The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-03-10
"rell me where 1 am to come, said.

Cflly Il SOllu rock out OF Wnlch you
seem to be speaking
Saints protect mel" answered the
voice. sit is too awful. l dare not
stay here longer. Spirit or man, fare
"But you will come again."
pleaded. ''Let me hear you speak once
more. viii you not be here tomorrow
at the same hour?"
81 dare not-but yet your voice
sounds as if you would do me no harm.
Yes. will come
Then there was utter silence, the
mysterious speaker had gone l re-
turned home in a state of stupid Won
der, questioning myself if l had not lost
my senses and if the whole occurrence
was not delusion. I was faithful to
my appointment with the voice on the
following morning, however. I had
waited but few moments, when the
soft trembling accents broke the silence,
saying: Il am here"
"And l, too,n I answered.; II am
grateful to you for coming"
81 have not slept the whole night"
said the voice. 81 was so terrified. I
am very much afraid that I am doing
wrong to come"
care you 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" 1 answered, initiating her
example and giving my first name
only. "Shall we not be friends, Le-
| nOre?"
''Oh, yes," answered the voice with a
silver peal of laughter. Evidently its
owner was getting over her fears.
Don't be offended, George. 1t is SO
strange-two people who can not see
each other, and perhaps never will,
making friends"
81 will solve the mystery yet, Le-
nore," I answered, land find out where
you are. Would you be glad to see me
in my proper persona"
"Yes," was the reply, 81 should like
to see you"
'.And I would give great deal to see
you, Lenore. You must be very beauti-
full, if your face is like your voice."
"Oh, hush!' was the agitated answer.
'It is not right to speak thus
"Why not? Do you know, Lenore,
that if this goes on l shall end by fall
ing in love with you, though I never see
YOU"
"You are very audacious," was the
reply. 'If you were really here before
me / 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, I 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 be-
ginning to make u powerful impression
upon ME. l felt in its soft tones the
manifestation of sweet, refined wom-
ans soul. True, l had made no prog
ress toward unravelling the mystery.
Nevertheless I was confident that
through some inexplicable dispensation
of Providence l had been permitted to
hold communion with a 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 nv question as to where she was, was
"In the garden. She did not seen
capable Of grasping the fact that / wa:
not invisibly near her and capable O
seeing her. She seemed content will
matters as they stood, and for the pres
ent | could do no more.
| Imade no one my confidant as to my
daily occupation; first, because l knew
that I should be regarded as madmal
upon my mere statement of the facts
and, next, because | shrunk from hav
ing an auditor at my mysterious con
ferences. VIII it be believed? was il
love with the invisible girl-in low
with voice! Absurd, of course, but
am not the first man who has fallen il
love with q woman's voice. Besides,
was confident that it was only matter
of time before I should see the girl il
person.
One day toward the end of summe
we had been talking as usual, and hat
said: .'My stay in Italy is nearly over
Lenore.
"Ah," was the quick reply. ''you viii
leave me, George"
mo, Lenore," I answered, "not
you wish me to stay" fs5.G
GLOW can l help it, George, whethe
Won 90 or stay? I have never seen yo1
I never shall see you. What am II
you?"
"All the world, Lenore," answered
ours has been strange experience
Without knowing each other as peopl
ordinarily do, we have yet been clos
friends. You are more to me than
: friend. Ilove you, Lenore.
There was a quick, suppressed cry
, no other reply.
"Be truthful. Lenore. Tell me you
heart. If you love me, trust to me t
discover your whereabouts and come t
you. If you do not, say it, and wi
spare you the pain of meeting me. an
never let us speak again"
There was pause, then she tremr
, lousy said: II have never seen you, bu
nv heart tells me to trust you. / kno'
YOU are good and noble, and l am viii
ing to leave my fate in your hands
Yes, George, love you"
Even as she said the words she u
tered cry of alarm. Then CRU
marf' voice spoke: go to your room
Lenore. As to this william with whol
/ you have been holding these secr'
? meetings, we shall soon find him an