Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-04-30

"Indeed, don't wish to alarm you,"
l replied. "I am not hidden. l am
standing directly in front of the spot
whence your voice seems to come"
"You are invisible" was the trembling
answer. "Your voice comes to me ou:
of the air. You must be spirit. What
have done to deserve this?"
"Have no fear of me. l entreat you."
| said earnestly. "It is as much mys-
terry to me as it is to you. l hear you
speak, but you are likewise invisible"
"Are you real living being?" asked
the voice, doubttully. "Then why do l
not see you? Come to me. will sit
here. | will not fly"
"Tell me where am to come," | said.
"Here in my garden, in the arbor."
"There is no arbor here" returned.
"Only a solid rock out OF which you
seem to be speaking"
"Saints protect mel" ansW cred the
voice. at is too awful. | dare not
stay here longer. Spirit or man, fare
we'll"
"But you will come again." | pleaded.
"Let me hear you speak once more.
Will you not be here tomorrow at the
same hour?"
Il dare not-but yet your voice sounds
as # you would do me no harm. Yes,
| will come"
Then there was utter silence, the mys-
terious speaker had gone. returned
home in state of stupid wonder, ques-
tioning myself if l had not lost my
senses and if the whole occurrence was
not delusion. | was faithful to my
appointment with the voice on the fol-
lowing morning, however. had wait
ed but few moments, when the soft
trembling accents broke the silence,
saying: Il am here"
"And l, too" l answered; 81 am
grateful to you for coming"
81 have not slept the whole night,
said the voice. "I was so terrified.
am very much afraid that am doing
wrong to come"
"Are yon still afraid of me?"
"Not exactly, but it is so strange"
"Will you tell me your name"
IL don't know-Lenore. What is
yours?"
George" | answered, initiating her
example and giving my first name only.
"Shall we not be friends, Lenore?"
ooh, yes" answered the voice with
silver peal of laughter. Evidently its
owner was over her fears. "Don t be
offended, George. 1t is so strange
two people who cannot see each other,
and perhaps never will, making
friends"
~ will solve the mystery yet, Le'
more" answered, "and find out where
you are. Would you be glad to see me
in my proper person."
YES" was the reply, 81 should like
to see you
"And l would give great deal to see
you, Lenore. You must be very beau
tiful, if your face is like your voice."
80, hush - was the agitated answer.
"It is rot right to speak thus"
"why not? Do you know, Lenore,
that if this goes on shall end by falling
in love with you, though | never see
you"
"YOu are very audacious," was the
reply. "If you were really here before
Inc should punish you for it. As it is
| am going now"
"But you will come again tomorrow,
Lenore?"
eff you will promise to be more dis
Greet, George-yes."
AS may be imagined, did not fail to
keep my engagement with my invisible
friend. For many consecutive days
these strange meetings continued. AS
absurd as it may seem. the voice was
beginning TO make a powerful impress
sion upon me. / felt in its soft tones
the manifestation of a sweet, refined
woman's soul. True, had made nc
progress toward unravelng the myste-
ry. Nevertheless | was confident that
through some ineXplicable dispensation
of Providence had been permitted 10
hold communion with n real living,
lovely woman from an unknown dis
lance. She had not yet told me more
than her first name, and / did not press
her for more as yet. Her only answer
to my question as to where she was,
was: "In the garden" She did not
seem capable OF grasping the fact that
was not inyisibly near her and capable
of seeing her. She seemed content with
matters as they stood, and for the pres
ent could do no more.
made no one my confidant as 10 my
daily occupation; first, because knew
that should be regarded as madman
upon my mere statement Of the facts
and, next, because / shrunk from hav'
ing an auditor at my mysterious confer
ences. VIII it be believed? | was in
love with the invisible giIl-in love
with voice. Absurd, 6 course, but
am not the first man who has fallen in
love with a woman's voice. Besides,
was confident that it was only matter
of time before should see the girl in
person.
One day toward the end of summer
we had been talking as usual, and had
said: ''My stay in Italy is nearly over,
Lenore."
"Ah, was the quick reply, "yo1 viii
leave me, George"
"No. Lenore." | answered, "not II