The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-05-01


little slairways that led no one knew
where, TO explore the whole was to
imagine oneself back in the old bar>-
GIal day of England, when mystery
and yastness were the distinetiAe feat
ures of the homes of the .all-powerful
barons.
Many days followed. Driving.
riding, and boating ON the rivers sil-
Var tide. with now and then q picnic
in some wonderful bit of woodland, to
say nothing of the sly firtations lndulg-
ed in, formed 0ur chief diversions.
Three weeks had elapsed since our
arrival at Accabee, and, as yet, none
Of the guests bad been frightened or
sratifed, by glimpse of the restles,
spirits said to haunt the place, though
we were all On the qni vive, and had
pledged our word to report to each
other when first they flushed on our
mcrtal sight.
But visitation was near at hand,
although, unlike NEST coming events,
it cast no shadow before. | roomed
with one of the mu ual friends, while
Blanche shared her widow sister,
chamber. The latter was O delicate
nervous little woman, who, but girl
ir years, had drank deeply from sor-
rows chalice. Her husband died
shortly after their marriage, and was
soon followed by their only child, and
said Blanche, who related the story to
me, E'Death, not satisfied with taking
Carries best beloved. CLAIMED also heI
favorite slave, Cora, Il young quadroon
whose brief life had been one of perfect
devotion to my sister and her child.
Il was na,ural. under the circumstances
that Carrie should become attached
to Cora, and when she died she sim
Icerely grieyed for and MISSED the
faithful creature.
We'll, it was q beautiful moonlight
night. The summer moon poured It's
food Of radiance on the gnarled oaks
that dronped beneath the weight Of
Their heavy foliage, and spanked from
the dusky waters of the rolling river.
Accabee had been gay that night,
ana the golden hours had sped away
on magic wings. Until the ystlc
hour Of twelve, music and dancing had
filled the lofty rooms, and the ripple
of woman's laughter; mingling with
jest and song, had rung out in echoing
cadences on the stillnight. Butwhen,
at length, the guests were fled, the
gallants dead, and the old mansion
%#apped in silence I threw my scarf
around me crossing the banquet hall
deserted" and stole away to distant
terrace to revcl in the beauty and
fragrance around me
How long 1 had fingered there I
know not, when, suddenly, out Of
the silence, there arose a sound of
human music--a voice soft and sweet
and full of infinite sadness. Lake one
under the spell Of an enchantress, l
listened while the wild, weird melody
continued, now rising clear and dis
tinct, then dying away in wall of
indesoribable anguish, Rousing my
self, l looked in the direction whence
the sound came, but could see moth
ing only the the dark shadows play
ing ut hide and seek with the moon
beams.
sWho can it be!' 1 wondered
"YYhat rational being would select
such an hour in which to poar forth
her very soul, as it seems. in song2"
| looked towards tie house; there
all was dark, but-no. light flashed
from Carries window. She was still
uy, and together We would find out
who this nocturnal serenader WAS.
bounded forward, but instead Of eater
ing and passing through the endless
corridors Of the house | took a path
iiak gan through a growth Of dense
shrubber5 sad terminated at Carries
door.
1t was opened, aud standing on It's
threshold were the two sisters. gazing,
with white, frightened faces, at some
thino. beyOnd in the moonlight.