The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-05-08
A GHOSTS STORY.

A UHOST'S STORY.
had always been something of
dreamer, and when the fancy took me
b rent for the summer an old mansion
by the sea, whose owner was abroad,
and TO occupy it alone, with the ex-
eeption OF two servants, my friends said
twas just like me, and expressed no
alrnrise. 1t was June when | took up
nv quarters by the sea, and spent
nearly all that month in becoming ac-
auainted with the house and its his
tory and in exploring the surrounding
country.
In July the heat was extreme. and I
passed my days lying in some sheltered
nook on the shore where | could hear
iae lazy murmurs of the waves, and
with half shut eyes give myself up to
reYery. The evenings and, indeed, the
nights, il itwere very warm, spent in
shamrock on the long piazza, where
the moonlight filtered through the vines
and fell upon my face as swung gently
to and fro or lay asleep.
One day storm arose that lasted far
into the night. After struggling sally
to the beach, came back with broken
umbrella and drenched clothes, and
having no mind to battle further with
powers so evidently superior, dressed
ID dry clothes and gave myself up to
meditation and reading by bright fire
Of driftwood. The day wore on and
night fell, so that could no longer see
from the parlor windows the white caps
as they tossed like signals of distress
far ont at sea. could still, however,
hear the swirl of the wind as it flung it
self around the corners of the house,
and the cracking of the old trees as
their stiff, aged limbs tried to bend be-
fore it.
These sounds, with the occasional
dash Of rain upon the panes of the side
windows, gave feeling of additional
comfort TO my safe and comfortable re-
treat. The leaping flames in the fire.
place shone ON the polished andirons
and lighted spectral fires in the dark
Wainscoting. The candles in their
brass sconces remained unlighted, and
only the fitful blaze of the driftwood
gave me occasional glimpses of the tall,
straight-backed chairs and mahogany
table and cabinet. On the walls hung
two or three portraits, one of the young
owner of the house, who was now in
Europe on his wedding journey. I had
often examined the face and thought it
handsome-to-night in the dim light /
seemed to see traits that were hidden
BY day. The lips looked self-indulgent,
the eyes languid, the whole face ap-
peared that of one who could not bear
pain, who shrank weakly from suffer
ing Of any kind.
| fell into train of thought so abb
sorhing that sat for hours motionless
n my armchair, only aroused by the
old clock in the hallway, which struck
twelve.
arose with a start and went to the
window. The rain and wind continued,
though in somewhat subdued fashion,
me the sobbing of child after burst
Of tears.
AS ! stood there strange feeling
came over me that caused me to look
saeK over my shoulder, as if / expected
esee some one behind me. / did. see
some one. The chair which had Just
ieih pushing it back as I did SO, was
agaln drawn up to the fire, and in itsal
sWoaan. s. Wondering if by any posi-
paitg this could be an insane person
tonnned in the house and waited on by
wealth, stood still looking at her and
saltlng to see what she would do. Hel
afess was apparently of some thin,
whlle material and without decided
INES OF any kind, seeming simply tc
snYeiop her person and then to cease In
solae vague way, like the fieeey edges
y cloud. Her FACET could see it in
plohle only-was pale, painfully pale,
lha ner dark hair looked as If it were
asayllY streaked with gray. After
safa. when came to look at it more
slosely, saw it was covered with the
same thin mist that dulled the lines OF
tef gown. | could scarcely see her
YES Tor she was looking straight at the
.s, nut knew from the expression o
- mouth that they must show ths
apeePest detection. She put ont her thir
aalus to the fire with q slow shiver
It = so cold-so coldn'
81 ner left hand, / noticed, CLEANED
ns sasasy wedding ring, almost too mucl
ba.a weight for the fragile finger tt
~. coming TO the conclusion that
never she might be, she was certainly
saoeee Tor hospitality on such night
an. s.pptoached I, her slowly and quietly
w. s,w . startle her, and said:
s,o.a lOa have surely not been out in th,
seorm, madam?''
$ 'ae qua not start, though she showed
,o LEI look that she had not before
1a0Wa Of my presence.