Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-01-18
THE CROwsNEsT GHOST.
A True story.


A True Story.
It would be almost impossible to dis.
cover any one moro entirely devoid of
superstition than myself. Neverthe-
less, when l was seventeen years old
an event happened which caused me to
believe mine haunted life. | was
staying in Paris at the house of my
guardian, Sir Charles c., and dress
ing for my first ball-a ball Mt the En-
glish Embassy. My dress. triumph
OF Parisan taste, had been fastened,
and i stood before the glass while my
maid arranged the flowers in my hair.
A splendid bouquet lay beside my
gloves aud fan upon the toilet-table.
"Ah, now mademoiselle is beauti-
full" exclaimed my maid Justine, in
French, as she stepped back to survey
her work admiringly.
blushed with pleasure. 1t was the
first compliment that had been paid
me, and my glass told me it was true.
Z" l wonder who sent me these flow
ersP' l said, taking up the bouquet
preparatory to leaving the room.
Mademoselle will doubtless dis
cover her admirer among her partners
tonight" was the girls reply.
AT this moment there was knock
at the door. A telegram was handed
10 me.
Mrs. Northcote is dangerously i'll,
and wishes TO see her step-daughter be-
fore she dies
Startled, dismayed, but beyond all
measure vexed at receiving such an un-
timely message, dropped the paper
upon the floor. Bring me a railway
guide quickr' said to Justine.
Mrs. Northcote was my step-mother,
but we had never met. My father had
made a mesalliance out in india by tax
ing half-caste for his second wife, and
when he died he left to his widow, for
her life, the family estate of Grows
nest" to which he had only just sue
ceeded. / found by the railway guide
that if changed my dress with speed
that night from Paris. BY noon next
day [ should reach Dashshire, in which
county Crowsnest is situated.
"Justine," cried, excitedly, "bring
me my travelling dress. You must go
with me tonight to England -"
"Mon dieu, mademoiselle! Would
you take of that ravishing dress that
suits you to such marvelP Would you
give up The ball -"
Once more l looked at my reflection
in the glass. Once more l took up the
railway timetable to study its contents.
At nine o'clock next morning there was
another train. Meditatively |
IA sed the bouquet to my face. Who
was it said: "The woman who hesitates
is lostp" The sweet perfume of the
flowers permeated my senses. Who
had sent themP Curiosity prevailed. /
would wait till the morrow, go to the
ball, and solve the mystery. Sir Charles
and Lady c. were waiting for me
when l descended the stairs. / did not
say anything about the telegram; we
entered the carriage and were driven tc
the Embassy.
The ball was brilliant in the extreme,
and completely Intoxicated with the
adulation-I received "La jolie An
glaise!' "The new debutantev' was
on everybody's lips. The night was
half over before even remembered the
avowed object of my deferred departure
for England-namely, to discover the
sender of the flowers.
"Of what were you thinking so pro.
foundly, Miss Northcotep" asked gen
tleman, in a way that made me start
The speaker was Mr. Weston. He haG
been introduced to me few days be
fore at my guardians house.
''G was thinking of the sender of this
lovely bouquet and wondering who he
is. See, my name, Nina, is spelt ou
in white violets,' | answered, holding
the flowers toward him.
Il hope you were thinking kindly Of
the donorP'
Indeed 1 was"
.'Thank you. Will you always S,
think Of him-of meg'
My surprise was too great to fran,
an immediate reply. Besides, hi.
manner embarrassed me. II inferred
so much more than the mere words
/ danced with him more frequently thai
with any one else, and found ney
and strange attraction in his presence
On returning from the ball / told m,
kind host and hostess of the telegram
and Of my determipation to start TO
England ON the morrow.
Lady c.. looked grave when sh
read the message.
..You might have saved few hour
dear, ---,2 she said.
..Only a very few. And then shoul
nave missed the most delightful expert
ence of all my liie!" i answered, fel
yently.
''But it was a case of life and deatl
my child" she added, gently. And
felt she had given me reproof.
My trunks were soon packed by Jui
tine, who accompanied me TO England
Sir Charles c., as my legal guard
an, a,so insisted on going with me, an
late on the following night we wer
driving through the moonless darknes
OF country roads TO Crowsnest.
stat ly housekeeper met us in the hal
miss Northco Q, you come too late,
she said, and there was more austert
th sadness in her tone. '.My dea
mistress died three hours ago. If yo
had left Paris last night you would LA,
been in time. My lady had com ml
nicaiion she desired TO make TO you.n
What was itp' asked, in much di
iress.
THAT no one viii ever know in th
\ world" was the answer And / fe
<om that moment as though Mrs- 81,
was my enemy,