The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-06

Buddhism are right-the wandering earthly shell, the discarded mortal will of my dead friend, might easily have taken hold of me, and bent me to its service My friends will had never been a very strong one, however, never so strong as his genius, and something happened to me wholly different flom this.
 l went down to Alderthwaite to have quiet time, boating on the lake and wan dering on the moors. Alison Gale bade me good-by with tears in her eyes !; and felt, as pressed her hand and looked into her sad face, that she who had been the inspiration of my recent task might be willing soon to become its reward The dev otion she had lavished on her brother might be transferred at last to his best friend, as she persisted in calling me.
 This thought was pleasant one, and hoped to fill up idle moments at Alderth- waite with happy day-dreams of my own intended to think of Alison and of my own future, and to have done for the present with Wilfrid and his melancholy fate.
 When got down to the place found that the inn at which my friend had usu-
 
 obliged to take lodgings at a farmhouse on the shore of the lake. It was a tum- ble-down picturesque place, which had once been the manor. house, and still held the proud name of Alderthwaite Hall Two half-ruined towers rose at its corners, smothered in ivy, and one window looked out on the lonely waters of the lake, with the unpeopled fells rising from its further shore. The farm people occupied some buildings at the back, with a cheerful view into their own stable-yards and pig sites. The east side of the house was re- served for lodgers, artists 6shermeA, and such eccentric creatures, who preferred scenery to comfort. It had separate entrance, and was tolerably furnished The great attractions of the place were the vicinity of the water ard the shabby boat.
 fancied that could be very comfort able there for couple of weeks so engaged rooms, sent for my traps, and established myself in the place.
 Before proceeding further 1 must ex- plain that did not believe in ghosts, and had no connection any psychical society was not on the look out for spiritual experiences, and believed that healthy mind in healthy body would enable any man to laugh at suggestions of the super natural.
 Perhaps at this time my mind was not in healthy condition, and became sub- ject to delusions, like some other unfor- tunate persons. In that case have done grievous wrong to friend whom l loved, and wrecked my own life without any reason whatever. l am impelled to tell my story in the hope that, if 1t does not justify my conduct, it will at least ex- plain the terrible temptation in which was unexpectedly placed. It may be also that some persons will take my own view of the case, and believe that was inn pelled to put an end to much unmerited and useless suffering at the cost of trouble to myself and disappointment to the wo- man loved.
 My first evening at Alderthwaite Hall was pleasant one the weather was fine, and strolled out along the shore of the lake. Afterward l returned to my room, and wrote few letters. The room was comfortable and cheerful in the lamp light; the only thing that troubled me about it was perplexing sense of famili- arity, as if had been in the place before, Ns This, of course, was impossible.
 The quietness of the place was agreea- ble to me in the irritated state of my nerves. The farm yard sounds had ceased the farm people were out of hear ing at the other side of the building There was glimmer of moonlight on the | lake, and had not drawn down the blind of my window, so that could see the es:I -I: IL head from my paper.
 1t was strange that this deep silence did not produce an impression ofsolitude. On the contrary felt continually as If some one were sitting in the room watch ing me More than once looked over my shoulder with start to see who it was. | Then smiled at my own imagination, which peopled this solitude with per sonages.
 Nevertheless, the impression returned | as soon as had become absorbed in my | work; felt that a woman-a woman | whom knew quite well-sat In a chair behind me, watching with folded hands. | The impression always grew upon me in | an indirect sort of manner as my attention | became more and more directed to my work; when it had become sufficiently in- tense to be disturbing, and so to arouse me to think of it seriously, it vanished.
 There was nothing in the nature of ter TOT in this unusual sensation of familiar presence when nobody was there. had something of the same feeling in the pas sages of the house and when 1 went up to | my bedroom, just as it the place were oc- cupied by persons whom 1 knew quite | well, and might expect to meet without any surprise on the landing or the stairs | The closed doors which passed on my way did not seem to me to be shut on l empty rooms-persons who were not strangers lived behind them, and might come out and speak to me at any mo- ment.
 This impression was not unpleasant, though smiled at its reality. supposed that living in crowd had made it impos. sible for me to realize all at onee fhs fact l