The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-08-06
THE SPECTRAL VISITOR.
Mrs Glare Gets the Better Of a
Designing Female.

IF you could give her any employ
,ment, Mrs. Clare, it would be real act
of Christian charity" said good old Mr..
Owens
Mrs Clare looked doubtful. She had
come down into the country, with her
heart full of peace and goodwill toward
nen-and women, into the bargain.
She had not much money to give-she
had como to Middle Marshes to econo-
nize. That was the secret of her tax
ing the lonely cottage on the edge of
the hcmlock copse, where the wind
SIGHED so funereally of an evening, and
the red reflections OF the spring sunsets
seemed to turn the 1ow-lying pools to
blood. She was tho wife of sea cap
tain, whose biennial voyages to China
and Japan seemed like lifetimes; and
she had small income, and four little
children to bring up. But scork-that
was, perhaps, within her power to
bestow; and yet she hesitated, IS Mr..
Owens spoke
aBut she is such a peculiar looking
person." said Mrs. Clare. $50 you
notice she never lifts her eyes to ones
facea And such strange eyes, too-full
Of greenish lights, like a cats. And,
then, her hair is so colorless and dry,
exactly like the faded grass along the
edge of the marsh; and there is such a
peculiar, disiguring scar upon her
cheek"
Mr.. Owens laughed fat oily, COM
Portable laugh.
"But, my dear madam" said he,
Show very illogical that is. After all,
we are none Of us responsible for our
looks. And they tell me sho is an ex-
cellent seamstress- And, more than
this, she has had disappointment"
"a disappointment" said Mrs. Clare.
"You wouldn't think it, would you?"
said Mr.. Owens.
"Yes; she was engaged to young
carpenter of the neighborhood. But
work was slack, and the carpenter
didn't see his way clear to matrimony.
So he has gone to the next seaport
town to work at ship-building, and
Mary Moore is left to wear the willow.
'Poor thing" said Mrs. Clare; and
she resolved to conquer her prejudices
at once. Mary Moore was summoned
to Ivy Lodge and set to work, and pro-
fuse were her expressions Of gratitude.
81 hope you like the cottage, ma'am, "
said Mary, one day, as she sat at her
work in the bay window.
''Oh, yes" said Mrs. Clare, earnestly.
"You don't find it lonely, oh,
ma'am?"
Mrs. Clare shivered slightly.
"A little" she acknowledged.
Toward evening, sometimes"
"Ahr' said Mary Moore, biting of
her thread. II thought so. knew all
about the house. I lived here, ma am,
ten years, as maid to Mrs. Hodges, as
owns the place. She couldn't stand it,
maam so she's gone to Florida"
Couldn't ctand what?" asked Mrs.
Clare, with some curiosity.
1.-THE sights, ma am" said Mary, low
ering her voice mysteriously. "And
the sounds"
''Nonsense!' said Mrs. Clare.
"Ah, ma'am, that's what many has
said before you," said Mary. "Sever
families has lived here since my old
missis went to Florida, and not one Of
EN- has stayed over the three months
All because of -"
"0f what?' said Mrs. Clare, as the
woman paused.
'Of the ghost, ma'am, if you will
have it." answered Mary Moore.
Mrs. Clare burst out laughing. &c
never heard any thing so ridiculous il
all my life," said She "Do, pray, take
q little more pains with those button
holes, Mary, and let the ghost alone
and I'll wager that it will not trouble
US"
Mary sewed away in silence, with thu
greenish eyes fixed intently on her work
and the thin lips tightly compressed
one had scattered the seed; it was onl,
wait, now, for it to terminate.
Little Kate came running breathless
" In that very evening.
Mamma! Mammal cried the child
white lady waving her arms out 0
she back window! Is it the poor lad
who was murdered by the Indians be
49, hOuSO was BullIG SOOk says
Wass And cook is going tomorrow. an
so Is Emma Janer'
Mrs, Clare stepped out into the fadin,
twilight and herself reconnoitered tn
ground.
My dear" said she, ''you are mis-
'aken' There is nothing there but tn
wnite mist rising out OF the river an
'ae hemlock boughs waving in tn
wind
les KNOW said little Kate, VIII
was clinging to the skirt of her mother
uress; but there uas a white lady ther
ae white; her hair and her hands an
sao vail over her head--leaning out {
tue back window over the dairy"
AM, MRS, Clare lighted lamp and wer
a as to the room in question, an u,
ssea apartment, which served chief
~ the storage of old trunks, boxes an
saests. twas as she had expected-a
quiet i,e.. and empty.
tasee, Katie" said she, ,aoy yr