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

chord: 4 few feet from 1t stood q spin
| ming wheel, with the thread still on the
spindle; and Just beyond, on high easel.
was full-length portrait Of the deceased
grandfather, with his sword hanging be-
side it; then came two or three quaint
Old tables in more or less rickcty con-
d!tiOn; an immense hair-cloth sofa, with
hard round pillow at either end; a
large old fashioned book case. crammcd
with worn and mu>ty volumes: clock
dumb with age. reaching almost to the
ceiling. and roomy enough to have served
As hiding place for the traditional lover
three or four ha>sOckS, with here and
there n chair which, though still com
Portable. had seen better days; and on
the mantcl-piecc above the open fire
place a painting of the family coat of
arms, an alabaster clock under a glass
case. and a widc-branched candclabrlm
with long glass pendants. These, with
small writing desk, the high, narrow
bcdstca |, and an old piano, made up the
furniture of the room. To me it was so
much treasure-trovc. Avicc couldn't
have put me in a room where | would
have been more utterly content. Even
the church-like hush that prevailed did
not impress me as uncanny
But us stood amongst these relics of
the past. wishing that they had been
gifted with speech, heard a clock in
some apparently far-off stecplc striking
one-I found afterward that the church
was within a stone -throw--and remem-
bering that Avice had said that dinner
would be served at half-past, | began in
haste to make my toilet
"A narrow, dimly- lighted passage led
from my room to the back parlor, where
| had expected to find Cousin Avicc and
her other guests, but both parlors were
empty, the company having congregated
in the library on the opposite side OF the
hall; it was so much cosier there, Cousin
Avice s9id and as her mother, 4 stately
and delightful old lady somewhere in the
seventies, preferred it to the parors, it
became our favoritc gathering place.
"After dinner a sail was proposed. and.
as our yacht was becalmed for several
hours, we did not reach home till long
after dark. 1t was ten O'Clock when we
left the supper table. and as all were
more or less tired. We went at once to
our rooms.
But in spite of my WEAKNESS I could
not resist the temptation to open the old
piano and run my fingers over the keys
before putting out the light. feeling sure
that In that remote corner there was no
danger OF my disturbing anyone
"Old and out of tune rs the instrument
was, Its tone was still sweet and full. and
presently found myself playing Ger
trude's Dream Waltz" waltz that |
had always been fond of, having learned
t when child from a little music box
hat belonged to my mother. 1t was no
1oubt from force of this old association
hat played it through twice. and that
lfter going to bed | dreamed that was
child again in the old home at Crum-
elbow.
But had not been long asleep when /
was reused, not by any sound-thc
lush in the room was, if possible. even
more noticeable than it had been in the |
Iaytime-but by the consciousness that
was not alone.
The moon was pouring a food of /
lght through the gauzy curtains at the
asst windows, and as soon rs | was fairly
wake | saw, standing in the centre of
his radiance-my ghost. But it was not
ne OF the gaunt, chill spectres with
'hlch ghost seers have made us familiar:
n the contrary, it was a dainty little
reature ina long white dimity gown.
nth mass of wavy. gold brown hair
illing over the shoulders.
1t made so pretty picture in The
loonlight that | had no thought at the
loment of being afraid. To tell the
ruth. 1t was not till after it had vanished
nat began to realize that had actually
zen ghost: while it rarried was too
bsorbcd in watching it to think Of any
linS else. For an instant it stood as if
ncertain which way to turn. then. to
~ amazement, it went straight to the
iano.
Il had left the instrument open, fancy
lg that it seemed somewhat musty, and
'ating itself on the old-fashioned stool,
,c little intruder began softly feeling
nong the keys.
AT first the timid touch scarcely
rev forth a sound, but after a moment
two my ears were greeted with the
Fry waltz that l had been playing in
&C evening, or rather with what seemed
far-of echo of it, so soft and dream
Ike was the music; and not satisfied with
laying it once, the young musician re-
Gated it, just as had done. 1
Then, for few moments, the fingers
andered back and forth, as if searching
n some lost melody, and while | lay
ordering if this could be the spirit of
me little maiden who in years gone by
nd played this ancient instrument, the
eepie clock struck twelve, and, before
'uld turn my head TO follow it, the APP
iritiOn had vanished.
when | woke IN the newt morn;no II