The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-01-24
my guardian, prevailed, and returned

my guardian, prevailed, and returned
to Paris.
There I renewed my acquaintance
with Mr.. Weston. II was impossible
to DO blind TO his feelings. his intcn.
tons. Every word aud look told mo
that no loved me, and tho day camo
when he asked mo to DO his wife. To
his evident surprise, and to my own In
cxprcssiblc sorrow, refused TO marry
him. Could l Join my life haunted
lifo-to that Of the man l loved with NIL
my soul? True. had had no visitation
from tho beautiful. rcproachful faco
since left Crowsncst; but might II not
return ut any time. ut any hour? Oh.
why had my fathers wife cast this
blight upon my life? Why did sho
haunt mo? Was II such n hcinous
crime not to have gone in time to sec
her die?
Suddenly l became possessed with n
strange longing to revisit Crowsncst, to
see again the weird apparition that had
exercised so subtle mn influence on my
life. With tho persistent waywardncss
of q spoilt child l insisted on going to
Crowsncst. l insisted also that no one
but Justine should accompany mo. My
indulgcnt guardian yieldcdt TO my wishes,
and | went. But not once during my
months visit did see the haunting face.
believed then that my persecution was
ended.
On my return TO Paris Mr.. Weston re-
ncwcd his offer and | accepted him. A
few months of married happiness effect
ually dispersed the cloud that ovcrshad-
owed me.
Ny mind-warpcd, weakened, rs IL
had been by giving way to morbid
fancics-gaincd tono and vigor daily by
associating with my husbands, which
was cminently matter of fact and prac-
teal IL was. therefore. without the
slightest furboding Of evil that We set
on for Dashshirc to spend the summer
months.at Crowsncst. George was much
pleased with the old house; above all
with the cedar chamber, which l found
without any orders To that cilrct-had
been prepared for us. II was late ut
night when We arrived and there was
not time to alter the arrangement; be-
sides, there seemed no need, for be-
licvcd. ~ have stated, that had out
lived my fears.
Both George and were tired by our
journey and on retiring To rest We soon
fell fast asleep. Towards morning l
awokc.
A stream Of moonlight flooded the
chamber. AS of old. the shadow of the
pear tree lay along the floor, Pickering
IN the night wind. watched IL for
awhile, thcn-this shadow being close
" associated in my mind with something
clSc-l looked towards the bay window,
and could scarcely suppress cry.
There, in the old place, between the
gaslight and the moonlight, appeared
the face!
George" whispered, trembling.
awake, feel so frightened"
What is it, Nina? Have You seen n
ghoSt?" he inquired lightly.
Hush! Look there.
Raising himself upon his elbow he
obcyed.
"Why. there is a woman in the
room!" he exclaimed, in the greatest
CONSERVATION. Then, after pausing y
few moments. he continued slowly and
deliberately, rs though reading by q
bad light from n book. "No! i, Is only
an illusion but nho, an Illusion! /
seem TO soc most distinctly u beautiful
woman, her head turned this way. sup
ported by her hand. Her hair-a bright
auburn hangs loose about her shout
dors. 1t is n handsome face. but sor-
rowful-"
"Stay. what are YOU about TO do?"
| asked, ~. rising, he made n quick
movement forward.
ITO dispcl the illusion, darling"
So saying he shook the curtain vio-
lcntly.
May all ghostly visitants DO rs cast
" dispersed. he continued, laughing,
rs the figure quivcrcd. swayed. became
distorted. then. in moment, vanished.
"But what wdS it?'
IL will reproduce it and YOU shall
See"
He looscd the curtain and it fell to the
ground in the old folds and creaSrS, ~
IL was before. There, Sure enough, she
was again.
"And is this what scared you on your
first visit hcro?" he inquired, turning
to me suddenly rs though new lish,
broke on him.
Yes. thought il was the spiri, of
my step-mo her. / imagined tho like
ness of course" Then, between laugh
ter and tears, | made full confession of
all my supcrsti,ious folly.
Next morning we closely interrogatcd
Mrs. Stevens. She expressed her belief
that the cedar chamber was haunt d,
and that the communication her mis-
trcss had desired to make to me was to
that effect.
We read of strange results brought
about by the juXtaposition OF certain
heavenly bodies. Here was an instance,
unique in its way, in which n heavenly
body--thc moon aided by such common
place earthly materials as modern gas
let and an old faded silkcn curtain, pro-
duccd as perfect specimen of bcauti-
full female ghost rs ever visited our
world.-Beigrdria AnnudL