Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-11-19

on the subject of the Occult, with which
her guest seemed surprisingly familiar.
When tete-a-tete in the cozy dining
room after dinner, Miss Annersleigh
grew enthusiastically confidential She
confessed that deceased friend, who
should be nameless, was "very much in
clined to believe in such things" and, in
return for Mr.. Barstead's variations, she
told him of an apparition distinctly
seen and sworn to by friend of her
married sisters cousin.
At an early hour Mr.. Barstead re-
tired to his room, fortified by no secur-
ity against fear beyond the assurance of
his hostess admiration for his courage.
and night-light which he proposed to
burn all night.
The spirit of reckless hardihood was
in no degree shared by the old lady
The prospect of passing the night alone
was too much for her, and, on the pre-.
text for not feeling well, the housernaid
was requested to share her mistress
room. But, in spite of this, she could
not sleep.
The distance of Mr.. Barstead's room
from her own precluded the possibility
of her hearing anything that might oc-
cur there; but twice during the night
she covered moist and trembling t5e-
meath the bed-clothes, as she fancied
she heard strange noises coming from
the direction of the haunted chamber.
When Miss Annersleigh said "Good
morning" to her guest at breakfast, she
started with surprise at the change the
night had wrought in him. He was
pale, haggard, and wan; and, to her ex-
pectant eyes, presented just the appear
ance that tradition and fancy would at
tribute to one after holding communion
with shade of the departed.
"He must have enjoyed hissef with
that bottle considerably last night" was
the mental comment of the old servitor
on noticing the same symptoms.
Mr.. Barstead was in no hurry to re-
veal the secrets of the dead chamber,
but the sickly expressive smile with
which he acknowledged the salutation
of his hostess conveyed all it was in
tended to.
Miss Annersleigh pretended to be in
terested in the platitudal comments on
the weather, past and prospective, in
which the ghost-seer INDUCED while
occupied over his first cup of coffee
but her Impotence and curiosity at
length asserted themselves. Leaning
over the table, she peered into the face
of her guest and whispered: Odd it
Gomez"
Mr.. Barstead hesitated minute as a
man does who is called upon to make a
statement that he feels no one will be-
ieve.
Really, I am causing you unneces-
sary agitation over simple, not to say
silly, matter" he answered.
Miss Annersleigh stoutly asserted
that she was not in the slightest degree
agitated or upset, but confessed to an
amount of curiosity.
well, them" he resumed, "up to this
morning was quite prepared to believe
that all [ had experienced was the effect
of disordered Imagination; but there
are certain facts that we can not get
over" and he paused contemplatively,
while he played with piece of paper
in his side pocket.
"But I'll tell you what occurred. I
dropped off to sleep very quickly" said
he, again hesitatingly, as If to allow his
listener time to express her admiration
for his GOODNESS. 81 had been asleep
about two hours, when l was awakened
by consciousness that some one was
over me. [ glanced towards
the foot of the bed, and there stood the
figure L had seen on the previous night.
/ saw 1t so distinctly that I was able to
distinguish several features I failed to
notice on the first occasion. The figure
was tall, had bald patch on his head,
and small scar beneath the chin"
Good heavensp exclaimed Miss An
nersleigh, excitedly.
Perhaps it would be better if you re-
Trained from giving me any clew as to
the Identification of the person." inter-
rupted Mr.. Barstead, suavely. "If there
is anything in it, 1 can then be satisfied
that this apparition is not the result of
any previous knowledge on my part of
the person you suppose it to be"
Miss Annersleigh saw the logic of the
suggestion, and promised to abstain
from further Interruptions. Mr.. Bar
stead continued:
After moment or two the figure
beckoned to me, and made sign, as if
desiring me to write. got out of bed,
procuring writing material, and sat at
the table. The figure approached me
slowly and noiselessly. L recollected
placing the pen upon the paper as if
about to begin to write, but nothing
more. The next thing of which I was
conscious was suddenly awakening, feel
ing perfectly chilled. was sitting at
the table holding the pen, and my light
had gone out. I got into bed, being
certain that I was suffering from night
mare, and after an effort fell off to
sleep. On rising this morning I i'm
looked at the paper. You
may imagine my astonishment on find
ing it written upon in hand I did not
recognize"
As he spoke he produced the paper. at
which he had been nervously pulling all
the time. 1t was sheet of note paper.
and scrawled upon it in peculiar hand
which Miss Annersleigh i'm
mediately recognized as that of the de-