Telegram-herald., 1891-06-12

the nsooahghs was falliag.
Mss Dal~el<
No answer. only the silent appraised
hAAd and tAs notioales figure. l be-
gan 10 shiver with fear The cold per-
spirstion gathered In beads spoa nay
forehead. and trying to cry out. my
tongue grew parslysed- / had never
tainted Ia my life. bat now | felt q
strange. dizzy sensation creeping over
me. Ny mother met me. AT the sight
OF her found nay sensos again.
You have seen something. Louise,"
she said, - she looked into my white
face.
'As sure as you live, mamma, l cav .
ghost. and he is after Miss Dalwell
Spence sat down in rosooash from
sheer fright. and Fido howled and took
70 his heels, while alone stald Till the
lights were out May we have supper
nowgs
The next day . party Of young people
from town joined us. and the disagree-
able incidents Of the night before were
seemingly forgotten. Bat noticed that
Mss Dalwell moved about pale and ST.
lent. Ny affairs. OF q 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 bad
dream.
The weeks went merrily. We became
acquainted with other families in the
vicinity, and spent the time in con-
tinuous round of gayety. Indeed. may
as well say here that our happiest hours
We're spent away from our own home
The atmosphere there began TO grow I'M
canny Under the old roof by day or
night there was never unbroken quiet.
shutting from unaccountablc draughts;
windows broke their lines and came
crashing down; shutters swung TO and
fro when the air was stirless; dishes
ratified down IN their places, and moth
ing seemed To rest upon a secure foun-
dation about tue house.
Look here. Aunt Judith" Cousin
Frank began one morning at the brea'
fast table, II believe there is gho
about this house that needs laying.
locked my door on going TO bed last
night, but this morning when awoke !
found it wide open"
That's nothing" Lefty Gray e1-
claimed. mine has served NE that trick
more than once. | haven't thought Of
being afraid"
who said anything OF fear. Miss
Letty:"
Il think Louise would if she cot
speak" Frank answered quickly. spring
ing up from the table and dashing
glass Of water in my face.
1t brought me to my senses just as
they We're failing me. Close to Miss
Dalwell's chair had seen 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 eloquently of book which
she had been reading.
AS left the table Miss Dalwell whis-
pered in my ear, "You saw him again"
Eyes"
"By my chair?" :
"By your chair"
"Come out in the garden with me-"
she said, putting an arm about my waist.
Il want To tell you something. This
man has not come here to harm you; l
alone draw him hither Years ago he
was my lover, ono whom rejected for
what | thought q good cause. 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 or
in heaven. that ring should be worn on
my finger again. That is all. What
will come of it God only knows, but day
and night am haunted as though l
were guilty Of some fearful crimer
"Poor Miss Dalwell," said pityi.gly.
But 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 conmotion 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 q night in my mothers room.
All in all, the unpleasantness was grow
ing little too strong for comfort.
But one night the end came. It was
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 voice nodulated to
suit the hour, was going through with
the Ancient Mariner" He was repeat
ing these words:
An orphans curse would drag to hell
a spirit from on high:
But oh. more horrible than that
Is the curse In dead mans eye,
Seven days, seven nights
when from Miss Dalwell's lipe arose such
shrek that our blood curdled in our
veins. 1t was followed by seconds ST.
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 word was spoken, but each
one Of that terrified group saw upon the
fourth finger Of her left hand golden
circlet with diamond burning in it's
center. The poor creature wore her
lovers ring at last.
All was useless Miss Dalwell was
deadl
Years have passed since that night.
and in looking back TO it through the
softening mists Of time, cannot but
wonder whether or no my mother friend