The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-04-03
A STRANGE VISIT.
An Incredible, But Nevertheless
True, Story.

What have to say is not fiction, but
fact. The heroine of my .'strange story
and no less true. strange-died
many years age. Most Of her generation.
have followed her to the land the inhab-
itants of which may or may not revisit
ours in visible guise. The Lord OF the
quick and the dead alone knows how
this may be. There is no reason why /
should not put into print what many of
her contemporaries heard from her own
lips, not only at the date of the mysteri-
Gus occurrence that Swallowed her life,
but when halfzcentury had softened
the grisly outlines of the horror, and
she could contemplate it in perspective
almost with calmness, although never
without awe.
i, Nancy -Rarksdale, WHO write this,
was girl of eighteen-w when, atthe close
OF a May day fifty years agone, my
fathers carriage set me down at the
door of my dear friend, Augusta Deane,
in Gainesville, Va. Cartersville was
then-and may be now-an uninterest-
ing village, struggling leisurely ,9along
the banks of the James river, towhich
it owed its being and continued life We
had pitied Augusta Elicit, the belle of
two Richmond seasons, not because she
married Frank -Deane, promising
young lawyer, but for having to live in
the muddy, tame little town. The we'd
ding had taken placein December, and
this was my first visit to her new abode.
1t was small, white cottage, set back
about twenty yards from the street,
which differed in nothing from coun-
try highway except that there were
more houses on and near it. / had just
time to observe that the Deane's cot
tage was story and half high, with
dormer windows in the roof; that it was
neat and newly painted; that the
wicket-gate sin the front palings was
overarched by bower of honeysuckle,
and; the front porch overrun with a
multifiora rose tree, now in affiuent
bloom-when Augusta ran out through
the open door and down the gravel
walk to the carriage.
She was trifle thinner than when /
had last seen her, but animated and
joyous, with vivacity that did not abate
while she attended me to her own
chamber on the first floor, pouring out
-salutations, queries and interjections
in her old frank, impetuous way.
"You must stay in here with me I'M
( til Frank comes home" she said, help
!, ing me to lay aside my travelling garb.
..He went to Richmond day before yes
terday and may not get back before
Saturday.
Your first separation-isn't it?"
asked l, struck with something not
quitesnatural in her manner.
= Yes. He was obliged to go-on bust
ness, adding the last word as it might
be an after-thought.
While she spoke she was, rearranging
some clothing hung in press to make
= room for that 1 had laid off. Her hands
wayered, and she kept her face turned
from me.
With the Slight land insufferable)
touch of superior scorn Of fancy-free-
as-yet maiden for the sentimental feel
ings of young married folks, ! feigned
to overlook her emotion. She might
pine at the heart for the absent mate,
but she did me the justice to be sincere
ly delighted at my coming. II would
content myself with that for the pres
ent. and tolerate,a weakness peculiar to
her position; SO ! made talk of city
news and the journey, taking pains not
to ask question, until presently she
showed me sunny face, that was the
prettier and sweeter for the mist, which
was not quite dew, lingering upon her
egclashes. We supped sa fet-a-tete,
ami atsottt on the porch until bed
1time watching the moon rise, and