The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-06-27
WAS SIZE HAUNTED.

had been sent for in great haste.
and had fancied that was needed in
an extremely critical case. for the hour
was nine in the evening and the night
a stormy one.
What then was my surprise. when /
had been ushered into handsome
parlnr in one OF the best hotels 10 lind,
sitting in a large armchair aud with no
appearance OF ill-health about her.
very beautiful woman whom knew TO
be an actress of position. and had
often admired upon the stage
She was dressed in the most hecom-
ing fashion. and arose with smile mp
on my entrance.
You look surprised. doctor the
lady began. motioning me 10 seat
You will be more 50 before vou leave
me. ann not ill. and can see that
you know that At a glance"
You certainly are looking very well,
madame, said |.
II am feeling well,' said she. The
question that ! desire 10 ask Vou as a
man who has made the brain. ia some
degree speciality, is. am | mad? l
want YOU TO give me your opinion. Do
You think me inSane?"
That is very difficult question,
madame" said |. "A doubt of YOUR
nationality never would have occurred
10 me. Besides. insane people seldom
guess their condition. However. YOU
must have some reason for asking the
question:
"A very grave one. she answered.
Either ! am out of my mind or there
are such things as ghosts"
5 There are optical illusions madame"
said l.
But Illusions Of the senses of sight
and touch and hearing all at once.
Would that not be madness?'
Not if yon were aware they were
Illusions. I answered.
But they seem real TO me- said the
lady, .-oh. 50 real. / suppose YOU read
the stories about me In The papers /?
lou have heard of the man who Killed
himself for love of me?'
The Erenchman?1 | asked. '.To
tell the truth ! have read II.
They said was cruel TO him, +" said
the lady. growing somewhat excited.
Il was not. / was kind at first: but he
do@ged my footsteps and threatened
my life. Not at first. of course, but
after / had accorded him an interview.
and refused him as gently rs a woman
could refuse man. He wanted me &c
marry him. He was rich, Of good
family; he was honorable and very.
very much in love. But l. how
could | love a stranger? And he was
ugly. a great. savage-lnoking creature.
After that he tried To kill me. He shot
at me. had him arrested and he
committed suicide in prison" She
paused and shuddered. 1T is he who
comes" she added.
Naturally " said !, s'you have been
greatly shocked. You dream of him.
and your dreams are so vivid that YOU
fancy them actual occurrences
Il knew you would say that" she
sighed, ''but / have very vivid dreams.
for in them friends who have been
dead for years come to me. They speak
and move and touch me. But when
awake | know | have been dreaming.
This is different. My ghost or my
madness-comes to me upon the stagei'
Upon the stage?n / repeated.
Yes she answered. He saws l
shall not act again. was playing a
week ago when he came. He often
comes, but never before did he touch
me. This time he laid his hand upon
my arm. and whispered:
~ tell YOU You must retire from the
stage | exact this penalty of YOU.
The next time you tread the boards
will kill youi'n
"Well?n said /.
Il tainted, . said the lady, "and for
tunately it was the correct thing to do
at that moment. Only my fellow
actors guessed the swoon to be a real
one. But the next day / cancelled my
engagement. l declared myself ill.,
The truth is | was very much frightened.
I l,,I
pointing to his throat, but when it
came to touching me and speaking"
She paused, shuddering Violently.
Yours is case of disordered nerves.
madame" said /. Il advise you to
take a holiday
Il don't dare to gs on actingr' she
gasped. Don't you see that? Why,
! really believe You do know why | am
so troubled In the very prime of life.
with everything | value ut my hand /
must sink into obscurity-retire on a
small sum of money, when | might
make an immense fortune-give up the
applause | live for, the art l adore
and all because a ghost will have it sor'
The tears rose to her beautiful eyes.
She wiped them away and forced a
laugh.
.'Oh, you know / had rather think
HlN NSell u lllble Out VI lily Hllnu Iuitu 10
believe in my ghost!" said she.
80 should H. said |. IF you will
take my advice. you will give Yourself
holiday, surround yourself with
friends and forget your halluci alton
it is one. You are just little upset,
and it viii pass.
i wrote prescription.
take this at night" l said II
assure you that science has distinctly
proven the fact that ghosts do not APP
pear to anyone.
The next day l read in the papers
that Madame had taken her ply
sicians advice and would spend a
/ twevemonth abroad.
1t was more than year, however,
before | saw upon the walls of thI city
the announcement of Madam Us re-
appearance. She was to play her
favorite role, and the papers weI1 full
of paragraphs concerning her.
As | had my fortune yet to mike |
felt that | was somewhat extratagant
to attend on the first night, butN did
cn parrs.f ial n