Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-09
FOR BELIEVERS IN THE SUPER.
NATURAL.


London Letter to Philadelphia Telegraph.
have just heard a very curious story which
is now going the rounds of London society, and
which forms one of the sensational topics of the
dav. 1t is certainly one of the best authenti-
Gated stories of the supernatural that have
ever heard, and is one of the strangest. Sup
pressing, as is usual under the circumstances.
the names of the parties concerned and that of
the exact locality wherein the incidents trans
pred. the narrative runs as follows:
A few months ago young English artist,
whom we will call Mr.. b, went down to the
country seat of Lord Y to pay that gentle
man visit. The house was very full. but he
was accorded a comfortable and handsome
chamber apparently one of the best in the
house. He remained for three days. the only
noticeable feature about his visit being that
each night he was troubled by a horrible dream.
He dreamed that he was suddenly awakened by
the entrance of some person into his room, and
that on looking around he saw the apartment
brightly Illuminated while ut the window stood
an old lady, richly dressed. in the act OF throw
ing something out. Her task accomplished. she
turned her face toward the amazed spectator
showing cOuntenance so distorted with
evil passions, SO hideous in its express
sion of wickedness, that it thrilled his
soul with horror. Then the light and
the dreadful old woman disappeared to-
gether, leaving the artist to imagine
that he had been tormented by a frightful night
mare. But on returning to London his imagi-
nation was so haunted by that fearful cOunte-
nance, thrice seen amid the watches Of the
n ht. that he made sketch of it, which so con-
veyed the evil expression and revolving aspect
of the midnight hag as to hOrrty everybody to
whom he showed it. One day the artist went
to pay a call on Lord Y. and that gentle
man took him into his picture gallery to show
him some remarkable family portraits. Among
these what was the painter surprise to recognize
In the likeness OF a we'll dressed and stately old
lady the features of his dream visitant, minus
the revolving and wicked expression. Il have
seen that lady," was his involuntary eXclama-
ton as his eyes rested on the portrait. In
deed" said Lord Y. smiling. THAT Is
hardly possible. since she died something
over hundred years ago. She was the
second wife of my great grandfather and was
anything but a credit to the family for she was
strongly suspected of having murdered her hus-
bands son by his first marriage in order to make
her own son the heir to the property. The
unfortunate boy broke his neck in a fall from
one of the windows Of our country seat, and
there is but little doubt of his having been pre-
cpitated from the window by his step-mother."
The artist then related the circumstances OF his
thrlce-repeated dream and sent for his sketch.
which, so far as features went. was identical
with the portrait in Lord KS gallery. He
aitcrward caused the sketch to be photo
@raphcd, and the lady who told me the story
said that she had herself seen the photograph,
and that the wicked face had haunted her after
ward for days.
have also recently heard In England the fol-
lowing strange and undoubtedly true story: A
year ago an American gentleman died suddenly
while travelling in Europe during the summer,
and his remains We're deposited in receiving
vault to await the approach of cold weather be-
fore they were transported to the United States.
Some time before the body arrived in America
one of the deceased's business agents had very
vivid dream. in which he saw his defunct EN-
ploycr standing by his bedside. Il am come"
said the vision, ito tell you that the coffin in
which my corpse has been incosed is entirely
| too large to be gotten through the door of our
family vault. You must have part of the door
way taken down before the funeral, else very
veXatious delay in the ceremonies will ensue."
OF course the gentleman was far too strong
minded to take so extreme step as that of
causing the doorway of the vault to be partly
demolished in obedience to the promptings of Il
dream. But when the body arrived the coffin
was found to be far too large for the entrance.
and all the annoying Incidents that had been
predicted i'll the dream did really take place.
For The truth o. the above story can myself
Youch, as know all the parties