Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-01-25

q
er IN the quaint old-fashioned house,
which now to all intents and purposes
was mine. With the exception of one
bedroom in it, description of Crowsnest
Is not necessary to the development of
my tale, but to describe that is i'm
perative. This room had taken nv
fancy from the fiBt. It was long aud |
large and low; the walls pnnelled with |
cedar-wood. 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, A time mellowed square
OF indian carpet covered the Sentre of the |
cedar floor on which stood the bed-of |
the same wood, and richly carved
raised on a dias. There were two win
dows; that nearest TIE bed, bay with
diamond panes, the ..n.;rgs, similar 40
tlIVsc or the bed, of oldfashioned rich
brocade with faded pink satin Innings.
On the side of the bay window nearest
the bed was fixed modern gas-bracket,
which struck me asa strange anomaly
and the only incongruity amid the
antique surroundings. 1t was in this
chamber my stepmother died, but utterly
devoid of all superstitious weakness l
decided to occupy it myself No sooner
had my kind guardian left Crownsnest
than told Mrs Stevens of my intention,
whereon she looked troubled, urging
various reasons why l should not do so,
none of which appeared to me of any
weight. At last she said; 1t was Mrs.
Northcote's wish that that room should
not be used. She died in it."
And do you suppose l am so foolish
as to be afraid to sleep there on that ac-
count" l asked
" 1t Is not my province to suppose
anything, Miss Norhcote. Ny late mis-
tress entertained the fancy, and if you
had seen her before she died it is my be-
lief she would have given you her
reasons herself. AS it is"
GAS it is, Mrs. Stevens" answered,
seeing that she paused irresolutely, II
am now mistress here, and have set my
heart on that particular bedroom. Have
it prepared, please, for wish to occupy
it at once"
"As you will" she said, indifferently.
But as she turned away caught pecul-
lar look on her face, which perplexed as
much as it annoyed me. My belongings
were promptly removed into the coveted
room, my maid, Justine, occupying a
small dressing-room adjoining, but to
which there was no through communica-
tion. The first night of my taking pos
session of my new quarters was close and
oppressive, and I remember waking to
find the scent of the cedar-wood slightly
overpowering. About midnight rose
threading my way across the floor with
difficulty, for the room was almost in
total darkness, opened the nearest win
dow. The next night, before Justine
left me, I desired her not to turn the gas
quite out. Three nights later l again
woke with a sense of languor and op-
preston. I did not want to be at the
trouble of rising to open the window,
but looked up sleepily. The gas beside
the window gave out dim light; be-
yond it a faint moonbeam slanting across
the room in which lay the shadow of &
pear-tree that grew outside close to the
house. | could trace the shadows of the
branches and the leaves, and watched
them as they fickered, stirred by the
! night wind. Keeping my eyes open IL
! ! half-sleepy manner, as L have said
all at once l became conscious of seeing
something else beside the gaslght and
the moonlight, something that seemed tc
: be between the two. 1t was faint anc
l indistinct certainly but none the less il
3 bore resemblance to female form. Th'
:, head appeared resting on the hand, tn,
l hair with ruddy CLEAN on it foatec
I backward on the shoulders. The rest o
e the figure was lost in darkness. wa
sufficiently awake to know it was NJ
, freak of fancy, and yet the figure was al
9 together so family defined and vague il
: detail that before long fell asleep ant
n next morning remembered it as dream
/ only.
e The succeeding night, however, | agail
e awoke and on opening my eyes behel,
e the self-same figure. But this time /
was more clearly visible, especially tn
J. face, which, turned toward me, / saw t
l. be that of a very beautiful woman
t. Moreover, to my unspeakable horror an
q dismay, discovered in it a resemblance
re to my stepmother, whomI had seen once
and once only, as she lay dead within he
is coffin. The sight was the more distress
le ing to me inasmuch as the face wore a
1t expression of mournful sadness con
Ig bined with one of reproach. Had tt
spirit of my fathers wife returned
Of earth to upbraid me for not obeyinG tt
summons to her dying bed 2
A strange commingled feeling Of aW
so and incredulity possessed me. Of aw
inspired by the apparent presence of
IN being from another world; of incred
er lity, that such visitation could be po
2h sible. In vain l closed my eyes, pressir
ed my hands upon them to wipe out, as
ny were, the sight. Whenever l opene
ge them / saw the beautiful, reproachf
lg face, and it was not until the early sur
nd mer morning dawned that it entirely di
le- appeared, and I rose from my bed sad
he heart and worn in body with the wea
vigils of the night. Twice more t
he visitation came; after that for two or thr
weeks the visits ceased; then once me
rs, were resumed. Before | had been tv
months at Crowsnest all my vauntt
I'D courage fled; my entire nature und'
ri went change. Though Ispoke of WI
Mt l had seen to no one, l was, neverthele
sensitively conscious that Mrs. Steve
il, remarked something amiss with me.
I was even morbibly fearful that she h
suspicion of the cause. Twas convinc
u.s. of this one morning when she said
Id. by any means unkindly
an, "Justine tells me you have not bt
ate sleeping well, Miss Northcote. Inde'
ing / am concerned to see how ill you loC
try Do you not find the cedar chamber co
Sc fortable2"
perfectly comfortable, delightful /!
e" would not change it for the world, "
1ty piled, evasively
ear > "Comfortable," )" and with that hau
you ing presence3 Heaven forgive me for
ave subterfugel AS to Justine, she was q
mi. t,nually urging me to quit, what