Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-04-04


brave, bright 10y. and grew up 20 be
handsome man. He lives across the
ocean now, and haven't seen him for
six years. but he writes me charming
letters. aud am sure Ire is the same
good brother he always WAS My
father had very intimate friend-Dr.
Bently-who lived quite near us |
remember him well, and / remember
his house was like another home 70 me.
One day, when l think i was about 12
years old, d.eadful thing occurred.
driving. The horse took fright at some-
thing. ran away, broke the light car
riage to pieces, and killed the d, c,or
and his wife. Mrs Bently WAS killed
outright and the doctor only lived six
hours Ahl that was a sad time at our
house Now, these good people left
only one child, and my father became
her guardian and our home her home.
Tlss Was Ethel. the dear Ethel for
whom my little daughter was named
! don't think / ever knew lovelier
person. She had always been my
chosen friend, and am afraid it almost
reconci Ell me 10 her terrible loss when
found that she would live with Us al
ways How many happy hours we
spent together, AID how fast the bright
weeks flew by Frank went to college,
but he spent his vacations at home.
Well, Ethel grew up to he most
beautiful woman, aud very accom-
plished, too, but with it all, as gentle
and sweet as httle child. We all
loved her. but Frank was devoted to
her, and she had from sed to marry
him. The Wedding Was tu &; Ike place
early in the new year. About the last
week in September E.hefs grand
mother who liv,d IN Savannah, wrote
an urgent invitation to her TO spend
month at her Lou e. ] remember + hel
did not care to go, and mother seemed
reluctant to have her visit the city so
early in the fall. but my father said she
must visit her grandmother. who was
aged and infirm. aud SO she went
Frank and 1 took her 10 the station,
about three miles oil, and put her on
the train, and tle last saw of her she
threw a kiss at us as the Car moved of,
and looked so sweet and lovely.
well, it was l,nesome at home with
out her, aud Frank and / thought the
month would never end. At last we
had letter say ing she would DO home
the next night on a train that was due
at 10 80. All, we We're all so delighted
at the good news! went upstairs and
got her room all ready. even to putting
fresh flowers in the vases. Mother was
suffering terribly With headache that
night, SO i sent her off to bed, Father
was away from home, and Frank and |
intended to sit up for her. She was
coming with one of our neigl,bors so
wrote us not to drive over to the station
for her, She knew at that time Frank
would he very d, 81 and really couldn't
leave his office.
We sat waiting in the breakfast
room down stairs. Tie train was an
hour late and we were listening intently
to every noise. The house was SO still
we could hear the ticking of the clock
in the kitchen. Every few minutes
Frank would go TO The door and look
out At last, getting more and more
impatient, he said: Nell, / will walk
out toward the station; perhaps l will
meet them. At that very moment we
heard the latch of our gate lifted aud
jumped up-"There she is, at lasll'
cried. Before we could move or speak
the sitting room door opened noiselessly
and Ethel stood with us Before l go
further must tell you that the mosqui-
toes were SO troublcsoms We had turned
down tue lamp until the room was in
partial darkness. Still, every object in
it could be seen very distinctly. So, as
said, there stood our dear Ethel, mo-.
two feet of, and only separated from
us by the center table Frank made a
rush for her on one side and / ON the
other. sOhp l exclaimed: 'Yoh pre-
cious little laggard, how you have kept
us waitingr She had come in, as said,
noiselessly, and laid her travelling lag
on the table and stood facing us, but the
light being on a small table almost be-
hind her, we could not see her face but
her fgure-lier hands, her hat, and her
satchel we could see-almost as dis
tinctly as see your faces now. That
she did not speak dill not so much sur
Prise US, for size was full of pretty little
tricks, and we thought she would, in
another moment, throw her head back
and laugl-eyer 50 merrily.
~As l spoke. Frank ran arounl the
table and said: Ethel thank GvdI
you've come With that he attempted
to lay his hand upon her shoulder. but
his hand fell suddenly and heIplessly to
his side. There was nothing there ! He
turned to me, with dilating eyes: God
of heaven he exclaimed-'she IS not
here. Nell
Il stood horror stricken. One instant
before had seen her-we both had.
could swear that she had stood ia that
room-had Lent forward and laid her
satchel on the table, and then with an
old and most familiar movement, had
thrown her head back, intending to
speak. l felt shocked, bewiidered.
said: She was here, Frank--as sure as
live she was in this room; see If she
hasn't gone into the hall
Frank Was leaning ON the table,
dreadfully pale, with wide, staring ey es,
and said nothing
~'Oh, Frank, say'-shaking him by
the shoulder-tiook Tor her
~sNo,' he said, no. She vas here, but
che did not go out You know she did
not She-sie va i,hed o CD! 0
Godl Nell, Ethel Is deadr
Half Wild with terror and grief, /
awakened mother and told her OF the
strange thing. She reasoned with Frank