The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-11-26
little hoartl How delighted shs will

Curou u ali my cOmantlc IDEAS OF traV.
cling in foreign climes, and thoroughly
convinced that whom O man has lived
fifty odd years in the world his best
place is at home.
Halfway across, we hailed an Eng
lish craft. outward4bound. and there
was an exchange of newspapers and
other civilities.
AS unfolded q London papor, scarce
ly more than six weeks old, saw,
under the obituary notices, my own
name.
So was supposed to be dead.
A curious sensation, like tho running
OF cold water, crept down my spinal
COLUMBIAN involuntary shudder.
1t is sudden shock to read of your
own death, and calculate how long you
have been under ground, and not by
any means an agreeable one.
II don't think I'm dead" said /,
stretching out my arms and legs, Civ
ing myself pinch, aud feeling the
strong pulses that projected healthy
currents through my veins, "and yet
this evidence is certainly very convinc-
ing-that was murdered by barbarous
natives on the night OF tho 25th of May.
Poor, dear little Lucilla! how inconso-
liable she must be!'
SO it happened, you soc, that 1 was
going homo to comfort my widow.
1t was curious experience, to be
landing at last--to shrink away from
the observation of one's fellow-mo ortals,
as ii ono had no business in this created
world; to feel like disembodied spirit.
come back to revisit tho scenes OF its
mortality. or ghost, prowling abroad
by garish daylight
SUNK through by-ways Of back
lanes towards my home. not altogether
certain whether someone would not
attempt to exercise me.
1t was late In tho afternoon whom We
entered port, and tho shadows of the
autumn evening were gathering round
as crept up tho doorsteps of my own
mansion, and entered, stealthily as
robber.
We're the shutters down, tho win
dows draped, the house dressed in
seemly habiliments of woo? Not at all;
lights glowed brilliantly behind tho
| curtains. gay voices echoed from the
parlor. and--eould my ear havo do
ceived mep No, surely that was Lucil-
las laugh ringing merrily on tho air.
"a little hysterical, perhaps" I
thought, but nevertheless. instead Of
boldly entering tho drawing-room aud
confronting my wife, instinctively
passed on to the glazed extension room
behind. communicating, by drapories
of purple silk, with the large apart
ment--a room where / had been wont
to keep my books. and which I digni-
fed by tho title of library
1t was but family lighted by tho bor-
rowed lustre Of tho drawing-room
chandelier, and as entered L stum-
bled over something--it was my own
portrait, ignominiously turned with its
face to the wall.
crept forward with an ominous
foreboding-a sudden disagreeable re-
collection of Fitz-Brown's croaking
predictions. But as 1 put aside tho
Tyrian folds of tho curtain most un.
welcome vision met my eye.
Lucilla in her widows weeds.
She looked very pretty in them, to
be sure; the close crimped cap could
not hide her clustering ripples of gold
en-broWn hair, and her beautiful green
gray eyes certainly did not seem to
have wept themselves dim. Moreover,
there were dimplod roses in her cheeks,
and smiles upon her lips; and her dress
of sombre black only seemed to relievo
the fair. transparent style of her wax
doll beauty.
But sho was not alone. Close beside
her on the sofa. actually playing with
her soft little white hand, and bending
devotedly over the bordor of the
widows cap. sat Harry SykesI
"Come, Lucilla," he said impatient-
ly, ''yOu have tantalised me long
enough. When will you give mo this
little treasure of hand, and lot mo
call you miner"
'What nonsense. Harry7" said my
widow coquettishly, but sho didn't
withdraw her hand, "when you know
that my husband hasn't been dead six
months"
"Oh. hang tho old duffer! Who cares
whether he has been dead six days or
six monthsp Hos gone. thanks to the
coolies. and he's Willed you all the
cash. You know worry vol you mover
carod for him, Lucil!a."
My widow did not contradict this
sweeping statement
"But the look OF tho thing, you know,
Harry dear. Don't squeeze my hand
So"
"Lucilla, don't you lovo MOP"
"Of course l do" with q charming
little pout.
Then, my hearts queen, what is
the use of keeping me in suspenseP"
REALLY, Harry" sho murmured, II
don't know what to say"
Then say yes.
Lucilla's head dropped until tho
widow 8 cap nearly touched her COM
panion's shoulder.
Yes" she murmured at last.
Human nature could stand this
no longer. dashed aside the purple
silk draperies, and entered precipitate.
ly on the scene-quite an unexpected
addition to the dranldtis perSonae.
mot so fast, madame If you pleaser'
1 cried with sort of demonisc exul.
tation. II may be an old duffer,' and
you may never have carod' for me, but
nevertheless you and Mr.. Sykes hore
arc getting along altogether to smooth
ly"
Lucilla sprang to hor feet with an
eldritch scream.
'It's q ghost! it's Josiah's ghostl'
Mr. Harry Sykes stared helplessly
- L.. IL I,