Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-01-24


of country roads to Crowsnest. A
stately housekeeper met us in the hall.
''Miss NOrthcOte, you come too late, !"
she said, and there was more austerity
than sadness in her tone. my dear
mistress died three hours ago If YOU
had left Paris last night YOU would have
been in time. Ny lady had com nu-
nication she desired to make to YOU"
''What was it?' asked, in much dis
tresS.
That no one wi ever know in this
world" was the answer. And l felt
from that moment as though Mrs. Ste
yens was my enemy.
Sir Charles G remained at Crows
nest until after the funeral. Then, in
vain, he urged me To return with him TO
Paris. | was bent on remaining a few
weeks longer in the quaint old-fash-
ionei house, which now to all intents
and purposes was mine. With the eX-
ceptiOn Of one bedroom in if, a descrip-
ton OF Crowsnest is not necessary to the
development of my tale, but to describe
that is imperative. This room had
ken my fancy from the first 1t was
anu ioH Tic Walls Ddu-
eled with cedar-wooi. On the panels
hung framed tapestry pictures. the work
OF past generations of NorthcOtes. The
ceiling of cedar-wood, with curiously
carved rafters. made the walls look even
lower than they were. 4 time-mel-
lowed square of Indian carpet covered
the center of the cedar floor on which
stood the be6.of the same wood and
richly carved-raised on dais. There
were two win lows; that nearest the
bed, bay with diamond panes. the
hanging similar TO those OF the bed, of
old-fashiOncd rich brocade with faded
pink satin Innings. On the side of the
bay window nearest the bed was hXcl
modern gas bracket, which struck me
as strange anomaly and the only in
cOngruity amid the antique surround
ings. 1t was in this chamrer my step
mother died, but utterly devoid of all
Superst ,tious weakness ! decided to
occupy it myself. No sooner had my kind
guardian left Crowsnest than told Mrs.
Stevens of my intention, wherein she
looked troubled, urging various reasons
why l should not do SO. none of
which appeared to me of any weight.
At last she sad: at was Mrs. North
cote's wish that that room should not
be used She died in it,"
''And do You suppose am so foolish
as to be afraid TO sleep there on that
account" | asked
''lt is not my province TO suppose
Miss Northcote. Ny late
mistress entertained the fancy, and if
YOU had seen her before she died it is
my belief she would have given you her
reasons herself. As it is
LAS it is, Mrs. Stevens" l answered,
seeing that she paused, irresolutely, Il
am now mistress here. and have set my
heart on that particular bedroom. Have
it prepared, please, for l wish to occupy
it at once
"As you WILL" she said, Indifferent
~. But as she turned away l caught
peculiar look on her face, which per-
picked as much as it annoyed me. My
belongings were promptly removed into
the coveted room, my maid, Justine,
occupying small dressing-room ad-
joining, but to which there was no
through communication. The first
night of my taking possession of my
new quarters was close and oppressive,
and l remember waking to find the
scent of the cedar-wood slightly over
power.ng. About midnight / rose;
my way across the floor with
TO the room was almost in
total darkness, l opened the nearest !
The next night. before JUS |
lnft I
he gas quite out. Three nights later |
again woke with sense of languor and
oppression. did not want to be at the
rOublc of rising to open the window,
but looked up slecpily. The gas be-
side the window gave out dim light; !
beyond it faint moOnbeam slanting /
across the room in which lay the shadow |
If u pear-trec that grew outside close |
20 the house. could trace the shadows /
IF the branches and the leaves, and
them rs they flickered. stirred /
~ the night wind. Keeping my eyes
open in half-sleepy manner, as have
said, all at one, became conscious of
seeing something else iesides the
yasight and the moonlight, something
hat seemed to be between the two. 1t
vas faint and indistiDct. certainly. but
hone the less il bore resemblance to
emale form. The head appeared rest
NJ on tie hand. the hair with r,lddy
,leam on il fioated backward on the
houlde.s. The rest OF the figure was
os: in darkness. was sufficiently
awake to know it was no freak Of fancy,
md yet the figure was altogether SO
ain ly defined and vague in de all that
'efore long fell asleep and next morn
NC remembered it as 4 dream only.
The succeeding night. however. 1
lgain awoAe and on opening my eyes
,eheld the self-sama figure But this =
ime it was more clearly visible, espe-
ally the face. which, turned toward
ne. | saw TO be that of very beautiful
Moreover. to my unspeakable
'orror and dismay. discovered in it
csembiance 10 my step-mothcr. whom
had seen once, and once only. as she
ay dead within her coffin. The sight
vas the more distressing TO me mas
much as The face wore an expression of
ncurnful sadness combined with one OF
eproach. Had the spirit of nv faith
RS wife lie. urned to earth to upbraid
ne for not obeying the summons to her
wing beda
A strangely cOmmingled feeling of
we and incredulity po ,scsSed me. OF
we. inspired by the presence of be-
NC from another world; OF incredulity.
hat such visitation could be possible
n vain closed my eyes, pressing my
ands upon them to wipe out, as /:
Terc. the sight. Whenever l opened
EN- | saw the beautiful. rcproachful
ace, and it was not until the early sum-