San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-11-14
eos. HAYS COUNTY TEXAS THURSDAY. NOVEMBER H. 1885,

pano--so ne srarrea AZ oncs TOR America,
where he spent . long time In vain
search for his lost love-" a.
"Ho must have been awful pluclry, {"
interrupted Grace, with dilated pupils.
"Oh, yes. he was-but listen. One
day Camilla-that was my great-great-
great-grandmother. you know-was
weeping In the summer house, when she
suddenly looked up and bcheld her old
lover standing In the doorway. She
was overwhelmed with Joy. and con.
fessed that she was wretched with her
husband; and ! suppose there occurred
quite little love scene. for her husband,
overhearing the affair. rushed in,
plunged bis dagger In the young lords
heart: and carried Camilla fainting to
her room. where no flung her on tho bed,
and locking the door, depafted. When
no returned It was to find her dead. She
had taken her life with her own little
dagger"
"0hw gasped Grace; "and what
thenp"
"Then9 Why, no went insane, Of
course, although people didn't suspect II
for some time, and, being an artist,
painted her picture, which now hangs
on the wall of the haunted ROOM"
"Oh, do show 1t to mer' exclaimed
Grace, springing up; and Lena took the
light and led the way to the unhappy
brides apartment.
1--WE never use 1t; It hasn't been slept
in for years." said Lena. opening the
door, "it is furnished just as It was when
the tragedy occurred. They call her the
Lady Of Black Hail."
Grace shivered as she entered the great
cold chamber and glanced at the massive
mahogany bedstead, with it's damask cur.
tains, brought over from England years
and years ago. Everything was cheer
less, grand and time worn.
"This is the picture" said Lena, hold.
ing the candle above their heads; and
Grace saw before her the full length pic.
ture of young and beautiful girl, within
whose great black eyes there shone an
expression of intense horror as she seemed
about to plunge tiny dagger within her
breast; her face was deadly white. her
lips bloodless, her black hair unbound
and falling far below the waist Of her
white dress.
"Horribler exclaimed Grace. mo one
but madman would have painted the
contemplated suicide of his wife. and
dwelt so on the horror she felt In COM
mitting the deed. But Lena" she con.
tinued, after pause, in which they
heard only the wailing Of the wind In
the branches without, "you don't believe
that she haunts this placer
"Of course not" and Lena's sweet lips
curled.
well, then, do please sleep here to-
night and find out for certain" pleaded
the other.
And SO It was arranged, and old
nanny built a great fire on the long
deserted hearth, and the commodore and
his wife laughed at their girlish freak,
and bashful Bob essayed one long, curl
Gus look at the perpetrator Of such a
wild scheme, and-at 10 precisely the
retired.
Grace locked the door and looked un-
der the bed. in the closet, in the empty
bureau drawers and the match safe,
vases and wash pitcher before jumping
into bed. to be sure that no ghosts were
being harbored on the premises: and
then. kissing cnch other good night,
,hese two girls feel into sweet, tranquil
Sleep
How long they had slept neither knew,
when suddenly both pairs Of eyes flashed
open simultaneously and they were wide
wake. The storm had gone down and
he moon shone brightly, and there,
in the moonlight near the win
low. was woman In white, with long,
railing, black hair. Neither girl scream
d, but Lena clasped her friends hand
and the latter returned it
With steady, firm, warm pressure,
Which said as plain us word. Perfectly
uiet."
Then the figure turned, and, fixing her
nournful black eyes OH the occupants
f the bed. which fortunately stood in
he shadow, she raised one hand, disclos-
1g cleaning dagger At this Lena
lmost screamed, but Grace's little iron
and seemed holding her back, and she
~ trembling, white and motionless, In
ie back part of the bed. 1
81 never heard of a ghost lasting so
'ng," thought Grace. Then the woman /,
'alked to the window. Light as feath-
: Grace slid on to the floor, and, ap- |,
the figure, caught her long,
ack hair in one hand. OF came a
assive wig; the creature turned with I
1 exclamation Of "By thunderi" and 8
,shfuI Bob, giving one nonplussed look,
ID through the door, which he had {
,ened with skeleton key.-M. NJ. in '
ew York News.