The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-01-24

late on tho following night We were
driving through tho moonless darkness
of country roads to Crowsncst. A
stately housekecpcr met us In the hall.
"Miss Northcotc. you come too late,
she said. and there was moro austcrity
than sadness in her tone. "My dear
mistress died three hours ago. II you
had left Paris last night you would have
been in time. Ny lady had comnu-
nica,ion she desired to make TO YOU"
"What was it?" asked, in much dis
trrss.
THAT no one will ever know In this
world" was the answer. And l fclt
from that moment rs though Mrs. Ste
ycns was my enemy.
Sir Charles c. remained ut Crows
nest until after the funeral. Then, in
vain. he urged me To return with him to
Paris. was bent ON remaining few
weeks longer in the quaint old-fash-
toned house, which now to all intcnts
and purposes was mine. With the cx-
ccption Of one bedroom in ii, n dcscrip-
ton of CrowsncSt is not necessary 10 the
development Of my tale, but to describe
that is imperative. This room had
taken my fancy from tho first. IL was
long and large and low; the walls pam
cled with cedar-wood. On tho panels
hung framed tapestry pictures, the work
of past generations of Northcotcs. The
ceiling of ccdar-wood, with curiously
carved raitcrs. made tho walls look even
lower than they were. A time-mcl-
lowed square of Indian carpet covered
the center Of the cedar floor on which
Stood the bed-of the same wood and
richly carycd-raised on dais. There
wcro two windows; that nearest the
bed. n bay with diamond pancs, the
hanging similar To those of the bed. Of
old-fashioncd rich brocadc with faded
pink satin Innings. On the side of the
bay window nearest the bod was fixed
"A modern gas .brackct, which struck me
~ n strange anomaly and the only in
congruity amid the antique surround
ingS. Ii was In this chamber my step
mother died, hut utterly devoid of all
supcr>titious weakness decided 10
occupy il myself. No sooner had my kind
guardian lcf, Crowsncst than told Mrs.
stevens of my intention. whcrcon she
looked troubled. urging various reasons
why should not do SD, none OF
which appeared Ia mo of any weight.
At last she said: lit was Mrs. North
cotc's wish that that room should not
bc used. She died in it,"
"And do YOU suppose l am so foolish
aS TO be afraid 10 sleep there on that
account" asked.
lit is not my province To suppose
anything, Miss Northco,c. My late
mistress entertained the fancy, and if
YOU had seen her before she died il j.
my belief she would have given you her
reasons herself. As il is"
"As il is, Mrs. Stevens" l answered,
seeing that she paused. irrcsolutcly, 81
am now mistress here. and have set my
heart on that particular bedroom. Have
ii prepared. please, for wish to occupy
il at once
LAS YOU will" she said. Indifferent
". But rs she turned away caught y
peculiar look on her face, which per-
picked rs much rs it annoyed me. My
belongings were promptly removed into
the coveted room. my maid, Justine,
occupying small drcssing-room all
joining, but TO which there was no
through communication. The first
night of nv taking possession of my
new quarters was close and oppressive,
and | remember waking e. lind the
scent of the ccdar-wood slightly over
powcring. About midnight ! rose;
threading my way across the floor with
difficulty, for the room was almost in
total darkness, opened the nearest
window. The next night, before JUS
tine left me. desired her not 10 turn
the gas quite out. Three nights later
again woke with sense Of languor
oppression. did not want TO be- nj the
trouble of rising to open the window.
but | looked up slccpily. The Gas be-
side the window gave ont dim light;
beyond il faint moonbeam slanting
across the room in which lay tho shadow
of pcar-trcc that grew outside close
To the house. could trace the shadows
OF the branches and the leaves, and
watched them n they ilickcrcd, stirred
by the night wind. Keeping my eyes
open in a hali-slecpy manner, rs have
said. all at once | became conscious OF
seeing something else besides the
gaslight and the moonlight, something
that seemed TO be between the two. IL
was faint and indistinct, certainly. but
none the less il bore resemblance TO n
female form. The head appeared rest
ing on the hand. the hair with ruddy
CLEAN on il floatcd backward on the
shoulders. The rest OF the figure was
lost in darkness. was sufficiently
awake to know il was no freak Of fancy,
and yet the figure was altogether so
family defined and vague in detail that
before long fell asleep and next morn
ING remembered il as dream only.
The succeeding night, however. l
again awoke and on opening my eyes
bcheld the self-same figure. But this
time il was more clearly visible, cspc-
cially the face, which, turned toward
me. l saw To bc that of very beautiful
woman. Moreover, to my unspcakable
horror and dismay, / discovered in it a
resemblance To my step-mothcr, whom
| had seen once, and once only, rs she
lay dead within her coffin. The sight