The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-10-29
neither ghost nor demon

neither ghost nor demon"
Colonel Lawrence showed his guest
into comfortable parlor, where sea-
coal fire was burning cheerfully in a
CRATE, and refreshments most well
come to a weary traveller stood upon a
table.
"The Majors attention was drawn
toward charming girl Of twenty, the
daughter Of the Colonel, who graced
the table with her presence. Never,
he thought, had he seen 50 beautiful,
so modest and so lady-like a creature
and she, in turn, seemed very favora-
bly, impressed with the manly beauty
and frank manners of their military
guest,
At length she retired. The Colonel,
who had found listener, was inclined
to prolong the session in the small
hours OF the morning, but finding that
his guest was fatigued, he felt COM
lpelled to ask him if he would not like
to retire.
Major Hill promptly replied in the
affirmative, and the old gentleman,
taking up silver candlestick, cere-
moniously marshaled his guest to a
large, old-fashioned room.
A comfortable bed invited to repose /;
cheerful fire was blazing on the
hearth, and everything was cosy and
quiet. The Major looked around him
with a sigh Of satisfaction.
"I am deeply indebted to you, Colo
nel," he said, "for affording me such
comfortable quarters. / shall sleep
like top"
II am afraid not" answered the
Colonel, with grave shake of the
head. II never knew a guest of
mine to pass quiet night in this
chamber"
II shall prove an exception" said
the Major smiling. "But / must
make one remark" he added seriously.
at is i'll sporting with the feelings Of
q soldier; and should any of your
servants attempt to play tricks upon
me, they shall have occasion to repent
| it."
And he laid his heavey pistols on
the light-stand by his bedside.
my sevants, Major Hill," said the
old gentleman, with an air of offended
dignity, "are too well drilled to dare
attempt any tricks upon my guests
Good night"
"Good night, Colonel"
The door closed Major Hill locked
it.
Besides the door opening into the
entry, there was another leading tc
some other room. There was no locl
upon the second door, but heavy ia
BILE placed across completely barricad
ed it.
He threw himself into an armchair
before the fire, and amused himsel
with building castles in the air, ant
, musing on the attractions of the fai
Laura, the hosts daughter. He wal
far enough from thinking of spectra
visitants, when very slight nois
struck on his ear. Glancing in tn
direction OF the inner door he though
he saw the heavy table glide backward
from it's place. Quick as thought h
. caught up pistol and challenged tk
!, intruder. There was no reply---bu
the door continued to open and tn
table to slide back. At last -ther
glided into the room tall, graceful
! figure robed in white.
At the first glance the blood curdle
in the Majors veins; at the second b
I recognized the daughter of the hos
Her eyes were wide open, and she al
> vanced with an assured step; but
was evident that she was asleep. Her
was the mystery of the White Phar
tom solved at once. The young gil
walked to the fireplace and seate
!. herself in the armchair from whic
! the soldier had just risen.
! She raised her left hand, and gain
. on beautiful ring that adorned on
of her white taper fingers, pressed
i repeatedly to her lips. She the
sank into an attitude of repos,
her AIS dropping listlessly by he
side.
The Major approached her and stol
j. the ring from her finger. His actio
. disturbed, but did not awaken he
She seemed to miss the ring, howeve
D and after cropping hopelessly for i
4 rose and glided through the doorwa
as silently as she had entered. Sh
. had.no sooner retired than the MajC
replaced the table, and drawing
y heavy clothes press against it, effect,
: ally guarded himself against secon
3 intrusion.
] This done, he threw himself upo
the bed, and slept soundly till la
! hour in the morning After perform
- 4. l. II l. L