Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-01
NY head swan and remembered no

My head swan and remembered no
more. Suddenly felt cold
shock in my face and opened my ewes
10 find myself on tho ground with my
head supported by my kind host. who
! was looking down on me with anxiety
expressed In his face. As my bewilder-
ed senses reasserted themselves | re.
| membered what | had seen. and with
an exclamation sprang TO my feet.
There was the same bed, but in the
bright light | saw that il was without
the CHASTITY appendages | had seen be.
fore, and was totally untenanted. Col.
Armitage began asking me some ques.
tons, but seeing that | was too much
dazed To answer, he took me bv the
arm, half led me. half supported. for
l was still faint and giddy. back to my
own room. When there he put me
into an armchair. give me a glass of
water. and eXcla med: My dear fell
low! What on earth is the matter with
youP We sent Reggie up for YOU, but
he came down saying you had gone
We waited ten minutes then. thinking
you had lost your way. instituted
regular search. and found YOU up in
the old turret chamber. in dead faint
on the floor" ! pulled myself to-
gether and, as colectedly as | could.
told him what had happened. lie
listened with ncredulity. and then
said: my dear Bruce. you have been
dreamingH'
"Why?" / said. rather nettled.
'how do you suppose | could have
| dreamt myself into that room? tell
l,.t \ -
awake as you are. and am perfectly
certain that what l saw was no
dream"
well. then. the only other cxpla-
nation is that you must have been
drunk"
Really" said. attempting to force
a laugh, IL only left town at 4:90. and
there's not much to get out Of II rail
way flask" Then. ns he uttered a
disbeievng Hmm added de-
spondently. II wish 10 goodness
could think | was.
Look here" said Armitage seri-
ously, don't you go talking about
this To anybody but me; OF course there
are stories about this house. as Of
every old house in England. but no.
body has ever seen or imagined anv-
thing uncannv before, and it will
/ brighten Mrs. Arm tage 10 death il YOU
tell her; she is awfully delicate, and
/ don't want to alarm her
All right" | sad, .'but / wish it
hadn't happened to me; feel fright
fully shaky still"
'Oh. nonsense. come down to din
ner; good glass of champagne will
sci you to rights" sad he. Accord
/ ing.y made AN effort to shake off the
/ depression on my spirits and went
down with him. The bright lights.
cheerful talk and clatter of plates
seemed terri blv homogeneous and am
afraid pretty Mss Armitage must have
/ thought me quite off INV head. for
could eat nothing drank feverishlv
and replied at random to all her re-
marks and condolences. while the dead
face OF the murdered girl floated be-
! fore my eyes aud nearly distracted me.
II am afraid YOU don't feel at all we'll.
| Capt. BruceY she said at last.
please don't think me dreadfulv
rude, y | replied, ''but f could slip
out unobservcd should be most CRATE
iul. "
She signed to Reggie. bright-faceI
I
TO show me upstairs. for the perturba-
ton OF my spirit were such that, though
felt awfulls ashamed of myself. | lit
orally dared not attempt TO find nv
WAY up alone for fear of meeting nv
my sterious guide again. The fire burn
ed brightly IN my room, the candles
were lit, ami it presented the same APP
pcarance Of luxurious ease l had be-
fore observed. Reggie regarded me
with round eyes of awe. evidently re-
tSned only by his fathers prohibit on
/ from deluding me with questions. /
| detained him as long as | could
with trivial excuses. for nerv-
Gus horror of solitude began TO possess
NE. but | saw he was anxious TO be off
again to his dinner. so l let him go.
l went TO the glass-and recolected;
I hardly knew myself. My hair lay
damply on NV forehead, nv face waS
vers pale and there was the haunted
look in my eyes | had seen in him
Ners soon the door opened started
nervously; but it was only the Colonel
with steaming tumbler. look
here" he said. Just drink this of and
get into bed; You II be all right in the
morning | did so. and the punch,
which was. l suppose. pretty ST q
mixture. did send me off into heavy.
dreamless sleep. which lasted till nv
! blinds were drawn up by the servant
in the morning letting in fresh sun
shine. which speedily dspelled the
illusions OF the previous nght-for
illusions / was fain TO bel eve them
in the face Of the bright winiry land
scape before me, and the CHEEKY sounds
| of life in country house which stole
up to my ears through the echoing cor
ridors.
A whole day in the saddle. and a
splendid run. followed by coy game
of billiards with Miss Mabel Armitagc
before dinner. decided me, ghosts or
no ghosts. not to show myself migrate
full to my kind hosts by cutting short
NV visit, as l had thought of doing
when my first impressions were strong
upon me; and found no reason TO re-
gret this decision when a most enjoy =
able ball was followed by another
night, or portion of a night of un-
| hrokpn elunn hor