Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-08-29

anybody. Here she Is! Tom, this is
my sister,! Mary, this is my dearest and
oldest friend, Thomas Winslow, Es-
quire"
could see that Henry was very fond
of his beautiful sister; but this would
have interested me less perhaps through
out the evening had l not detected In
his manner solicitude respecting her
for which it was impossible to perceive
q cause.
Mrs. Todd made no attempt to help
me out of my bewilderment, but with
infinite tact supported conversation on
fifty topics, without once touching upon
the telegram.
AT last the ladies retired. Henry
seated himself opposite me, and leaning
forward, just as far as the feat was safe,
said very solemnly:
"Tom, I've had communication from
my mother! l have seen her too"
His mother had been dead for twenty
years.
"Well, Henry" said l in careless
fashion, "what sort of communication
have you got?"
handed me document, saying, 81 re-
ceived that from her own hand"
A wild wind shall blow.
And the beautiful snow
Shall cover my Mary and me-
And happy we'll sleep
Far down In the deep,
My sinless sweet Mary and me.
1t was with a kind of awe that read
these lines.
AS he took the paper from me mere
ly said:
"Tell me the whole affair. | suppose
you take that communication, as you
call it, to refer to your sister,
81 do" he said emphatically, "but I'll
tell you what happened.
sit has been my custom to sit late in
this room if the nights were fine. The
moon shone right in on me one night
lately-the third, think, after Mary's
arrival-and l could see myself reflected
in the glass of that chalk drawing hung
above you there. That drawing is a
portrait of my mother.
''It was after midnight Suddenly
found myself regarding my own refec-
ton, when behind my chair-in the
glass-I saw something shape itself.
did not stir, but looked and distinctly
saw figure draped in white leaning
over me, and the face was the face of
my mother! l saw the figure pass by
that door from this room.
son the third night afterward had
gone to bed, but could not sleep.
dressed and came down here to select a
! book. l carried taper.
"When | entered, standing within
those curtains, close to the window and
fronting me, was the form had seen
before, draped from head to foot in
white, the face visible - my mothers
face-and extending toward me a sheet
of paper which was unfolded. | took it
from her hand, as she approached and
passed me, leaving the room. l sat
down and read the verses which seem
to have impressed even yourself. Now
what do you think of it alp
"Is your sister informedp" | asked,
evading direct reply.
"By no means"
"That's right"
The night was wearing on, but it was
beautiful without, and l proposed a
stroll. The ladies had retired, so that
we were free. Not soul in the house
was astir, and out we went. Suddenly
turning toward my moody friend; again
rushed into the subject, reckless of any
feeling of his own.
TShow me that paper again." de-
manded.
81 have left it," said he, and was about
to return to the house, when l inter
{ rupted him.
"Never mind. remember the lines,
and am determined to sift the matter on
the spot. 1t seems to me that if there is
anything supernatural about it, it is O
supernatural blunder.
II deny that the spirit of your mother
has appeared to you. Two things are al
any rate deducible from these communi
cations. Either its effect was not intel
ligently calculated or it was malignant.
ly devised"
drew myself up about this stage OF
my headlong gallop over my friend, just
TO have look at him and to adjust my.
self.
'sLet us return" said he, suddenly
linking his arm in mine. "Perhaps you
are right, Tom. But you are driving
me to suppose that there is something
wrong with myself"
Our conversation had drifted from the
subject altogether when we approached
the house.
"There is some one on the lookout fol
nsn exclaimed, as hooked toward thu
window of the library.
"Oh, Godr heard Henry groan, al
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