Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-05-29
THE GHOST OF PENARES.

slept profoundly do not know how
long-but l was wakened by a sense
of not being alone; watched,
startled feeling as white, swift NOV
ing object passed along the tapestried
wall opposite me and disappeared! l
sprang up, and, lighting my lamp
threw the rays from strong Argand
burner through the room. I lifted
thetapestry. Nothing but oak panels,
solid and substantial enough under
my close gaze. l could think ofnoth-
ing which, moving outside, might
have produced this effect within: and.
try as l would, l could offer no so.
luton of the odd apparition.
had come to Penarcs for twenty
four hours with my schoolmate,
Reynolds Herholt, who, by marriage
with its young Spanish mistress late
ly orphaned, had become its mas
ter.
The next morning I made no NEIL
ton of my little experience during
the night to my host. But / accept
ed the renewed invitation that l
would lengthen the twenty -four hours
to week.
"We'll have little hunting, Char
lie, to remind US of our boyhoOd
days." said Reynolds.
"Yes." l gave O little stamp to
bring down my trousers, and adj
mired the mole on my lett cheek in
my hosts handsome mantel mirror,
and smiled to think of the game
had in view to investigate, little
thinking what sort l would really
''bring down."
During my spare moments that
day busted myself in attempting to
invent something approximately like
the reflection l had seen on the
tapestry. Some ingenious servant, l
conjectured, had discovered this
method of welcoming the Penares
guests. ] constructed q rude affair
ofpasteboard, with IN opening fifty
shaped. This, 1 thought, with a
strong light within it, and carried
swiftly, ought to give me my visitor
lwould try it when night came.
The house was full ofguests, and it
was late before the building was
quiet. l leaped easily to the ground
from the balcony below my window,
and trusted to the lessons my limbs
had learned in boyhood to get back
again.
The lights were not yet all out, 81.
l sat down to wait under the shadow
of a friendly maple. AS l sat l OBJ.
served dark figure moving slowly
along the southern wall.
"Ah; my friend of last night" I
said, in my mind, expecting to see a
"magic lantern" performance.
watched closely. l could but dimly
discern the outline, as it stood death
still. the head thrown slightly back,
as if the eyes were watching closely
some point above them. Something
white floated down from the window.
A zephyr caught it; it rose again,
and then descended obliquely.
could see it nova bit of white pa
per-at my feet l heard low NUT
tered curse rs the man CROPPED about
on hands and knees in the darkness.
Again and again he searched, but in
vain. l was on the point ofannounc-
ing myself and offering him his billet
doux, as conceived it to be, when
the sweet notes of a hooking bird fell
on my ear-so wonderfully clear,
SO perfectly initiated, as
to command my profound astonish-
ment and induce my silence. Three
times he repeated the warbling notes,
and then moved swiftly again to the
wall. Mirabile dictu! again white
messenger tioated down. He seized
1t and disappeared in the darkness.
"A maid and her lover" said in
contempt Of my own curiosity, as
proceeded to light my lantern and
try my "effects!' Bah! nothing could
have been less like the filmy, trans
lucent vision of the night before than
my yellow, shapeless glare.
blew out the candle, and stood
looking into the darkness ofmy room.
Ha! By Jove. there it was again! The
perfect outline of a slim, white hu-
man figure thrown against the dark
silk tapestry! Before my eyes it had
appeared and disappeared. l could
not tell whence it had come or with
er it had gone. l climbed to the bal
cony, and again examined the room
thoroughly, but without forming the
smallest solution to my odd vision.
The note had picked up was, after
all, no love letter-a bit of waste pa
per, and read as follows:
81 must see you. White Hollow,
IL midnight.