Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-07-28

puI IhO hoah -hdhSiHS Soio poSSS'
with leadcn tread and still am stand
ing in the misty night, loving not ant
unloved'
MAUD, that's what you read out
ell u book, for | heard you,' said tn,
young lady's brother
"'Robcrt, will you please leave the
rOomY
"Well, didn't l hear you when yol
read it outen the book, and didn't
hear you tell it to Lige Short on,
night?'
"Thc young lady arose and hel
brother disappeared.
Ono she said, turning to me, 9
fear that l can never love unless
that is, unless, but she blushed ant
turned her face away.
"fUnlcss what|
81 don't want to say
"'No harm in telling me-
"'unless you want me TO love yor
"'That's what you said TO LigC
Short and l can prove it, yelled tho
boy, suddenly appearing in the door
way and as suddenly disappearing
again.
"'Why should want you to love
me- asked, for l saw that she was
in earnest
$50 you could retun my affection,
and she blushed again and, l thought
attempted to lean her head against
my shoulder.
go see that must be frank with
you. You have not created within
me wish TO be loved by you. |
could never love you, not. that is
not because have anything against
you, but simply because lit is a
disagreeable subject and please let us
drop it and never refer TO it again.
"She left the room hurriedly, NUT
tering as she went that | would re-
greet the decision | had made, and that
my salvation depended on her."
"Late at night l sat in my room
trying to read. A heavy rain was
falling and the very atmosphere
seemed to bring, with each breath, a
dreary dismal feeling. Looking up
Involuntary at a window opening
from my room into little hallway,
a horrible sight met my gaze. Seat
ed in the window was a horrible, Ill.
tie old woman"
"'What do you want ? asked.
"'I want You to marry Maud said
the woman. If you don't | will fol-
low you through life and she leered
atme.
81 cannot marry her.
"The next moment the old woman
was gone. Unable to sleep, sat up
all night. Ibid not speak TO the land.
lord in regard to the apperition, but
told Maud. She was greatly excited
but declared that she was not sur
prised. She told me how, even as a
child, she could call up spirits and
hear their strange voices. 'Ufcourse
| would not marry you unless you
loved me- she said. when / said
that you would regret your decision,
| felt impelIed to make the remark. l
don't know why, but strange feeling
rushed over me. Probably you will
never see the spirit again. Let us
hope that you shallnot. lam thank.
full that you were so frank with me
and l shall never cease to pray fol
your happiness and prosperity
"Hcr manner was SO earnest that
l deeply pitied her, and when ]
sought the haunted precincts of my
little, dreary room and sat down ia
think, her sad face came up in my
mind so wildly that was tempted
to speak. The wind blew mournful.
ly. / looked up. The horrible old
woman, dwartish and terrible, sat in
the window. She crossed her bony
hands, moved her miserably deform'
ed feet, leered at me and said:
"'Marry Maud or | will haunt you
night after night during your entire
life. will follow you everywhere
and when you die / shall dance OF
your grave. The girl loves you. You
have wrung her spirit, and in anguish
1t cried. l came and will remain OF
earth until you consent to marry hel
or de-
"The old woman disappeared.
walked the floor all night. l knew
that the old woman would keep hel
word.
"When morning came, 1 sought
Maud and asked her to marry me
She declined. l told her that [ had
learned to love her, and that my hap
piness was in her keeping. She con.
sented.
"The horrible old woman did moi
appear the next night. When had
gone to bed and had just begun tC
dOze, / heard soft music.
"The wedding day was drawing
near. Maud was devoted. The land
lord was delighted. One afternoon
went to an old closet to see if 1 could
find a pair of over-shoes. Maud was
in the kitchen, singing. Happy girl,
l unused. When Strengthened up in
the closet, something fell. 1 stopped
to investigate. Horrors, the old wo'
man. | looked closer. She was g
doll whose mouth could be worked
by spring. Idrew her out. Maud
still sang IN the kitchen.
"'What is this p | asked holding VI
the doll.
"Maud tainted and fell.
"When she recovered she made Q
confession. She purchased the dol
ola strolling ventriloquist and had
learned to 'ventril.' l did not marry
her." ..t..-
Dress Plainly on Sunday.