Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-04-06

pet and the bright. fresh hanrings
OF the bed, which had been hurried
" erected. The furniture was half
old, half new, and on the dressing
table stood n very quaint oval mirror,
in frame of black wood -unpol.
ishcd ebony, think. can rcmcm
her the very pattern of the carpet.
the number of chairs, the situation
of the bed, the figures on the tapes.
Try. My, | can rccollect not only
the color Of the dress | wore ON
that fatal evening, but the arrange.
ment OF every scrap of lace and rib.
bon, of every tlowcr, every Jewel,
with memory bat too perfect.
Scarcely had nay maid finished
spreading out my various articles OF
attire for the evening (whcn there
was TO bc great dinner. party
when the rumble of carriage an +.
nounced that Lady Spcldhurst had
arrived. The short winters day
drew to- a close, and large number
of guests were gathered together in
the ample drawine-room, around
the blaze OF the wood fire, after din.
ncr. My father. rucollect, was
not with us at frat There were
some squires OF the old rd.riding.
hard-drInking stamp still lingering
over their port in the 1ining.room
and the host, Of course, could not
leave them. But the ladies and all
the younger gcn,lcmcn.--both those
who slept under our roof, and those
who would have dozen miles OF
log and mifc to encounter on tho =
road homc--wcrc al together.
Need say that Reginald was there
lie sat near me--my accepted lover.
my plighted future husband. We
were 10 be married in the Sprirg.
My sisters were not FAR Oh, they,
too, had found eyes that sparkled
and sotioncd in meeting theirs. had
found hearts that beat responsive TO
their own. And, ia their cases, no
rude frost nipped the blossom ere IL
became the fruit, there was no
eankcr IN their fiowercts Of young
hope. no cloud in their sky. limo.
cent and loving, they were beloved
by men worthy their esteem.
The room--a large and lofty one,
with an archcd roof--had somewhat
OF sombre character, from being
'vainscoted and cciled with pol.
ished black oak Of great age.
There were mirrors, and there were
pictures on the walls, and handsome
furniture, and marble chimney.
pieces, and a gay Tournay carpet:
but these merely appeared as bright
spots on the dark back ground OF
the Elizabeihan wood work. Ma.
ny lights were burning, but the
blackuess Of the walls and roof
seemed absolutely 10 swallow up
their rays, like the mouth Of a cav.
ern. A hundred candies could not
have given that apartment the
cheerful lightness OF modern
drawing room. But the gloomy
richness Of the panels matched well
with Tie fuddy gleam from the
enormous woOd-fire, in which.
cracking and glowing, now lay the
mighty Tule log. Quite blood.
red lustre poured forth from the fire.
AID quivered on the walls and the
groincd roof We had gathered
round the vast antique hearth in a
wide circle. The quivering LIGHT
Of the fire and candles fell upon as
all, but not equally, for some were
IN shadow. j remember still how
tall and manly and handsome Regi.
nald looked TIA night, taller BY the
head than any there, aud full Of
high spirits and gayety. /, too, was
IN the highest spirits, never had my
bosom felt lighter. and believe II
was my mirth which gradually
gained tie rest, for ] recolleci what
a blithe, joyous company we seemed
All save one. Lady Speldhurst.
dressed in gray six and wearing =
quaint head dress, sat in her arm
chair, facing the FIRE, very silent.
with her hands and her sharp chin
propped on a sort Of ivofy.handled
crutch that she walked with Oof
She was lame), peering az me with
half-shut eyes. Sire was q little
spare old woman, with very keen
delicate feature of the French fgpe
Her gray silk dress. her spoiIess
lace. old fashioned jewels, aad prim
neatness Of array. were well snited
To the Intelligence n her face. with
its thin lips. and eyes of piercing
black, undimmed ~ age Those
eyes made me uncOmiO-tatle. in
spite olmy gayety, - they followed
NY every mOf cu1cut with curious
scutiny. SIN was very merry
aud gay, NY sisters even wondered
- ny cyer-fcady mi5ih. which was
almost wild in ifs excess have
heard since then of ,he Scottish
belief that those doomed 20 some
great calamity become fey. and are
never 90 disposed for merfiment
and laughter a. Just before the biow
falls. IfevtF mortal was fer. then.
J was 20 ON that evening. Sul.
though sirove 10 shake il Of. the
pcrtinacious obscrvafion of old
Lady SPcldhnrst's eyes did make
an impression on me Of a vagueiy
dissgreeablc nature, OILERS. too.
noticed her scrutiny Of me. bat set
q down as mere ecccntnciiy of o