St. Landry democrat., 1884-01-26


before long fell asleep and next morn
ing remembered it as dream only.
The succeeding night, however.
again awoke and ON opening my eyes
| beheld the seif-same figure. But this
time it was more clearly visible, espe.
eially the face, which, turned toward
me, saw to be that of q very beautiful
woman. Moreover, to my unspeakable
horror and dismay, discovered in it q
resemblance to my step-mother, whom
| had seen once, and once only, as she
4 lay dead within her coffin. The sight
was the more distressing to me mas.
much as the face wore an expression OF
mournful sadness combined with one OF
reproach. Had the spirit of my faith
ers wife returned to earth to upbraid
me for not obeying the summons to her
dying bed?
A strangely commingled feeling of
awe and incredulity possessed me. OF
awe, inspired by the presence of a be-
ing from another world; of incredulity,
that such visitation could be possible.
In vain l closed my eyes, pressing my
hands upon them to wipe out, as It
were, the sight. Whenever l opened
them I saw the beautiful, reproachful
face, and it was not until the early sum-
mer morning daWned that it entirely
disappeared and I rose from my bed
sad at heart and worn in body with the
weary vigil of the night Twice more
the visitation came; after that for two
or three weeks the visits ceased; then
We're once more resumed. Before had
been two months at Crowsnest all nv
vaunted courage fled; my entire nature
underwent change. Though spoke of
what had seen to no one, 1 was, never
theless, sensitiyely conscious that Mrs
Stevens remarked 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 unkindly:
"Justine tells me you have not been
sleeping well, Miss Northcote. Indeed,
[ am concerned to see how i'll you look.
Do you not find the cedar chamber COM
fortable?''
Perfectly comfortable, delightful! I
would not change it for the world /
replied, eVasively.
Comfortable and with that haunt
ing presence? Heaven forgive me for
the subterfuge! AS to justine, she was
continually urging me to quit what she
termed zee villain pays" attributing
my depression to the climate, to the dull
life led, to anything rather than to the
true cause. But at length her persist
ency, added to beseeching letters from
my guardian, prevailed, and l returned
to Paris.
There / renewed my acquaintance
with Mr. Weston. It was impossible
to be blind to his feelings, his inten-
tons. Every word and look told me
that he loved me, and the day came
when he asked me to be his wife. To
bis evident surprise, and to my own in
expressible sorrow, refused to marry
him. Could / join my life-a haunted
life to that Of the man loved with all
my soul? True, I had had no visitation
rom the beautiful, reproachful face
since left CroWsnest; but might it not |
-eturn at any time, at any hour? Oh, |
Why had my fathers wife cast this |
blight upon my life? Why did she
haunt me? Was it such q heinous
rhine not to have gone in time to see
Ter die?
Suddenly became possessed with a
TRANCE longing to revisit CroWsnest, to
zee again the weird apparition that had
Exercised SO subtle an influence on my
life. With the persistent waYwardness
i a spoilt child ! insisted on going to
1rowsnest. insisted also that no one
nut Justine should accompany me. My
ndulgent guardian yielded to- my wishes,
nd went. But not once during my
month s visit did see the haunting face.
believed then that my persecution was
nded.
On my return to Paris Mr.. Weston re-
ewed his offer and / accepted him. A
ew months of married happiness effect
ally dispersed the cloud that oYershad-
wed me.
My mind warped, weakened, as it
ad been by giving way to morbid
anc.es gained tone and yigor daily by
with my husbands, which
,as eminently matter of fact and prac-
cal. 1t was, therefore, without the ,
ightest forboding OF evil that we set .
Il for Dashshire to spend the summer ,
lonths at Crowsnest. George was much .
leased with the old house; above all ,,
18th the cedar chamber, which found J
without any orders to that effect-had .
cen prepared for us. It was late at :
ight when we arrived and there was
Of time to alter the arrangement; be- !
des, there seemed no need, for be- !;
eyed, as / have stated, that I had out :
we'd my fears.
Both George and / were tired by our :
urney and on retiring to rest we soon >
Il fast asleep. Towards morning I !
woke.
A stream of moonlight flooded the !
lamber. As of old. the shadow OF the !