The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-04-10

W 40 CuOiOuSul1 illS Subthtu W ucu
found how far had gone already,
aud still more frightened when l
reflected how few steps there re.
mained for me to take in order to
become Madame Marbillot.
From that moment the combat
proceeded with all the batteries un-
masked. The postulan openly de.
clared his pretehsiOns. The old
lady became absolutely annoying.
At first l endeavored to call tn
my aid the memory of my dead
husband. Bnt this plan l was soon
obliged to give up for the good rea-
son that such sentimenal proceed.
ing naturally provoked compari-
sons which we're all to the advant-
age of the newcomer. There is no
better trump card in a wOOer's game
than the mere fact that he is play.
ing against a dead man.
Finally one day, being pushed to
the last extremity, demanded to
be be left alone for twenty-four
hours in order to reflect calmly
about the matter aud make a decis-
ion. 1t was previously agreed upon
that in case of refusal NJ. Marbillot
should leave at once without asking
for reasons.
must confess l was very much
puzzled. The hands of the clock
seemed to run around the dial with
crazy swiftness there were much
fewer seconds in those minutes, |
thought, than in ordinary minutes.
At IL o'clock L went to bed-al-
though, as you may well suppose, /
had not the least feeling of sleepi-
ness. My little daughter slept in
cradle-quite close to my bed. She
was five years old. i think l told
you so before.
At this very moment l can see
that room again just as plainly as
it were in 1.-THE watch-lIght that
dimly illuminated the chamber, the
windows, looking ont upon the past,
their lower panes darkened by the
silhOuettes of shrubbery without,
their upper portion showing a gray
sky,,speckled with stars. The por-
traits nailed to the wall looked at
each other smilingly, as though
they wished to say ''gOod nigFp
before closing their eyelids of can
vas or paper. can still hear the
tic. tac of that clock, and the regu.
lar breathing of my little girl.
Perhaps had beeu weighing the
pros aud cons OF my dilemma for
about two hours, when turning
suddenly on my side, toward the
edge of the bed, l said to myself /:
"No-I will never give my child
"a step.father.'
Just then [ am telling you the
truth) saw-just as distinctly as |
see you nOw-Andre, my dead hus.
band, smiling at me, standing be-
tween the bed aud the wall. | re-
cOgnized the dress he wore on the
day | met him for the first time.
His face did not look unpleasant;
and my first impulse was to hold
out my arms to him.
But when l saw him approaching
me, then-ah dame fear seized
me; aud sat right up, with my
eyes wide open, my arms rigid with
terror, my hands clenching the pill
low they rested on. felt my hair
move, and a chill sweat beaded ny
forehead.
Still smiling, his left hand to bis
heart, his right lifted to his lips as
though to wave me kiss, he ap
preached still nearer. When lie
was quite clOse-very, nearer. He
bent over me 4; and knew that his
lips were seeking mine. AbOmina-
ble recollection Some strange
pain prevented me from turning
away my head, OF lifting my arms.
Still tried to draw my face back
and as the face of the dead man,
at first so kindly, stopped nearer
and nearer to me, saw it becom.
ing more and more f1eshless, aud l
saw the worms gathered within the
cavities Of the eyes. Still could
not avoid that kiss. How cold his
treth were!
The cry L gave awoke my little
girl. She jumped NJ, aud kneel-
ing in her little bed, exclaimed
"Oh there's papa !"
Now fancy the horror of that l.
she seeing, just as plainly as l did,
the shadow of her father. We |
both remember it well, though we |
try some times to persuade each |
other it could not have been so.
l took her in my arms aud we re-
mained hugging each other until |
day break watching, not daring to |
move or call anybody.
By the time they knocked at my |
door early in the morning, my |
trunks had all been packed, aud l
hurried away from the house in af- J
fright, without giving my hostess
any explanation.
"But," exclaimed enc OF her au-
dience, styour fright did not pre-
vent your marrying agaiu after
wards y
"Ahl no iDeeed! Ieven had the
reading of the bane dispense with,