St. Landry democrat., 1884-01-26
THE CR0WsNEsT GHOST.
A True Story.

True Story.
It would be almost impossible to dis
cover any one more entirely devoid 81
superstition than myself. NeYerthe-
less, When / was seventeen wears old
an event happened which caused me to
believe mine q haunted life. | was
staying in Paris at the house of nv
guardian, Sir Charles c., and dress
ing for my first ball-a ball at the En-
glish Embassy. My dress, a triumph
of Partisan taste, had been fastened,
and stood before the glass while my
maid arranged the flowers in my hair.
A splendid bouquet lay beside my
gloves aud fan upon the toilet-table.
All, now mademoiselle is beauti-
full" exclaimed my maid Justine, in
French, as she stepped back to survey
her work admiringly.
Iblushed with pleasure. It was the
first compliment that had been paid
me, and my glass told me it was true.
: wonder who sent me these flow
'ersp" I said, taking up the bouquet
preparatory to leaving the room.
Mademoiselle will doubtless dis
cover her admirer among her partners
tonight, was the girl reply.
At this moment there was q knock
at the door. 4 telegram was handed
TO me.
Mrs. Northcote is dangerously i'll,
and wishes to see her step-daughter be-
fore she Dies
Startled. dismayed, but beyond all
measure yexed at receiving such an UNI
timely message, dropped the paper
upon the floor. q Bring me d railway
guide -quickr' I said to Justine.
Mrs. Northcote was my step-mother,
but we had never met. MY father had
made a mesalliance out in india by TAX
ing half-caste for his second wife, and
when he died he left to his widow, for
her life, the family estate of . Crows
nest to which he had only just sue
,ceeded. I found by the railway guide
that If I changed my dress with speed
there was time to catch the last train
that night from Paris. BY noon next
day | should reach Dashshire, in which
county CroWsnest is situated.
: Justine, = cried, excltedly, s.bring
me my travelling dress. You must go
with me tonight to England =
Mon dieu, mademoiselle! Would
you take off that ravishing dress that
suits you to such maryelP Would You I
give up the ball ?''
Once more looked at my reflection
IN the glass. Once more took up the
railway timetable to study its contents.
At nine o'clock next morning there was
another train. = MeditatiYely [
raised the bouquet to my face. Who
was it said: The woman who hesitates
IS lost?o The sweet perfume of the
lowers permeated my senses. Who
1ad sent themp Curiosity prevailed.
would wait till the morrow, 90 to the
ball, and solve the mystery. Sir Charles
Ind Lady c. were waiting for me
when descended the stairs. I did not
Jay anything about the telegram; we
uttered the carriage and were driven to
he Embassy.
The ball was brilliant in the extreme,
md completely intoxicated with the
tdulation I received. ''La iolie An
;laisei'' The new debutante!'' was
N everybody's lips The night was
lalf over before even remembered the j
vowed object of my deferred departure
Or Overwhelmingly, to discover the .
ender of the flowers.
OfWhat were you thinking so pro-
oundiy, Miss Northcote2n asked gen i
leman, in way that made me start.
he speaker was Mr.. Weston. He had !
cen introduced to me few days be- /
ore at my guardians house. II
was thinking of the sender of this !