The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-09-04

gayety. Indeed, | may as well say
here that our hanpicst days were
spent away from onr own home.
The aDmo !bhere there began 10
grow nncauny. Under the old
roof by day or night there was
never unhroken quiet. Doors
seemed to be always shutting aud
opening from unaccdunlable
draughts; windows broke their
lines and came crashing down
shutters swung to and fro when the
air was stirless; dishes. ratIled
down in their places, ana nothing
seemed 10 resi- upon il sure f0uhda"
ton about the house.
Look here, Aunt Judith"
Cousin Frank began one morning
ot The breakfast table, Il believe
there is a ghost about this house
that needs laying. | locked my
door on going to bed last night, bu,
This morning when | awoke found
il WIDE OPEN
Chats nolhing,' LeltIe Gray
exclaimed. Mine has served me
that trick more than once. | have
not lhoughl Of being afraid"
"Who said anything of fear,
Miss LetIy"
II think Louise would if she
corld speak," Frank answered
quickly, springing up from the Ia.
hie and dashiug a glass Of water
in my tacr.
II Brought me to my senses just
as they were falling me. Close to
Miss Dalwell'S chair | had seen a
figare standing, the same that |
had seen weeks before III the sha-
dow of the trees.
BE 50 kind as to let this foolish
talk drop" my mother SAID, and
immedialely began to talk eIo-
Quently Of a book she had been
reading.
As len.ihe table Miss Dalwcll
whispered in my ear, You saw
him again 2"
Yes
"Ry my chair"
by your chair y
"Come out in the garden with
me-" she said, putting an arm about
my waist. II want to tell you
something. This man has not cnme
here to harm you; | alone draw
him hither. Years ago he wBS my
lover, one whom / rejected for
what | thought good cause. !
had worn his ring, and returned il
to him. He died "A short time af-
ter, but before his death wrote a
letter TO ne, in which he said that
above or below,o earth or in heav.
en-, that ring should be worn ON
my finger again. That is all. WhaI
will become of it God only knows,
but Gav aud night am haunted as
though were guilty OF some leav-
ful crlmew
"Poor Miss Dalwell !" SAID pity
lngly. But "A moment after, look
ing into her eyes, felt sure | had
been listening TO the story of a
crazy woman. Only with my own
eyes l had seen the face that haunt
ed her. .....
Another week wore away. There
was the usual small commotion
about the place. Spence had zone
back TO town because he could not
stand it, while the cook and house
maid both slept upon the floor of
night in my mothers room. All
in all, the unpleasantness was
growing a little TOO strong for COM
fort.
But one night the end came. Ii
was moonlight again, and outside
not a breeze stirred the foliage.
We were sitting ~ groups on the
wide veranda. In the parlor Miss
Wilde was striking minor chords
upon the piano, while Cousin
Frank, IN "A voice modulaled TO
the hour, was going through with
the Ancient MariGer" He was
repeating 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 man's eye!
Seven days, seven nights
when from Miss Dalwell's lips
arose such a shrek that our blood
curdled in our veins. Ii was fol.
lowed 10y seconds silence, 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 spok-
en-, but each one of that terrified
group saw upon the fourth finger
OF her lett hand a golden circlet
with diamond burning in its cen
Ter. 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 10 it
through the sofiening misis of
time, cannot but wonder wheth
er or no my mothers friend was a
sane woman Be that as IL may,
] tell you the "ower true tale as L
experienced n.