The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-03-05
THE INVISIBLE GIRL.

Having ueclueu 10 IllSIl Une year III
italy, | looked about me for a dwell
ING to be had upon reasonable terms.
found what / wanted in the out
skirts of the ancient city of LIcca,
one of the loveliest spots or the pen
insula. The house was quite new and
in every way desirable, while the rent
asked for it was absurdly low. l
Questioned the agent in regard to the
circumstance. Having my money
safe. he could afford to be truthful.
There is nothing against the
house ITSELF" he said, 'but the
grounds have the reputation of being
haunted. Strange sounds are said to
be heard neal that ledge OF rock in
the park yonder. We Italians are
superstitious, signor," he added, with
a bow, "but l presume to an Ameri-
can a ghost is no objection"
$50 little" | replied, laughing, "that
lam obliged to you for the oppor-
tunity of making the acquaintance of
this one"
Such superstitions are m in
Italy, and the agents story made lit
tie impression upon me.
During a tour of inspection around
the premises | came upon the rock in
question. 1t consisted of two walls Of
granite perhaps twenty feet in height,
meeting at an oblique angle, covered
over their greater extent with wild
vines. 1t struck me as an exceedingly
beautiful nook, and appropriate for
nv hours of outdoor lounging.
On the following morning, provided
with a book and cigar, | went thither,
and disposed myself comfortably III,
the shade of an Give. / had become
absorbed in the volume, when / was
startled by the sound of voice near
me. 1t was apparently that of a wom-
an, wonderfully soft and sweet, and
was singing one of the ballads of the
country. / could distinguish the words
as perfectly as if spoken at an arms
4 length from me.
Istarted up in abatement. had
no visitors and my only servant was
an old man. Nevertheless, / made a.
thorough exploration of the neighbor-
hood, and satisfied myself that there
was no one on the grounds. The only
public road was half a mile distant.
The nearest dwelling was directly OPP
posite, acros a level plain-in sight,
but far out of earshot. In a word, |
could makenothing oft.
| observed that when | left my
original position under the olive the
voice became instantly silent. 1t was
only within the circumference of a
circle OF about two yards in diameter
that it was audible at all.
1t appeared to proceed from the
angle between the two walls of rock.
The minutest examination failed to
reveal anything but the bare rock.
Yet it was out of this bare rock that
the voice issued.
returned to my former station in
downright bewilderment. The agents
story occurred to me, but even now /
attached no weight to it. / am a
practical man, and was firmly con
Vnced that there must be some
rational explanation to the mystery,
II could but discover it. The voice
was certainly that of a young girl.
put where was she? Was the old
laole OF the wood nymph a truth after
all! Had | discovered q dryad en-
oosomed in the rock? / smiled scorn-
lully even as these fancies ran through
my head.
FOR more than half an hour the
singingcoatinued. Thenit ceased and,
though | waited patiently for it's re-
leWai. heard no more of it that
Jay, When | returned to the house /
nade no mention Of the matter, re-
sowing to keep it to myself until had
solved the mystery.
me next morning at an early hour
leturned to the spot. After a tedi-
Ius interval the singing began again.
: Went softly and dreamily through
Wy verse OF a song and ceased. Pres
uitiy heard a deep sigh, and then, in
said: ~
oh, now lonesome it is. Am to pass
i, Is whole life alone in this dreamy
~.
mere was no answer; evidently the
frs ESQ was merely solilouuizing.
bss ~ she hear me if spoke. as i
49, her, supposing her to be a living
arS 10y after all? | determined to haz-
ara the experiment.
VINO IS it that is speaking2'I ask
~ @4
nlr' some moments there was no re-
y y snen IN q low, frightened whisper,
.wwnat = itY | heard a voice."
nna 1 answered. "You heard
a ~, Ispoke to YOU"
yes" "no are your" asked the voice
mIuiously, "are you a spirit?n