The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-06-20

FAA[ NNA& - " AZ HMNaNA
pointed to the dormer window. on which
the moonlight was falling
Miss Dalwelrr
No answer. only the silent appraised
hand and the motionless figure. I be-
gan to shiver with fear. The cold per-
! spiration gathered in beads upon my
forehead. and trying TO cry out, my
tongue grew paralyzed | had never
tainted in my life. but now 1 felt a
strange, dizzy sensation creeping over
me. Ny mother met me. At the sight
Of her l found my senses again.
you have seen something. LOUISE
she said. as she looked into my white
face.
"As sure as you live, mamma, | saw a
ghost, and be is after Miss Dalwell.
Spence sat down in a rosebush from
sheer fright, and Fido howled and took
to his heels, while | alone staid till the
lights were ont. May we have supper
nowT
The next day a party Of young people
from town joined rs. and the disagree
able incidents. of the night before were
seemingly forgotten. But | noticed that
Miss Dalwell moved about pale and 81
lent. My affairs, of a sudden, seemed
to have lost all charm for her. Once, in
going into mammals room, | found her
crying, and On asking what the matter
was. she said that she had had a bad
dream.
The weeks went merrily. We became
acquainted with other families in the
vicinity, and spent the time in q con-
tinuous round of gayety. Indeed, | may
as well say here that our happiest hours
were spent away from our own home.
The atmosphere there began to grow un-
canny. Under the old roof by day OF
night there was never unbroken quiet.
Doors seemed to be always opening and
shutting from unaccountable draughts;
windows broke their lines and came
crashing down; shutters swung to and
fro when the air was s~tirless; dishes
ratified down in their places, and moth
ing seemed to rest upon a secure foun-
dalton about the house.
look here. Aunt Judith Cousin
Frank began n morning at the break
fast table, 81 believe there is a ghost
about this house that needs laying. I
locked my door on going to bed last
night, but this morning when l awoke /
found it wide open"
That's nothing" Lefty Gray ex-
claimed. mime has served me that trick
more than once l haven't thought Of
being afraid"
"Who said anything Of fear, Miss
LettyY'
Il think Louise would if she could
speak, Frank answered quickly, spring.
ing up from the table and dashing q
glass of water in my face.
1t brought me to my senses Just 8
they were failing me. Close to Miss
Dalwells chair l had seen a figure stand
ing, the same that / had seen weeks be-
fore in the shadow of the trees.
BE so kind as to let this foolish talk
drop" my mother said, and Immediately
began to talk eloquentlyof a book which
she had been reading.
As / left the table Miss Dalwer whis-
pered in my ear, you saw him again.?
Eyes"
"By my chair
"By your chairI"
Come ont in the garden with me-"
she said, putting an arm about my waist.
~ want TO tell you something. This
man has not come here to harm you; I
alone draw him hither. Years ago he
was my lover, one whom / rejected for
what | thought a good cause. l had
worn his ring, and returned it to him.
He died a short time after, but before
his death wrote me a letter, in which he
said that, above or below, on earth OF
in heaven. that ring should be worn on
my finger again. That is all. What
viii come of it God only knows, but day
and night / am haunted as though /
were guilty Of some fearful crimeT" :.
poor Miss Dalwell, 4" l said pityingly.
But a moment after. looking into her
eyes, | felt sure that | had been listen
ing to the story of a crazy woman. Only,
with my own eyes, | had seen the face
that haunted her.
Another week wore away. There was
the usual small commotion about the
place. Spence had gone back TO town
because he could not stand it, while the
! cook and housemaid both slept upon the
floor of a night in my mothers room.
All in all, the unp~leasantness was grow
ing a little too strong for comfort.
But n night the end came. 1t wa
moonlight again, and outside not a
breeze stirred the foliage. We were sit
ting in groups on the wide veranda. In
the parlor Miss Wilde was striking
minor chords upon the piano, while
Cousin Frank, in a voice modulated to
suit the hour, was going through with
the Ancient MARINER" He was repeat
ing these words:
An orphans curse would drag to he'll
A spirit from on high:
But oh. more horrible than that
Is the curse In u dead manfs eyel
Seven days, seven nights
when from Miss Dalwelrs lips arose such
a shrek that our blood curdled in our
vein. It was followed by a seconds 81
lence. then my mother sprang to her
side. She lay back in her chair. stark
and still, her eyes set in fright. her jaw
fallen. Not a word was spoken, but each
one of that terrified group saw upon the
fourth finger of her left hand a golden
circlet with a diamond burning in its
center The poor creature wore her
lovers lng at last.
All syas useless Miss Dalwel was