Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-07-16

asked the beauty to dance, taking her
away from Frank.
! believe bets passed between the
men at the Torremouth clubs as to
which Of the brothers would marry
beautiful Mrs. Nernay. | confess |
wondered myself whether Kenneth
would relinquish his noble schemes
aud marry like any other ordinary
mortal. | rarely saw him without
Mrs. Nernay. lie rode with her
drove with her, spent long hours in
her pretty drawlng-room, and walked
with her on the esplanade. | asked
him what was coming from all this.
and ID for reply, "if | don't marry
her, Frank william answer which
at the time struck me as strange.
And one day Frank came to my
wife to pour into sympathetic ears
wild, fierce rawlings against his brother.
Why had Kenneth talked all that
nonsense abont celibacy and seclusion
when he came and took away the only
woman Frank ever would, ever could,
love?
And thus we heard of Kenneth S
engagement to the beautiful Mrs
Nernay.
All the men in the place envied
him, but never in my life have | seen
SO grave and so gloomy lover. Yet,
like al other men who met her, he
seemed to adore her. | never heard
any one question his devotion Per
haps their eyes were blinded | know
we all pitied Frank And the time
passed m.rri!y to the wedding day,
Mrs. Nernny growing daily more beau
1 tlful.
Once she passed me as | walked
with friend en- the esplanade.
Good heavens" he exclaimed.
Nv hat likeness"
TO whom" | asked
"Toa peasant girl in the Black For
est who few years ago created great
stir in the village. All the young fel-
lows were in love with her; she mar
ried one OF them, and few days later
he was found dead in his bed, the
bride having vanished, no one kne :
whittier"
AN unpleasant story.' said, lit
/ tie pleased to notice Kenneth near
me, who must have heard every word.
"Of course it is only IL chance like
ness, said my friend
"lilith," murmured Kenneth, as
he PASSED M.
i week or two later and there was
a fashionable wedding in Torremouth:
dismal as are all such festivities, Ken
meth begged his might be quiet, but
! aFs.- Nvfuay l51i ghed IN his face
You ridiculous boy.' she said
people will think you are ashamed of
me.
The only member of the family not
present was Frank. lie had rejoined
his regiment.
1t was oyer-breakfast. speeches aud
ali-and | was refreshing myself by II
walk by the sea.
y total stranger came up and ad-
dressed me, inquiring about that
mornings wedding. He appeared to
! have been u spectator in the church
Among other things, he asked the
brides name.
"She was a Mrs. Nernay,' | replied
"Ah,' he said, Il thought | knew
her again"
May ask. you where you met her,
"ln Ceylon. She came ont as a
bride, after three weeks" lie paused,
bat | begged him to 60 on.
1T is an unpleasant story" he said
Her husband was found strangled in
III, bed. Tney said one of the Syces
had done it, but some thought Mrs.
Nernay c"uld have explained the mat
/ ter.
/ asked no further questions-a
Voice seemed to whisper in my ear,
I"Lllith" and the stranger went on
! his way
But forgot my forebodings as the
days passed, bringing nothing but
good news from Kenneth and his wife
rs they travelled in the lake district
We talked Of them, of the weather
they must be enjoying, and speculated
as to their future home, as yet unde-
/ tcrmlned.
One night after my wife had gone
to b d | was lingering over the fire.
Carefully raised my eyes toward a
mirror hung over the mantelpiece,
and then my attention was riveted by
the reflection that met my eye. 1t
I,r.., Of thS ! -,
but faithful picture of kenneth's 5 re-
treat at the chapel.
| saw the door open and a flood Of
pale Moonlight str am into the room.
! saw Kenneth aud his wife enter as
from long journey, and | noticed her
passing round the room looking at his
treasures while he lit lamp. She
had something in her hands cleaning
against her dress, and | noted how she
stole behind him as he bent over the
light Then cloud of vapor arose
from the lamp, and he turned to face
her, stern and unyielding. She threw
herself kneeling, praying at his feet,
but he never hnched; then she rose,
changing into tall, thin pale figure,
with death like face, and hollow,
cleaning eyes. Still he never falter-
ed, and with IA cry this being rushed
through the hall-open door into the
moonlight. The vision haunted me,
though IN every possible way | tried
reasonably to account for it.
The next morning left Torremouth
by the earliest tain, stopped at the
station nearest kenneth's retreat. and
with some little difficulty found my
way to the chapel. All was lonely
and deserted, yet | seemed to note
hanging round the room faint traces
of that smoke like vapor.
returned to Torremou,h, telling
myself that it was but fancy, and that
Il opDath with his ,pi G.. x,-, =, NE,c+