The morning call., 1891-10-02
THE LAST INTERVIEW.

The circumstance I am about to relate oc-
Cured fully fifty years ago, but rises before
me as freshly and wildly as then.
When, after the peace of 1914 was con-
cluded, the Continent was once more opened
to us, every one who remembers it knows
how gladly We English awaited ourselves of
it to leave our island home to seek health or
pleasure in the complete change Of scene
and lie.
My husband and I shared the almost uni
versal fureur and went to France, There.
however, our wanderngs ceased for time;
for when we arrived at the picturesque old
town of Dive we're agreeably surprised to
find some old friends there
Our house was in a central situation as
regarded those of our friends; though it
was in the town, it had a small garden be-
fore it, and a small graYeled path led to the
hall door.
OF all our acquaintance the person l was
most drawn to was a Mrs Norris, very
pretty young woman. light hearted and
always cheerful. She was my constant
guest. Her husband was in the army, and
at tie time | speak of was qRarttred In Ire
land. Mrs. Norris was anxious to give her
four children a better education than their
limited means could procure in England.
Captain Norris had only just left D to
lOlll MS anu lltNl G CoSEQ MS NlSLl
that | would look after" his wife and as
sist her with advice, or in any way that
might be necessary.
OF all the Norris children Lonisa was her
fathers favOrite, but her mother almost
dlsliked her, apparently-if one can use the
word dislike to describe 4 mothers harsh
ness to her child. l afterward found that
the mothers harshness caused the fathers
favor.
One evening our small circle had assem-
bled As usual at my house, and dispersed
about 10 clock. Mrs. Norris being the first
to leave.
Wien my husband ana I we're alone, we
chatttd over the little incidents and gossips
Of the evening.
AT last l took my candle and went to my
room, a front one.
| had uudressed, when heard noise at
tie window like hail rafting against it,
Knowing that the night had been very fine
l drew back the curtain in surprise and saw
Mrs. Norris standing on the path.
l hurriedly threw my dressing wrapper
round me aud ran downstairs.
When l had opened the hall door, before
had time 10 ask question, Mrs. Norris ex-
claimed
"Oh, fear something dreadful has hap
pened to Charlesv
"Why do you think SOP" said. Have
you heard anything If himY
mol she answered. u have not heard
Of or from him lately; yet, as you know.
not uneasy about him, and was quite
happy and cheerful with you this evening.
left YOU early 10 60 to my children; they
were all asleep. | went to bed directly, but
in about ten minutes after, by the light Of
the night lamp, | saw my Au, band standing
by my bedstead; he had n fearful cash in
his throat, from which the blood was pour
Ing. lie spoke TO me and said:
- Farewell! e kind u poor LOuH
''Iu a nucient he disappeared. When I
aortlI p.IIapt fhnITu.Ifs / 1rpssA1 aud
came to you. l must 90 TO him. viii you
look after my children until my return%
Travelling in those days was 4 most disa-
greeable process. l therefore tried to per-
suade Mrs. Norris that she had only
dreamed Of her husband.
She replied: 81 had not even closed nv
eyes and saw him as plainly as | do you."
Then | tried 10 persuade her 20 walt for
the arrival for the next mail from England.
l saw 1t was useless trying to diSSaude
Mrs. Norris, so l hurriedly dressed and
helped her preparations for depa. ture,
promising to be mother to her children III
her absence.
She travelled post to the nearest port.
thence sailed for England, aud proceeded
Immediately to her husbands quarters in
Ireland.
She was the only inside passenger on the
coach. At the next stoppage the guard
found my poor friend seuseless.
She had found in newspaper an account
OF the death Of Captain Norris, by suicide,
at the very moment she had seen his appari-
ton.
When Mrs. Norris returned to her chill
dren, and had, in some degree, recovered
from this awful shock, she SPOKE with calm
ness Of what she called her last interview"
with her Rusbhad.
l Remarked that even IL she had dreamed
it, it would have been extraordinary; she
was firm in asserting she had not closed her
eyes, and but just extinguished her candle.
So l said no more; but other friends were
more pertinacious in insisting his presence
could not have been a reality.
Her answer was invariably: 81 saw him
as plainly as l see you. boston Globe.