Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-03-28
A GHOST STORY.
[CoNCbUDED.1 ]

She remained silent and thoughtful for
moment, and then seemed to comprehend II
at once. She told me that sister OF hers, an
only one TO whom her father was devotedly
attached, died hear four months previously
that her father had never vet recovered from
The shock of her DEATH He had often ex-
pressed the most earnest wish for a portrait
Of her indeed, IL was his one thought and
she hoped, IL something of the kind could he
done, II would improve his health. Here
she hositated, stainmered and burst into
tears. After awhile she continued 1t is
no use.hiding from you what you must be
has been so ever since dear Caroline WAS
buried. lie says he is always seeing dear
Caroline, and he Is subject TO fearful delu-
sions The doctor says he cannot tell how
much worse he may be, aud that everything
dangerous, like knives or razurs, Is TO be kept
out of his reach. II was necessary you should
not see him again this evening, as he was
unable 10 CONVERSE properly, and ! fear the
saine may be the case tomorrow but per-
haps you can stay over Sunday, and may
asked whether they had any materials for
making a likeness--a photograph, a sketch
or anything else for me to go from. "No, they
had nothing" Gould she describe her
clearlyY' She thought she could, and there
was a print that was very much like her, but
she had mislsid it, / mentioned that with
such disadvantages and i'm such an absence
OF materials did not anticipate very salts
i8tctOTy TeStllt ndu pdlT1teu unuer
such circumstances, but their success much
depended upon the powers of description of
the persons who were to assist me by their
recollection in some instances ! had at
tanned certain amount of success, but i'm
most the result was quite failure. The
medical attendant came, but l did not see
him. | learned, however, that he ordered
strict watch to be kept on his patient till he
came again tho next morning. Seeing the
state of things and how much the little lady
In utt tn 4 ri IN, md rbn
next morning heard that her father was de-
cidedly better he had inquired earnestly.
on waking, whether ! was really In the
house, and at breakfast time he sent down to
say that he hoped nothing would prevent my
making an attempt at the portrait immedi-
ately, and he expected to be able to see me in
the course of the day.
Directly after break fast set to work, aided
by such description as the sister could give
me. L tried again and again, but without
success, or, indeed, the least prospect of IL.
The features, was told, were separately
like, but the expression was not. l toiled on
the greater part of the day, with no better
result. The different studies / made were
taken up to the invalid, but the same an
swer was always returned-no resemblance.
L had eXerted myself to the utmost, and in
fact, was not little fatigued by so doing--a
circumstance that the little lady evidently
noticed, as she expressed herself most CRATE
ful for the interest she could see took i'm the
matter and referred the unsuccessful result
entirely to her want of powers of descrip-
ton.
She also said it was so provoking! she had
print-a portrait of lady, that was so like,
but IL had gone--she had missed it from her
book for three weeks past. Ii was the more
disappointing, as she was sure 1t would have
been of great assistance. | asked If she could
tell me who the print was OF, as, IL | knew,
could easily procure one in London. She
answered Lady NJ. a. immediately. the
name was uttered the whole scene of the lady
of the railway carriage presented itself to
me. j had my sketch-book in my port
manteau up stairs, and, by fortunate chance,
fixed III it was the print in question, with the
two pencil sketches. | instantly brought
them down and showed them TO Maria Lutte.
She looked at them for a moment, turned her
eyes full upon me, and said slowly and with
something of fear in her manner, "Where did
you get these?" Then quicker, and without
waiting forniy answer, "Let me take them
instantly TO papa" She was away ten min
utes or more; when she returned her father
came with her. He did not wait for saluta-
tions, but said, in a tone and manner had
not observed in him before, 81 was right
all the time; it was you that saw with her,
and these sketches are from her and from no
one else. l value them more than all my
possessions, except this dear child" The
daughter also assured me that the print had
brought TO the house must be the one taken
from the book about three weeks before, in
proof of which she pointed out to me the
gum marks at the back, which exactly cor
responded with those left on the blank leaf.
From the moment the father saw these
sketches his mental health returned.
was not allowed to touch either of the
pencil drawings i'm the sketch-bOok, as il was
feared might I'M ure them, but an oil pic
ture from them was commenced immediately
the father sitting by me hour after hour di-
recting my touches, conversing nationally,
and indeed cheeriully while he did so. He
avoided direct reference to his delusiOns, but
from time to time led the conversation to the
manner in which had originally obtained
the sketches. The doctor came in the eve
ming and, after extolling the particular treat
ment he had adopted, pronounced his patient
decidedly, and he believed permanently, I'M
proved.
The next day being Sunday. we all went to
church the father for the first time since his
bereavement During walk which he took
with me after luncheon he again approached
the subject of the sketches, and after some
seeming hesitation as to whether he shoulc
confide in me or not, he said "Your writing
to me by name from the inn at Lichfield wai
one of those inexplicable circumstances tha
suppose it is impossible to clear up. knew
you, however, directly / saw you; when
those above me considered my intellect was
disordered, and that ] spoke incoherently, i
was only because ! saw things that they die
not. Since her death know with certainty
that nothing will ever disturb, that at differ
ent times have been in the actual and visible
presence of my daughter that is gone
oftener indeed, just after her death thar
latterly. OF the many times that this ha
occurred, | distinctly remember once seeing
her in railway carriage speaking to per
son sitting opposite; who that person wa
l could not ascertain, as my position
seemed to he Immediately behind him
j next saw her at a dinner-table, will
Others, and among those others, unques
tionably, ] saw yourself | aiterward
learned that at that time / was considered T.
be in one of my longest and most violen
paroxysns, as | continued to see her speak
ing to you, in the midst of large assembly
for some hours. Again l saw her standing
by your side, while you were engaged eithe
in writing or drawing. j saw her once agai
afterwards, but the next time saw yoursel
was in the inn parlor."
The picture was proceeded with the mex
day and on the day after the face was com
pleted, and / afterwards brought it with m
to London to finish.
have often seen Mr.. l.. since that period
his health is perfectly reestablished and hi
manner and conversation are as cheerful a
can be expected within a few years of 8
great bereavement
The portrait now hangs in his bedroom
with the print and the two sketches by tn
side and written beneath is: &C. L., l3t
September, 1858, aged twenty-five"
nj