The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-09-07

and 1t seemed to me telt, rather Jnan he09d,
the manifestation, If such an expression is
allowable. Peggy held her breath, and, put
ting her finger on her lip, signifed: Isl
lence; llsten!'
A sound as of some one walking YEARLY
about with muff1ed step cameto ollr ears at
intervals, and l fancled Sir Rupert was
resting between marches. This continued
for some time.
Back and forth through the corridor
went the weary, painful march OF unseen
in at regular intervals
"a very methodical ghost" I said to
Peggy. sHush!' she whispered, and shut
up like a clam.
Then weary sigh foated down the long
to think the plot was thickening so fast in
favor Of Sir Rupert.
Surely my theory was in danger already
Of being exploded by the persistent spirit.
But while we listened the manifestations
grew fainter and fainter, as if Disguised
with the fruitless tramp tramp, and the
sound Of footsteps had died out altogether
when the soft, indistinct tread as Of some
one in their stockinged feet was plainly
heard on the landing just above us. and I
fancied sort of murmured whispering
seemed very near us.
This was more than Peggy and Ancil had
contracted for and their precipitate flight
was something wonderful to behold. They
rushed from the foot of the staircase across
to the side entrance through which we
came in; there they paused in the open
doorway, Peggy reckoning frantically for
me to follow. I followed her, seeing that
such terror had seized them. And in
fact !, myself, began to feel s'creepy" and
imagined I could hear the repentant con-
fession of the hapless old man in my wake
Pausing at the passage-way, instantly
regained my self-possession and signified
my intention of returning to the foot of the
staircase. Peggy demonstrated and finally
said that if "must jine hans with the
spirit" why, must go alone as she should
not return.
"An right, Peggy I said; ''wait for me
here, will yous"
cam faith Oh will If the masthur don't be
fur gittin' Arthur me too alrnestly," she
replied, shivering with fear and excitement
was in for the whole manifestation, and
if should pause now from some squeamish
notion of danger I should always regretmy
having done so.
The open passage-way made very cold
draught, connecting the outdoor current
of raw night air with the one formed in the
stairway, and felt rather uncomfortable;
so wrapping my loose cloak about my chilly
form I retraced my steps, and leaning
against column midway Of the hall wait
ed further developments.
"Pshaw!" said, feeling ashamed of our
inglorious retreat, and began taking myself
to task. mentally, for so doing, when the
indistinct footballs came on down stairs. /
strained every nerve to catch every sound,
remembering that Peggy said something
about the masters falling to the foot Of the
stairs.
The lamps burned DINNER, and I was
conscious of presence other than mortal
My heart gave a stif1ed throb and seemed
to stand still, and found myself foolishly
asking: s'Where am I?'' Presently saw, or
seemed to see, an object moving about in
the extreme end of the hall. Slowly and
aesitating]y the indlstinct shape seemed to
be hunting something. The soft footballs
heard plainly, now again, and my eyes
riveted on the moving object Of shadowy
existence I followed it's constantly chang
ing positions, how standing, now crouching
low, as if weary, with a strange feeling Of
fascination I am not able to describe.
1t seemed to me that lost my individu-
atty; was really myself no longer. felt
that was also shadow being, like the one
1 was gazing at so fxedly; sort of OBJ
scure, vapory body, full of life, however,
and sympathy. I thought with wonderful
rapidity somehow, and felt myself merging
into the shadow at the foot of the staircase
1t was not Sir Rupert. [ had forgotten
him; but it was myself-my other self
from away off-from the spirit land, and
was weary. The burthen of my thoughts
seemed to be such a sad, hopeless ques-
tioning. Why for me was there no rest,
no repose, when needed it SO much?
There was sach a restraint on me, invis-
ible, but such calling restraint as would
drive mortal man mad to endure. And
my situation was plainly mapped out be-
fore me, and l knew the replies to every
question I might ask before I could ask
them.
Oh! what sn existence. There was no
undoing what had done, no getting out of
this wretched groove of useless regret. Pin
ioned by an unseen power, [ felt that was
doomed to wander forever back and forth
the length of my enslaving, invisible chains.
Always going and so weary, but never ex-
hausted.
felt that this was my terrible, endless
punishment of soul agony for something
which had done and for which there was
now no repentance, and in my deep despair
I uttered a low, piteous Cry.
The sound of my voice had broken the
awful spell which the apparition had thrown
over me, and found myself standing before
the door of the fateful DRAWN groom. How
managed to get there can not say, as
was not con scions of having made single
step in any direction while in my strange
state of sympathetic sorrow, and finally my
own soul WEAKNESS.
Although did not remember of having
made move, I had been drawn the half
,ength of the great central hall by the power
Of the weird, fascinating object, which faded
instantly at my unearthly cry, leaving me
my individuality once more.
At this juncture all WEAKNESS had left
me also, as well as fear, and was con-
scious of the fact that the object had gone
into the drawing room, and felt impeued
to follow it. The morbid curiosity was
again Selling me and I determined to open the
great door, had forgotten Peggy under
the strange influence of this midnight expe-
nence. and boldly reached for the key in its
brass ring on the wall.
But as touched the key cold ICY, shiv
erinp sen sation went over me- and STAYED