The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-08

seen but a few hours before in his coffin.
There was the same softly curling gray
hair, the same closely cut gray beard and
even the same old scar over the left eye
brow. Feature and expression were alike
identical IneXpreSsiblv shocked, L rose to
my feet, but as | approached the window
the figure retreated step by step. lie was
dressed in long gray garment mat nut
tered in the wind and TOOK on strange Shapes
as the shifting light OF the moon lell upon
its soft folds and left them in the shadow.
81 am ready TO admit that was startled,
but as there was nothing really irightlul IN
the appearance Of my strange visitor, L
raised the WINDOW ana aduresseu MN Win
careful poiiteness.
Jewell, SIR asked. what is your wish%
"My question met with no response, but
the figure raised his hand. pointed to his
lips and then seemed to beck0n IRE toward
him. The window was a low one and /
leaped out, but as L landed in the snow the
figure turned, and with one wild gesture
ran. | started in pursuit. A few rods
from the house, upon the other side OF the
street, was an old graveyard, lis broken
shafts and headstoneS plainly discernible in
the moonlight.
For a moment I stood still, awed by the
silent majesty of the scene.
Above me rose the sky, like the dome of
sople spacious temple, its sapphire ROOF SUP
ported on every side by pillars OF cloud,
white, like marble, or purple IN the distance,
like porphyry."
At this Point in the narrative madam, in an
unguarded moment leaned forward in her
chair. but De Wolf, ignoring this uncon-
scious manifestation OF interest, went on:
just opposite the house was gap in the
fence which surrounded the deserted burial
place. and my ghostly visitor at once showed
his familiarity with his surroundings by turn
ing his steps toward the only place by which
one could gain admittance.
81 hurried after lin, but he was fleet of
foot, and as the tall figure of the old man
glided in and out among the broken grave
stones he seemed Of no more substantial
essence than Il slim, gray shadow driven by
the wind.
"Once l came so close to him that l put
out my hand to lay hold Of his robe. but my
foot slipped upon piece OF Ice and Tell
PROSTATE across grave.
"A strange, discordant laugh fell upon
my ear. | rose to my feet. The tall, gray
iigure was just beyond, still reckoning with
its weird, white hand. through which the pale
light of the moon seemed 10 shine.
- made one more effort, and dashed for
ward recklessly, conscious of nothing but
that dim, shadowy figure, forever eludng,
forever mocking me.
Suddenly the ground beneath my feet
gave way. | felt myself falling through
space. All around me was darkness
darkness so absolute, so dense, that | tried
to grasp it as | fell in an unreasoning effort
to lay hold of something solid and SuDstan-
tial.
by quick instinct l perceived that l
had fallen through the top OF some ruinous
old tomb. CROPPED wildly in the darkness,
felt the damp brick walls that shut me in.
the stone steps Shiny with mold, and saw lar
above me, through the opening in the roof,
white face, distorted with laughter, peer
ing down al me. In vain L tried to scale the
walls; then felt 5lindly for the dUor, every
fonpltu a had in nm wild jdpa pf
The melting snow ooZed through the broken
walls and fell upon my head. | was knee
deep in water, and plunging about in fruit
less effort to find the door, vaguely conscious
all the while that | was not the only occu-
pant of that loathsome place.
AT last my hands came in contact with
cod iron.
81 lad found the door, but could open it?
With the desperation OF despair | threw my
self against il. 1t yielded, and | found my
self outside in the snow.
How | ever got back in the house and to
bed l cannot tell. Three weeks after. l
awoke as from some fearful dream, and
found myself in the same room where | hal
fallen asleep after that eventful night. A
gentleman whom | recognized as tile village
physician, and young lady In blue dress,
sat in front of the fire, conversing in low
tones.
"'Why am I here?' I asked, and was
astonished to find my voice so weak and
thread like. For an instant | had an i'm
preston that |, too, had become a ghost, in
which case [ would probably brighten The
young lady who sat by the fire.
But she locke up and answered, quietly:
DO not talk, or you will be III again.
You have been very sick, but you are better
now. You must get WELL
81 will get we'll, | remarked, idotically,
if you go on sitting there by the fire.
Then l fell asleep and when l awoke
again | was strong enough to recount the
incidents of the night preceding my i'll
ness, and to listen to an explanation of my
remarkable experience"
"AhW observed madam, drawing a long
breath, then there was an explanation after
all. 1t was an hallueinatioG-simply brain
fever in an ncpient statr?"
Not at ALL" said De Wolf. my friends
found the broken tomb, and, well-yeS. cap
tured the ghost"
"Ah. the ghost!'
Yes. 1t happened that the man who had
died had twin brother, who was deaf
mute and harmleSsly insane. He had wan
derrd away from his home, and but for
kindly people who found and rescued him
would no doubt have become a yeritable
ghost OH that eventful night
And the young lady in the blue dress?"
De Wolfram his fingers through his white
hair and laughed.
Madam, are you acquainted with Miss
Clara Wright?"
CLARA Wright My own cousin, and she
spent last winter in Glsum. ! see it all now
come engaged. Are You the man?" she
added, with sudden flash of inspiration.
Il believe | am, replied De Wolf, bow
ing; "and can assure you, madam, that
am not insensible of the honor."-Ex
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