The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-01-24
TIE CROwSNEsT GHOST.
a True story.

II would bc almost impossible Ia Ills
cover any one moro entirely devoid al
superstition than myself. Ncvcrthc-
less. when | was seventeen years old
an event happened which caused me tC
believe mine u haunted life. | was
STAYING in Paris ut the house of my
guardian, Sir Charles C, and dress
ing for NV first ball-a ball ut the En-.
gliSh Embassy. Ny dress, II triumph
Of Partisan taste, had been fastened,
and stood before the glass while my
maid arranged the flowers in my hair.
\ splendid bouquet Law beside my
gloves aud fan upon the toilct-tablc.
"Ah, now madcmoi>cllc is bcauti'
full" exclaimed my maid Justine, in
French. rs she stepped back To survey
her work admiringly.
lblushcd with pleasure. II was the
first compliment that had been paid
me. and my glass told me il was true.
II wonder who sent me these flow,
crs?" / said, taking up the bouquet
preparatory To leaving the room.
Madcmoiscllc viii doubtless dis
cover her admirer among her partners
tonight" was the girls reply.
At this moment there was knock
at the door. \ telegram was handed
10 me.
Mrs. Nor,hcotc is dangerously i'll,
and wishes TO sec her stcp-daughtcr DO,
fore she dies"
Startled. dismaycd. but beyond nj
measure veNcd AT receiving such an nm
timely message, dropped the paper
upon the llour. " Bring me II railway
guidc-quick!" | said To Justine.
Mrs. Nor,hcotc WAS my Stcp-mothcr,
but we had never met. NV father hal
made mcSalliancc ont i'm India by TAX
ing "a hali-castc for his second wife. and
when he died he left 10 his widow. for
her life. the family estate Of Grows
nest" 10 which he had only Just sue
cccded. i found by the railway guide
that il l changed my dress with speed
there was time TO catch the last train
that night from Paris. BY noon mex,
day should reach DashShirc, in which
county Crow>ncSt Is situated,
Justine | cried. eXcltcdly, "bring
mo my travelling dress. You must 80
with me tonight to England -"
"Mon dieu, mademoiSellc. Would
YOU take oil that ravishing dress that
suits you To such marvel? Would YOU
give up the ball -"
Once more | looked NJ my reflection
in the glass. Once more | took up the
railway timetable TO study its contents.
AZ nine o'clock next morning there was
another train. Mcditatiyely
raised the bouquet - my face. Who
was it said: 1.-The woman who hcSitatcs
is lOSt?' The sweet perfume of the
flowers pcrmcatcd my senses. Who
had sent them? Curiosity prevailed. ]
would wait till the morrow, 90 To the
ball, AMI solve the mystery. Sir Charles
and Lady C were waiting for me
when | descend ID the stairs. did not
say anything about the telegram; we
entered the carriage and were driven tC
the Embassy.
The ball was brilliant in the extreme,
and | completely intoxicated with the
adulation l received. ia iolie An.
glaisc!' The new dcbutanter' was
on evcrybody'S lips. The night was
half over before even remembered the
avowed object of NV deferred departure
for overwhelmingly, TO discover the
sender of the flowers.
"Of what were you thinking so pro-
foundry. Miss Northcoto?" asked u gen.
tleman. in a way that made me start.
The speaker was Mr. Weston. He had
been introduced To me few days be-
fore at my guardians house.
81 was thinking Of the sender of thi,
lovely bouquet and wondering who h,
is. See, my name. Nina is spelt on
in white violcts," / answered, holding
the flowers toward him.
81 hope you were thinking kindly Of
tho donor7"
"Indeed was"
Thank you. Will you always 81
think of him-of meg'
My surprise was too great to frame
an immediate reply. Besides, hi:
manner embarrassed me. IL inferred
SO much more than the mere words
i danced with him more frequently thar
with any one else. and found new
and strange attraction in his presence
On returning from the ball / told IN,
kind host and hostess OF the telegram
and of my determination 10 start fol
England on the morrow.
Lady c. looked grave when sh'
read the message.
you might have saved few hour
dear. -, she said.
"Only very few. And then ! shoulC
have missed the most delightful expert
ence of all my life" answered. fer
vently.
"But II was case OF life and death
my child" she added. gently. And
felt she had given mo q rcproof.
My trunks were soon packed by Jus
tine. who accompanied me 10 England
Sir Charles c.. rs my legal guard
sn. also insisted on going with me, an'