The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-10

manu ana expectation. AS the steps
reached the turn of the stairs the outline
became visible once more; it grew distinct,
came nearer, and pausing at the doorway
seemed to tremble and gather itself into
the form of woman in clinging robe,
who bent towards me with look that /
shall never forget.
She was very young, and the misery on
her face might have made the hardest
heart pitiful. In her eyes was that abid-
ing look of horror that sometimes remains
after great mental shock-a look almost
impossible to describe, but which conveys
its meaning instantaneously. Her mobile
lips were slightly parted and her small
hands tightly clenched at her sides. AL
though every feature was distinguishable,
there was no semblance of humanity about
her. She was pale, shadowy figure, and
the outline of her head and dress remained
tremulous, as though ready to melt again
into air.
As she gazed earnestly at me, felt that
she could communicate her thoughts to
certain extent, and read mine, in this mys-
ferrous spirit-contact / did not speak, but
| thought the words, "Poor soul, | will
aid you in anything you wish ?" A faint
smile quivered over her face, and she bowed
her head and beckoned me with one hand.
Taking up small lamp followed, while
she passed down stairs Her movement
was exquisite in its floating grace, and /
remarked that her steps were no longer
audible; the sound of them was not needed
now to plead for her.
She led me along the passage to deep
window overlooking the moat Here she
paused and pointed to panel in the oak
wainscoting. l could see nothing peculiar,
and glanced towards the spirit for further
explanation. Again and again she pointed
imperiously to the same spot. l tried to
speak, but my voice refused to come, so /
thought the question wished to ask:
Gam to search here fer something ?"
Her smile answered me, and she then
signed to me to open the window and come
out Placing my lamp on the floor so as
to be out of the draught, 1 got over the low
sill and stood at the edge of the moat. The
spirit foated yard or two further, and
pointing down to the ground wrung her
hands piteously.
"Did some one die there?" | asked in a
whisper, for felt that my power was wan
ing, and it was no longer difficult to speak.
The pale hands pointed to the breast of the
figure, which was already fading, as though
her desire was accomplished.
''Tell me, cried, fiinging myself down
before her, 'if search the panel and this
! erot ,r,ll ,,o,, ha M Yacf of
She bent toward me once more with
smile of intense peace on her face and melted
out of my sight.
Whether tainted or whether l fell into
the deep sudden sleep that sometimes fol-
lows mesmeric exertion | cannot tell, but
when l came to myself day was breaking
and my lamp was burnt out below the open
window.
After breakfast l gave Bond an account
of my adventure and could easily see that
the good old man thought my brain was
affected
"You will help me to search the panel,
Bond, and that will prove whether my
story is true or only dream" said 1.
To the window we accordingly went and
Bond inquired whether he was to break the
wainscot.
Certainly not, 1 replied; eff there is a
hiding-place here there is some way of
opening it, which 1 shall try to find before
| allow the wood to be broken"
Inch by inch examined the wood and
compared the mouldings carefully with
those on the opposite side. My attendants
increduity was SO manifested that / should
greatly have preferred to prosecute the
search alone, but by doing so should have
lost the testimony of an additional eye
witness to the discovery felt confident of
making. After long and patient scrutiny
found in the lower corner of the panel
an inch or so of moulding that fitted into
the rest. Another quarter of an hour
passed ere by chance movement l gayeit
the turn required to loosen it. When it
came out and showed spring concealed
below it my excitement was very great, and
Bond himself began to share the feeling
and hurried off for oil with which to clean
the rusty metal. We soon discovered the
secret of the bolt and portion of the panel
slid back below the moulding, revealing a
small recess in which lay roll of manu-
script tied with black ribbon. Dust and
damp had made the writing difficult to
decipher, out when the sad history lay
spread before me decided to give it to the
world, along with an account of my mes
meric experiment | have modernized the
spelling and supplied few obvious words
that were either blotted or illegible in the
original. The date was eaten away, but
from family papers know that it must
have been August, ITS. The manuscript
ran as follows:
ssI am going to write down what has hap
/ pened. It may be that no one will ever read
what write, but should this paper fall into
the hands of any pitiful persons, surely they
will grieve for us.
"Mr. Fairfax is bad man. Heaven for
give me if ought not to think him so but /
must need say It here. My father says he is
not worse than his neighbors, and that it is
the habit of most gentlemen to drink and
/ swear in his fashion. If it be so, it is an ill
thing for women that have to bear Herewith.
NV father is poor curate in Stepton. He
has as good blood in his veins as Mr.. Fairfax
himself; but then he is very poor, as | have
said. Ny mother and Mrs. Fairfax were
friends, and when Mrs. Fairfax died my moth
er took charge of the little baby she left, along
with me. That baby was my Harry-Harry
Fairfax of this Tower of Morcar's. He and
l learnt our first lessons together from my
mother, and when we grew older my father
taught us both. Old Mr.. Fairfax took but
small notice of his son. He was usually hunt
ing or quarrelling with some neighbor or hav-
ing drinking bouts at the Tower. | will say
it again-he is bad man. l feared him
much, he looked so big on his black horse,
and he had rough voice. remember how
Harry sad we're gathering rushes to plant
one day when he rode by on the narrow path
that goes down to the white inn. The willows
and rushes were high but the black horse was
so much taller that we could not hide, as we
sought to do Mr.. Fairfax called out with a
strange oath that sounded loud and terrible
and jeered at Harry for playing with the par
sons brat. Then he rode on, and Harry was
in great passion the like of which 1 had not
seen before When | was fourteen my mother
died and thereafter had to take charge Of
our house. Harry always came for teaching
from my father; but he looked older than
did. for had no money to buy myself new