Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-04-03
..Litthr' murmured Kenneth as he

sLitfhT' murmured Kenneth as he
passed me.
A week or two later and there was
fashionable wedding IN Torremouth dis
NAL as are all such festivities. Kenneth
had begged his might be quiet, but Mrs.
Vernay laughed In his face.
''YOu ridiculous bOyT' she said; ''peo-
pie viii think you are ashamed o me"
The only member OF the family not
present was Frank. He had reioined his
regiment.
1t was breakfast, speeches and
alI-and I was refreshing myself by a
walk near the sea.
A total stranger came up and address
ed me, inquiring about that mornings
wedding. He appeared to have been a
spectator In the church. Among other
things he asked me the brides name.
''She was a Mrs. Vernay," I replied.
"Ah," he said, II thought I knew her
again"
MAY I ask where you met herr"
ssIn Ceylon. She came out as a bride
after three weeks" He paused, but
I begged him to go on.
''It is an unpleasant story" ne said.
/ ''Her husband was found strangled in
his bed. They said one Of the Syces had
/ done it, but some thought Mrs. Vsrnay
| could have explained the matter"
I asked no further questions voice
/ seemed to whisper IN my ear 'Lihth!'
and the stranger went on his way.
But forgot my fOrebOdings as the
days passed bringing nothing but good
news Of Kenneth and his wife as they
travelled In the lake district. We talked
Of them, Of the weather they must be en-
Toying, and speculated as to their future
home, as yet undetermined.
One night after my wife had gone to
bed 1 was lingering over the fire. Care
lessly I raised my eyes toward a mirror
hung above the mantel piece, and then
my attention was riveted by the reflection
of the room was IN, but a faithful pic
ture Of Kenneth's retreat at the chapel
I saw the door open and a food Of pale
moonlight stream into the room. I saw
Kenneth and his wife enter as from a
long journey, and 1 noticed her passing
around the room looking at his treasures
thing In her hands cleaning against her
dress, and L noted how she stole behind
him as he bent over the light. Then
Z a C4OlLA DL hdlOL a4D1o 4LD4-1 Tic IAN
and he turned to face her, stern and un-
yielding. She threw herself meelngi
praying at his feet, but he never hinchedi
then she rose, changing into a tail, thin,
pale figure, with a death-ire face and
hollow, cleaning eyes. Still he never
faltered, and with a cry this being rushed
through the half open door into the
moonlight The vision haunted me
though IN every way possible tried rea-
sOnably to account for 1t.
The next morning I left TOrremoutL
by the earliest train, stopping at the sta
ton nearest Kenneth's retreat, and with
some little difficulty found my way tc
the chapel All was lonely and deserted
yet I seemed to note hanging round the
room faint traces Of that smOlze-like va.
POr.
I returned to Torrenmouth telling my.
self that it was but fancy, and that Ken
meth, with his wife, were In EYestmOreland
At home, to my surprise, found
Frank waiting to see me.
II have seen Kenneth, % were his frs
} words.
} oWhen?'' L cried.
"He came to me last night; I have
seen her too" lowering his voice, J IL
her true form. L know all that he die
3 for me. See-he gave me this"
1t was a moose made Of a thick coil o.
wOman's golden hair.
From that time to this have never
seen Kenneth Lambert, nor has any one
, else.
Now, perhaps you may call me a silly
old fool for thinking anything superna
tural lay behind these circumstances
You may call Kenneth mad, as many do
and find excellent reasons to account TO
everything else.
I have told neither more nor less thar
I saw. Put what interpretations YOU
( please upon it, I can offer none.
Was she Lilith?
T I cannot tell. But she cost the Life
, (nO matter how it ended) Of one Of tn
? nOblest men I ever knew. And Franz
a still suffers from having once been be
meath her influence.