Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-03-26
A GHOST STORY.
III.
tcoSrfNusp.l !

II
train and had seen it start, and the only con.
ceivable way in which she could have come
was by going to Peterborough and then re-
turning by branch to A. a circuit Of about
ninety miles. AS soon as my surprise ena-
bled me to speak, l said wished had come
by the same conveyance AS herself
"That would have been rather difficult"
she rejoined.
At this moment the servant came with the
lamps and informed me that his master had
just arrived and would be down in few
minutes.
The lady took up a book containing some
engravings, and having singled out one, Ga
portrait of Lady A., )asked me to look at
itwell and tell her whether thought IL like
her.
l was engaged trying 10 get up an opinion
when Mr.. and Mrs. Kirkbeck entered, and,
shaking him heartily by the hand, apologized
for not being at home to receive me the gen.
tleman ended by requesting me to take Mrs.
Kirkbeck in to dinner.
The lady ofthe house having.tak my arm,
we marched on. l certainly hestated
moment to allow Mr.. Kirbeck to pass on first
with the mysterious lady i'm black, but Mrs.
Kirkbeck not seeming to under stand IL, we
passed on at once. The dinner party consist
ing of us four only, we fell into our respective
places at the table without difficulty, the
mistress and master of the house at the top
and bottom, the lady in black and myself on
each SIDE The dinner passed much as s
usual on such occasions. i having to play
the guest, directed my conversation prin
cpally, if not exclusively, to my host and
hostess, and cannot call 10 mind that or
any one else once addressed the lady opposite.
Seeing this, and remembering something that
looked like a slight want of attention to her
on coming into the dning-room, at once
concluded that she was the governess. l
observed, however, that she made an excel
lent dinner ; she seemed to appreciate both
the beef and the tart, as well as glass of
claret afterwards; probably she had had no
luncheon or the journey had given her an
appetite.
The dinner ended, the ladies retired, and
after the usual port Mr.. Krkbcck and 1
joined them in the drawing room. BY this
time, however, a much larger party had as
sembled. Brothers and sisters.in-law had
come in from their residences in The neigh
borhood, and several children, with Miss
Hardwick, their goyorness, were also intro
duced to me. | saw Mt once that my sup
position as to the lady in black being the gov
erness was incorrect. After passing the time
necessarily occupied in complimenting the
children and saving something to the differ
ent persons TO whom ! was introduced, l
found myself again engaged in conversation
with the lady of the railway carriage and as
the topic of the evening bad referred princi-
pally to portrait-painting, she continued the
subject
t'Do you think you could paint my por-
trait 2" the lady inquired.
"Yes | think could, if had the oppor-
tunity"
Now, look at my face well do YOU
think you should recolect my features ~
Yes, am sure / should never forget
your features"
"Of course might have expected you to
say that but do YOU think you could do me
from recollection 2"
'sWell, if il be necessary, | will try; but
can't you give me any sittings 2"
mo, quite impossible IL could not lie. 1t
is said that the print showed to you before
~ ..l II. co
"Not much,' replied; sit has not your
expression. II you can give me only one
sitting, it would he better than none"
"No; don't see how it could be-"
The evening being by this time pretty far
advanced and the chamber candles being
brought in, ON the plea of being rather tired,
she shook me heartily by the hand and
wished me goodnight. My mysterious ac-
quaintance caused me II small pondering
during the night / had never beeu intro
duced to her, / had not seen her speak to
anyone during the entire evening-not even
to wish them good-night-how she got across
the country was an inexplicable mystery.
Then, why did she wish me To paint her from
memory, and why could she not give me
even one sitting2 Finding the difficulties
of a solution to these questions rather IN
creased upon me, l made up my mind to
defer further consideration of them till break.
fast time, when supposed the matter would
receive some elucidation.
The breakfast now came, but with 1t nc
lady i'm black. The breakfast over, we went
TO church, came home to luncheon, and SO ON
through the day, but still no lady, neither
any reference to her. / then concluded thai
she must be some relative who had gone
away early in the morning to visit another
member of the family living close by. i was
much puzzled, however, by no reference
whatever being made to her, and finding M
opportunity of leading any part of my con
yersation with the family towards the sub
ject, went to bed the second night more
puzzled than ever. On the servant coming
in in the morning ventured 10 ask him thu
name of the lady who dined at the table oil
the Saturday evening, to which he answered
"a lady, sir ? No lady, only Mrs. Kirk
beck, sir"
Eyes, the lady that sat opposite me, dressed
"Perhaps Miss Hardwick, the goveness
sir ?'
"No, not Miss Hardwick; she came dowr
afterwards"
mo lady as | see, sir
s'Oh, dear me, yes; the lady dressed II
black that was III the drawing-room when
arrived, before Mr.. Kirkbeck came home =
The man looked at me with surprise as
he doubted my sanity, and only answered
81 Inever see any lady, sir" and then left
The mystery now appeared more impene
trable than ever. i thought 1t over in every
possible aspect, but could come to no ct II
clusion upon ii. Breastfast was early tina
morning, in order to allow of my catching
the morning train 10 London. The sam
cause also slightly hurried us and allowed
no time for conversation beyond that having
direct reference TO the business that brough
me there /; 50, after arranging toreturn To pain
the portraits ON that day three weeks, mad
my adieus and took my departure for town
Ii is only necessary for me To refer to IN.
second visit to the house in order 10 stat
that was assured most positively, both b,
Mr.. and Mrs. Kirkbeck, that no fourth perso
dined at the table on the Saturday evening II
question. Their recollection was clear on tn
question, as they had debated whether they
should ask Miss Hardwick, the governess, 4
take the vacant seat, but had decided not 4
such person as described in the whole ell
Gle of their acquaintance.
Some weeks passed. 1t was close upo
Christmas. The light of short winter da
was drawing to- close, and was seated at m
table writing letters for the evening pos
NV back was toward the folding-doors leat
ing into the room in which my visitors usl
ally waited. l had been engaged some mil
utes i'm writing when, without hearing {
seeing anything, became aware that a pc
son had come through the folding.doors, an
was standing beside me. turned and behel
the lady of the railway carriage. i suppos
that my manner indicated that was SOM
what startled, as the lady, after the usu
salutaton, said: 'Pardon me for disturblr
You. You did not hear me come in."
Her manner, though it was more quiet an
subdued than i had known 1t before, w
hardly to bo termed grave, still less sorro,
ful. There was change, but II was tn
kind of change only which may often