The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-11-15

"Did biz picture speak to your"
gave an account of my fright, and
Rosaleen told us what she had been
ashamed to confess before, that she
heard the voice when she went to press
a goodnight kiss upon the portrait.
1t was certainly terrible occurrence,
and the fact that it was associated with
Lieutenant De Wires picture filled all of
us, and more especially Residents mind,
with the most dismal forebodings. What
could it meanp Was it indeed an echo
from the spirit land, the warning OF
some impending calamity
To add to our terror, Rosaleen did
not receive the accustomed letter from
her betrothed, due Monday morning;
and when Tuesday night came and still
no news, she felt convinced her lover
had come to his death. fought against
the feeling, and endeavored to fortify
my mind by reason and argument. l
had no faith in 'signs and tokens" and
abhorred the whole gang of long-haired
spiritualsts and strong-minded me-
diums. despised myself for allowing
even the suggestion of a supernatural
cause to enter my mind, but it was use
less. This idea was constantly ringing
in my ears: ''You have so bitterly de-
nounced the existence of spirits, and are
now brought face to face with terror
which will satisfy you that it is not all
humbug."
Without saying word to any one, I
resolved to solve the mystery at all
costs. l slipped down stairs Tuesday
night few minutes before twelve, and
stationed myself before the picture, de-
termined not to yield to any fears. Be-
fore going down l drank a glass of
wine and, bracing myself, awaited
developments. had not long to wait;
once more felt my nerves drawn to
their highest tension by the sepulchral
groans, followed by the clanking of tons
of iron chains dragged over a hollow
vault l pressed my lips together and
my nails into the flesh of my palms; ice
cold chills, followed by the feeling of a
red-hot iron, ran up my spine. When
l heard the words, ave haze got a leg
to begin with,' seeming to come from a
grave a thousand feet deep, could
stand it no longer. dragged myself up
stairs, but could sleep no more that
night.
feared to tell Rosaleen. At noon
the next day the postman brought a
letter from Lieutenant De Wire. When
she read out passage saying he had
fallen and severely sprained if not bro
ken his ankle, suppose my face told
them that this accident was in some
way connected with the ghost, for Rosa
leen began to question me, nor would
she accept any explanation other than
the true one. | knew from her face
that she was satisfied that the accident
would result in amputation, if not
death. In fact, l was so distraught
that / firmly believed that it would end
so myself.
After dinner Rosaleen went into the
sitting-room, took down the picture,
carried it upstairs, and hid it away in
her trunk. That night could not re-
sist the force that impelled me once
more to go down stairs at midnight. l
was by this time so nerveless and ment-
ally unstrung that it seemed there was
not sufficient power in my muscles to
become tense With one hand against
the wall, heard the usual preliminary
sounds with a feeling almost of apathy.
l heard, and heard distinctly, the words,
''It's taken away!' Then, like one
who has received message from the
grave, l staggered back to my room.
''It's taken away" was certainly a
reference to the removed picture, as the
sentence 1--WE have got leg to begin
with" had been a direct allusion to
Lieutenant De Wires accident. was
certain the name "De Wire" had been
uttered and no other, and Rosaleen, the
words "Poison them"
We were unable to 90 on with prep
arations for the wedding; we were at
our wits end to know what to do.
Should we apply to D. D. to exercise
the ghostly voice, an M. d. to prescribe
or d. P. to philosophize? Teddy sug-
gested an M. P. (member of policy,
while poor, dear mother wavered be-
tween the claims of a medium and an
astrologer Fortunately for us, we heard
no demonstrations through the day nor
in the earlier portion of the evening.
The fact that the manifestations oc-
Cured only at midnight was additional
proof of their spiritual source. There
was no chance for investigation; there
was the plain wall, covered with matter
examine or investigate? What could be
done but stare at it and ask ones self,
If it is not voice from the land of
shadows, what is itP'
1t could not go on this way much
longer, l knew; so l resolved on de-
cided movement, and one contrary to
all the reticent traditions of the Des-
pards, who had always insisted on
keeping things to themselves" I Or
dered carriage and sent mother and
Rosaleen out for drive. So soon as
they were out of sight, turned the key
in the lock and went to see the land
lord.
Mark Bolton was a dapper little gen.
tleman of quaint manners, and BEAM
ing courtesy which had wonderful
attraction for me, as opposed to the
strained foppishness affected by the
young men of this age. He was the
agent for and part owner of the block
of houses, one of which was our habita-
ton.
To him related the story, and the
fact that he received the wondrous mys-
terry in sympathizing spirit, instead of
treating it with the derision / so much
feared, raised him much higher in my
esteem.
"Miss Despard,' said he, smiling be-
nignantly, twill you allow me to call
tonight and make the acquaintance of
these troublesome voices?"
Somehow the load dropped off my
shoulders. Mr.. Bolton was SO self-con-
tanned and courageous that went home
lighter in spirit than had been for
many day. At eleven o'clock he
came, end in an exceedingly short time
managed to make us all feel at home
with o=.rselves and our sitting-room
once mare. He seemed to have dropped
into QUE circle as if he had belonged
there fer wears.