The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-09-27

night. Possibly | may have slept an
hour, but it seemed to me that had
barely closed my eyes when | again be
came aware that there was some one
near me.
The moon was not rs brilliant rs on
the previous night but it gave sufficient
light for me to see the same small phan-
tom stealing across the room. and while |
was brcathle>sly watching it, it again
seated itself al the piano.
But instead of the Dream Waltz it
began playing in IA slow, uncertain way
Il fragment from II Trovatorc that | had
been running over in the afternoon.
Then followed two or three airs with
which was not familiar, and though
they were not at all intricate or difficult,
there was pathos in the rendering that
almost started the tears.
''In the midst of the music came rOlt
of thunder. and at the sound, though il
was low and mu.ilcd, the little white
gowned figure started up, and, running
across the carpet, vanished behind the
tall easel
II flew to the spot, but found nothing
but empty space. Just over the easel,
! looking down with laughing eyes at
Grandfather LHommcdieu's braided cue,
! hung the likeness of some child of a for
mcr generation. but it bore no resem-
blance to my little visitor. OF course to
genuine ghost a stone wall would be no
obstacle, but this one had seemed so sweet
and human that it was hard to believe
| that it had made its exit after the ira
ditiOnal manner of ghosts. Yet if flesh
and blood, could not understand in what
way it had managed to come and go. as
had taken care every night to see that my
door and windows were securely fast
encd. -
Il went to the east window and looked
out, almost expecting to see it fitting
scross the mOOnlit space; instead, saw
q black cat sitting demurely on the gar
den fence, with nothing whatever sug-
gestivc of ghost except white sail
drifting down the bay, with Cedar Island
Light blinking at it in the distance; and
becoming aware that was growing
chilly, crept back to bed with the rid !
die unsolvcd.
Il was strongly tempted the next !
morning to relate my experience; but the
fear of making Avice uncomfortable in |
regard to the room, and of being laughed |
at by the others, still kept me silent |
The day was stormy, and finding that it |
must be spent in doors, most Of us went |
to our rooms to write letters.
''Oncc or twice, rs | sat at the desk, | /
fancied that | heard a muffled movement |
on the other side of the wainscOt; but |
knowing that there was no room beyond,
| said 10 myself that there must be mice
in the wall, and gave it no further
thought.
"After finishing my letters, finding that
1t was not time to dress for dinner, |
went to the piano, and had just begun
playing 'Ye Banks and Braes of Bonnie
Doon-someway the Old-fashioned airs
seemed best suited to the venerable in
strumcnt-when suddenly behind the tall
easel at the other side of the room panel
seemed to give way, and in tumbled a
frightened looking little creature in a
calico frock and white pinafore.
oh, please, miss didn't mean to-
she cried. My mother said mustn't
ever come in here; but | couldn't help
listening in the stairway, the music was
so sweet
And picking herself up, she would
have beaten a retreat at once if had not
caught hold of her
80 Now tell me who you are said,
and how you contrived to get in?' For,
to my amazement, the moment saw her
face | recognized my pretty ghost
I'm the hoGsekeepcr's little girl.
miss. and | sleep in the room upstairs,
she answered, gazing with longing eyes
At the piano
90 But if your mother has forbidden
you to- come here l said, don't you
think 1t is very naughty for you to creep
Down in the night when she supposes ,
that you are fast asleep in your bed'
"'Oh. l never did, miss. Never she
protested
And her face looked so honest that |
could hardly persuade myself that sho
was telling an untruth.
AZ that moment another muffled |
sound was heard inside the wall. and at s
The opening through which the child had :
made her entrance the house keeper ap- :
Deared. The little one looked at me with 9
such appealing eyes that made haste to ,
AXE her under nsy wing. =
:" 1t was IN accident, Mrs. Ames,' ! ;
aid. Your little girl had . tumble. :
md has given IKE great surprise. as =
never knew till now that there was any =,
ioor on this side of the ROOM
81 s'posc Miss Avice must have forgot
% tell you about it, she's been so busy ,
and tine house&eepcr. It's queer sort :
II contrivance. anyhow; but, you see, :
his room was built for the old gentle 6
nan there'-pointing to the portrait on 5
he easel-'an' he had 'eru make double {
vail all the way round, partly 50 it'd be ;
cooler in summer an warmer in winter