Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-01-30
SpECTER HAUNTED.

Nj ENNl lllN iAAh " ~ hsf'
certainly do not believe In visions,
u have often laughed at Missionaries
ii have heard them relate some
,1sr,ul spectral tale, in which they
.,,eed implicit faith. THIS was my
s,nsr Of thinking when paid u visit
!, tbe colonel Of my regiment. who IN
,ti,cd an old mansion n few miles
am tl,c town. Have | changed my
..,niop since that timci think not,
certainly cannot deny that there
coma influences which exercise "a
1910 POWER over the minds Of human
,.jng. Tho following history, natural
!, h most supernatural details, aud
ia, different from all unnatural ghost
aodes. may prove my asscrtioni
Tho colonel was cheerful, good
Asmord man, and his wife WINS per.
=, tcrsonlilcaiion OF calnncss and do
,,,.ie qnicincss, the fitting companion
a Al man who liked 10 rcpose In tho
t,nqnlliiy Of his home after tho fa-
,sue, Of service. The family consisted
Al two daughters and n French lady
Who played tho part Of govcrncss,
though the daughters seemed TO have
p.gcd the ago at which young ladies
rqaire governing.
The eldest WIS merry girl, spirited
10 etc,.s, always dancing Ia life, jump.
ls rs,lcssly from one object to AN.
ether have seen her reading, dane.
Ine. singing. and all within the samo
quarter OF an hour. l have known her
70 shed tcars at tho death OF some poor
eonsin In India, and with tho tean still
/ u her eyes burst into merry laugh
over little dog who would begin to
peeic violently. After all, notwith.
standing her cccontricitics, Augusta was
a girl full OF gnco and amiability which
charmed everybody.
Il would DO impossible To tlnd a
greater contrast than that which ci-
kicd between tho characters Of Au.
sa,ia aud Maria. her Younger sister.
Relative 10 the hitter, imagine a majcs.
tc ilgurc aud face OF wonderful bean
", though OF dcauhiilw paIcncss--
IMAGINE this figure and face moving
,osly solemnly ind IA measured steps
through tho salon, aud letting fall from
tine to time, through half open lips.
single phrases In deep, low voice, and
yolvill undertnnd that any one would
Al fnt feel himself thivcring with u
supernatural feeling, produced by tho
sspoc, Of such aspoctcrllko appearance.
When had overcome this feeling
AMI eonycrscd with Maria soon iclt
convinced that her singular aud fan.
tAstic nature was rather external than
Internal In the few remarks shc made
10 me siie manifested a delicate, WON.
anly feeling, a clear mind and a kind
heart. Not the slightest trace OF an
oyertminol imagination was to 10
found, though her melancholy smiles
and her tear laden looks betrayed u
mtrbid state of feeling which exercised
an unpleasant influence upon this deli.
cate girl.
One thing appeared strange TO me,
shlch was that the family was always
embarrassed when any one held con.
'rrsnton with Maria, and that they In.
rariably tried 10 interrupt the dis.
cour-, even by interfering In an NIB
rupi and decided manner. But what
appcan'd still stranger was, that as soon
a. the clock strucl. Maria wns begged
either by her father, mother or sister,
10 80 TO bed. These entrcatics wero
accompanied by such kind words and
such earccing manners that tho
speakers appeared TO forget that they
were addressing u grown up young
lady The French lady regularly ac.
eolnpanied her, and No Il happened
mat both tho governess and Maria were
Always absent at supper, which used 70
b. served at o o'clock.
Thus my conversation was limited "a
,he spirited Augusta, who entertained
NE with her sprightly and variable wit.
out as soon as / began 10 speak oI
aura a sadness passed over tho ontir
ialnlly, and the mother, TO put an end
10 my Inquiries, told mo that Maria
was In bad state of health. that
every evening about . o'clock sho wa,
VISITED with feserlsh attacks, aud thai
ue physician had ordered her perfect
hl'ose and tranquility at that hour.
ielt convinced from tho manner In
winch this account was given that Il
vas not correct, and that some mys
very was connected with Maria and hei
regular disappearance in the evening
ou' u was long after ! had loft IN,
mouse that this mystery was solved, ~
iollowsi
alaria had been a healthy girl, a.
merry and as happy us her elder sistei
augusta Her fourteenth birthday hnt
arrived aud great many OF her girl
~ friends were assembled In order I,
stleorate Il. Tho party were nll con
sieSated In n nice little uibor IN tll'
gaIden, aud full Of mirth, Of Joy. the,
laughed and sang without noticing
'la' tho evening was advancing. In
uoed' 10 II grew darker and darker the!
oeohlne mono and moro noisy, and II
.a'' III The dun twilight they began u
,.''ce the most strange dances, lmagin
"R themselves fairies, elves, etc,
now, my friends" said Maria, In
voice OF exubcrant gayety; "now 1 vii
approach you as the White Lady, o
~a''A the late gardener has told Us y