Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-26

q
The next night before Justine left me,
desired her rot ia turn the gas out
Three nights later l again awoae with
a sense of lsngour. THE gas beside the
window gave out dina light; beyond
! il faint moonb am slanted acrosS the
room in which lay the shadow OF pear
tree. Traced the shadows of She branches
and the leaves. and watched them as shey
flckered, stirred by the uiglt wind.
Keeping my eyes open in half sleepy
manner. ali at once ] became conscious
Of seeing something else besides the
moonlight and the easlich'-somrlhinr
that seemed to be between the two. IL
was faint and inlis;inct, certainly, but
none the less il resenb.ed a female form
The head appeared to rest on the hand.
the hair, with a rndtly slean ~ it Il lated
back on the shoulders. The rest of the
| figure was lost i'm darkness was suffi-
ciently awake To know il was no freak of
fancy. aud yet the figure was altogether
50 family defined and vague in detail
that before long | fell asleep aud next
| morning remembered it as dream only.
The succeeding night, however, Iagain
awoke and on opening my eyes beheld
the sclfsame figure. But this time it
was more clearly visible, especially the
face, which, turned toward me, | saw
to be that OF very beautiful woman.
Moreover, to my unspeakable dismay.
discovered in il resemblance 10 my
stepmother, whom had seen once only,
as she lay in her coffin.
Ia vain ! closed my eyes. WhcneverI
opened them saw the sweet. reproachful
face: and it was not until the summer
morning dawned that it entirely disap.
peared and / arose from my bed sad
and tired after the nights vigil. Twice
more the visitation came; after that,
for two or three weeks the visits ceased;
then were once more resumed.
One morning Mrs. Stevens said:
Justine tells me you have not slept
well Miss Northcote. DO you not find
the cedar chamber comfortable?"
"Yes, perfectly. would not change
it for anything, replied
Comfortable, with that haunting pres.
euceI hope l shall be forgiven for the
subterfugel AT length, Justine's persist.
ency and my guardians beseeching let.
teIs prevailed, and / returned TO Paris.
There Irenewed my acquaintance with
Mr.. Weston. 1t was impossible TO be
blind to his intentions, aud the day came
when he asked me to be his wife, To
his sorrow, refused to marry him.
Could join haunted life TO that Of the
man loved with all my soul? True. I
had had no visitation from the reproach-
ful face since left dear Cr0wsnest; tat
might it not returnf Oh. why had NV
stepmother cast this blight upon nly life p
Suddenly l became possessed Nth
strange longing TO revisit Crownsnesf tr
see again the weird apfarition that hnl
exercised 50 subtle an iufusucs ou msv
life. With The waywaf.inrss ~ q s.s.lIs.i
child. I iusisged un geiuE haaae 70.
sisted also that ne oue hat Asssflae sl...s.'f
sccagupany nsn. ~ Nwarissn rt
ms asisss Hat nat encF aes HF
nlonfha visit dat Y 500 ea a fsM
] hsl.stsi tllaI nf relHsal ew sew
Nlu mx utBfm 81 FHa WH Wmn
rsueeei h.s aHef e eH eH
EeN mH6mfhe af @f
tssT
NJ HaH
fs.1 aeea ~ stE esf Il. M
t'm k#H ~ w
aE eaa
~ esa
4H @e
M~ ts8 Hs#s Fl
H mm
60 e
amMf - ~ m
Fama &C. - 81 ses - s8 cess
e# af e aHM aa~sw wm mN HF ha
sHss t.N sEsNHEes te s
w2a na msea Go ae.asraa ~ haes
ssfsl t'si : asd asii.ssl asF fesfs.
Mash Gav amd ! wer. tnn8 ~ aur
. fa1EneFs ana ua FetlFsag 80 eaon feii
Hsieer. Aawafd maafusnE J awuke
a .freem af meouiight lecsiei the
chamber A 90 ga the shaios of the
par tree lay along tie iiooF. iiickering in
Ire uight sind. Watched it Tor a while.
and then - this shadow being closely as
sociated in my mind with something else
Il looked toward the bay window and
could scarcely suppress cry There in
the old place, between the gaslight and
the moonlight, appeared-the facet
Guy" whispered, trembling,
@awakel I'm so frightened"
what was it, Ninal Have you seen
ghostl" he asked lightly.
~HushI Look theTei"
Raising himself upon his elbow he
glanced toward the window.
why. there is woman in the rooml"
he exclaimed in the greatest consterna-
lion. Then, after moments pause, he
continued slowly and deliberately, as
though reading by bad light from
book mol it is only an illusion but
what an IIlusionl seem 10 see most dis
tinctly beautiful woman, her head
turned this way supported by her hand.
Il is handsome face, but sad. /"
Stay! What would you do?" asked,
as lac made movement forward
'DIspel the illusion, dear"
Unheeding. he went 10 the window and
lhook the curtain.
May all ghDstly visitants be as easily
dispersed!" he sail, laughing, as tile
tgure qnvered, swayed, became dis
tOIte1. then in moment vanished.
What was it?"
Il will produce il and you shall see"
he let the curtain fall loose aud 1t took its
CldfUlds aud creases There, sure enough.
lie traa again A nj "a thu ,bat aoo,o1