myself. Neyerthe-
less. when l was seventeen years old
an event happened which caused me
TO believe mine a haunted life. | 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, a
triumph of Partisan taste, had been
fastened, and | stood before the glass
while my maid arranged the flowers
in my hair. A splendid bouquet lay
beside my gloves and fan upon the
toilet table.
"Ah, now mademoiselle is beauti.
fulr' exclaimed my maid Jusiue in
French as she stepped back to survey
her work admiringly.
| blushed with pleasure. 1t was
the first compliment that had been
paid me, and my glass told me it was
true.
81 wonder who sent me these flow
ers2' | said, taking up the bouquet
preparatory to leaving the room.
"Mademoiselle will doubtless dis
cover her admirer among her part
ners tonight, was the girls reply.
AT this moment there was a knock
ut 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
measures veXed at receiving such an
untimely message, dropped the paper
upon the floor Bring me a railway
guide-quickV | said to Justine
Mrs. Northcote was my stepmother,
but we had never met My father had
made a mesalliance out in India by
taking half caste for his second wife,
and when he died he left to his widow,
for her life, the family estate of
"Crowsnest, to which he had only
Just succeeded ] found by the RAIL
way guide that if changed my dress
with speed there was time to cat Ia the
last train that night from Paris. BY
noon next day / should reach Dash
shire, in which county Crowsnest Is
situated.
Justine, cried, excitedly, bring
me my travelling dress. You must go
with me tonight to England
Mon dieu, mademoisellel Would
you take off that ravishing dress that
suits you to such marvel2 Would you
give mp the BALI
Once more lookedsat. my reAec-
ton in the glass Once more | took
the railway timetable to study its
contents. Ats o'clock next morning
there was another train.
Meditatively | raised the boquet to
my face. Who was it said, THE
woman who hesitates is lost" The
sweet perfume of the flowers perma-
ted my senses. Who had sent theme
Curiosity prevailed. / would wait
till the morrow, go to the ball and
solve the mystery. Sir Charles and
Lady c. were waiting fol me when
/ descended the stairs. did not say
anything about the telegram: we en-
tered the carriage and were driven to
the Embassy.
The ball was brilliant in the cx.
treme, and | was completely intoSica
ted with the adulation | received.
La joiie AnglaiseW The new de.
butante" was ON every body's lips
The night was half over before / even
remembered the avowed object of my
deferred departure for England
namely, TO discover the sender of the
flowers.
"Of what were you thinking Sc
profoundly, Miss Northcottei' asked
gentleman in a way that made IN,
start. The speaker was Mr. Weston
He had been introduced to me a few
days before at my guardians house.
Il was thinking of the sender o
this lovely boquet, and wondering
who he is. See, my name. Nina il
spelled out in white violets, an
swe.ed, holding the flowers towar,
hum
II hope you were thinking kindl,
of the donorl
Indeed | was
"Thans you Willyou always thinl
of him Of me-
My surprise was too great to franz
am Immediate reply Besides, hi
manner embarrassed me II inferre,
so much more than the real words
danced with him more frequentl,
than any one else, and found a new
and strange attraction in his presence
On returning from the ball | tolS