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


not obeying the summons of her dying
bed2
a strangely commingled feeling of
awe and incredibly possessed me.
OF awe, inspired by the apparent pres
ence OF being from another world
of incredibly, that such a visitation
could be pos ible. In vain | closed
my eyes, pressing my hands upon
them to wipe out, as it were, the sight.
Whenever / o pened them ] saw the
beautiful. proachful face, and it
was not until the early summer morn
ing dawn that it entirely disappeared,
and | rose from my bed sad at heart
and worn in body with the weary
vigil Of he night. Twice more the
visitation came; after that the vista
tons ceased for two or three weeks,
then were once more resumed. Be
| fore | had been two months at Crown
set, all my Wanted courage fled my
entire nature underwent a change.
Though / spoke to no one of what
had seen, l was, nevertheless, sensi-
lively conscious that Mrs. Stevens re
marked something amiss with me. |
was even morbidly fearful that she
had suspicion of the cause. | was
convinced Of this one morning when
she said-not by any means unkind-
ly:
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 omfortable, delightful (!
| would not change it for the world, "
/ answered evasiyely.
" Comfortable" and with that
haunting presence Heaven forgive
me for the subterfuge AS to Justine,
she was continually urging me to quit
what she termed zee villain pays, at
tributing 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 be-
seeching letters from my guardian,
prevailed, and l returned TO PARIS.
There | renewed my acquaintance
with Mr.. Weston. 1t was impossible
TO be blind to his feelings, his inten-
tons. Every word and look told me
Llldb llC lONth illts illA bAlC Jay GGLliC
when he asked me to be his wife To
his evident surprise, and to my own
inexpressible sorrow, refused TO
marry him. Could join my life-a
haunted life to that of the man |
loved with all my soul2 True, l had
had no visitation from the beautiful,
reproachful face since l left Crows
nest; but might it not return at any
time, at any hour2 Oh, why had my
fathers wife cast this blight upon my
life? Why did she haunt me2 Was
it such heinous crime not 10 have
gone in ume 10 see her die2
Suddenly became possessed with a
strange longing to revisit Crowsnest,
to see again the weird apparition that
had exercised so subtle an influence
on my life. With the persistent way
warduess of a spoilt child | insisted on
going to Crowsuest | insisted also
that no one but Justine should accom-
pany me. Ny indulgvnt guardian
yielded to my wishes and | went. But
not once during my months visit
did / see the haunting face. l be-
lieved then that my persecution was
ended
On my return to Paris Mr.. Weston
renewed his offer and I accepted him.
a few months of married happiness
effectually dispersed the cloud that
had overshadowed me.
My mind-warped, weakened as it
had been By giving way to morbid
fancies-gained tone and vigor daily
by associating with my husbands
which was eminently matter of fact
and practical 1t was therefore, with
out the slightest forebodiug of evil
that we set off for Dashshire to spend
the summer months at Crowsnest
George was much pleased with the old
house; above all the cedar chamber
which | found without any orders to
that etfect-had been prepared for US,
1t was late at night when we arrived,
and there was not time to alter the
arrangement; besides, there seemed
no need, for [ believed, as | have
stated, that l had outlIved my fears.
Both George and l were tired by
our journey, and on retiring to rest we
soon fell fast asleep. Toward morning
| awoke.
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, watch
ed it for while, then-this shadow
being closely associated in my mind
with something else-I looked toward
the bay window, and could scarcely
suppress a cry. There, in the old place,
between the gaslight and the moon
light appeared the face
George, / whispered, trembling,
"wake feel so frightened"
"What is it, Ninal Have you seen
a ghostlH he inquired lightly.
Hush Look there
Rising himself upon his elbow he
obeyed
why, there's woman in the
roomW he exclaimed in the greatest
CONSERVATION. Then, after pausing a
:. L.. ~1g -l,r