The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-09-03
THE YELLED GHOST.

nave bOiu5luluB W shy " you Wltu
get an opportunity; and as it concerns
Mary, we must not speak of it before
anybody. Here she isl Tom, this is
my sisterl Mary, this is my dearest and
Oldest friend, Thomas Winslow, Es-
quirelp
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 a communication from
my motherl have seen her too"
His mother had been dead for twenty
years.
We'll, Henry" said l in careless
communication
have you gotT"
'pll show you" and he arose and
handed me document, saying, 81 re-
ceived that from her own hand"
wild wind shall blow,
And the beautiful snow
Shall cover my Mary and me
And happy wen sleep
Far down in the deep,
Ny sinless sweet Mary and me.
II was with kind of awe that read
these lines.
As he took the paper from me l mere
ly said:
"Tell me the whole affair. suppose
you take that communication, as you
call 1t, 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 could see myself reflected
in the glass of that chalk drawing hung
above you there. That drawing is n
portrait of my mother.
"It was after midnight. Suddenly |
found myself regarding my own reHec-
tion, 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! saw the figure pass by
that door from this room.
son the third night afterward l had
gone to bed but could not sleep. !
dressed and came down here to select a
book. carried taper.
when j 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 sheet
Of paper which was unfolded. l took it
from her hand, as she approached and
passed me, leaving the room. sat
down and read the verses which seem
to have impressed even yourself. Now
what do you think of it alp
''Is your sister informedg" l 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, Iagain
rushed into the subject, reckless Of any
feeling of his own.
''Show me that paper again." l 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 OF
the spot 1t seems to me that if there il
anything supernatural about it, it is {
supernatural blunder.
II deny that the spirit of your mother
has appeared to you. Two things are a
any rate deducible from these communi
cations. Either its effect was not intel
hgently calculated or it was malignant
ly devised"
drew myself up about this stage o
my headlong gallop over my friend, jus
70 have a look at him and to adjust my
self.
''Let us return" said he, suddenly
linking his arm in mine. perhaps yol
are right, Tom. But you are driving
me 10 suppose that there is something
wrong with myself"
Our conversation had drifted from tn
subject altogether when we approache,
the house.
There Is some one on the lookout TO
us" / exclaimed, as looked toward tn
window of the library.
sob, 0Od!' heard Henry groan, al
most In the instant, and l saw that hi
face was Rshen as the face OF the dead
while he stood gazing toward the win
dow.
There, sufficiently revealed in tn
raining moonlight, was the figure of
woman, arrayed as for bridal; but
fingered only for moment, and the
deliberately moved away.
1t paralyzed me, For an instant fel
inclined to read in it an easy moekery q
my own egotism.
Not for long, however; feeling aki
70 anger soon steadied me, and l said
Henry;
This is all an internal piece of hun
bug, my boy, and must and viii be q
the bottom OF II.
Weproceeded to the house and into i
and into the library, where all was silel
IS we had quilted it,
lit the gas. Henry's first act was
survey his mothers portrait, Then |
made search for the mysterious paper.
''It is gone, said he, in awed tones.
proposed that we should adjourn ii
morning, SO that we could have dayligl
upon the subject.
Immediately after breakfast Hem
made for the library, and l followS
him.
Just then we heard the piano stTuC
BY expert fingers in an adjoining roor
and q rich, low voice sing the notes
an air which had never heard befor
felt that / could not listen to it al
stand, so strangely did the melody fio
and hnger, and Autter and die away.
Meantime Henry was wandering abo
the room.
What can have come over that poei
wonderY' heard him say as he lift
an ink bottle, a book, decanter, al
looked under them all In turn,
wait a moment for me, / said
him as ! slipped out of the room al
joined the musician.
Il was his sister, Of course, and
Joined her just as she concluded the
fsrnal or supernal melody, and kno
ing not what better to do / request
knr ~ favor ma nv ranuatfuu II