Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-04

II was certainly very strange-de-
cidedly comfortable, thought, all
the same, for it made the dusty old
room look wonderfully CHEEKY; SO l
felt quite grateful for the attention,
and mentally revoked all the abuse
l had leveled at my invisible COM
panions. Drawing my chair again
in front Of the fire, sat for some
time enjoying the warmth and gaz-
ing on the blazing logs; than l
tried the old piano, a wonderful in
strument, frigtfully out of tune,
that would have made Thalberg
SILVER; and finally stretched myself
on the vast sofa, which protested
against my weight by many infer
nal groans
Turning my face from the glare
of the fire, ! lay for some time in a
dreamy-reverie, till a slight stir
made me involuntarily turn my
head. What was that, living
form or shapeless mass, that the
leaping, Pickering flames showed
me in the armchair oppositep
Certainly there was something
there-a grayish thing-huddled
up rather back in the shadow Of the
chimney-place.
Stay, it moves; head, with the
long, dishevelled dark hair Of a
woman, energies gradually from
under the gray wrapping.
"Was this the nymph who laugh
ed in the hall and who noiselessly
lighted the fire, ! wonder?" thought
| to myself, as | watched the silent
surging Of the drapery. 81 think
ought to thank her for the fire,
at all events"
So, with a preliminary "hem! to
attract the attention of my Phillis,
| began a polite speech.
Rapidly and noiselessly, as l
spoke, the contents Of the chair
glided shapelessly out of sight,
melted gradually and imperceptibly
away, dessoving before my stupifed
gaze into nothingness. There stood
the empty armchair, the freight
playing on its faded chintz cover.
l could hardly believe my eyes
Could it have been dreamp A
litter seemed to come from under
the sofa. snatched one of the
burning logs from the hearth and
peered underneath it. Of course
there was nothing there except
dust, and of that there was any
amount. Surprised and bewildered
l stood for a moment, log in hand.
"There's not much chance OF
finding any one, suppose"
thought to myself; "but at any
rate I'll search the house" So
taking a flaming stick in each hand
to light me as torch on my way
| set out OH my travels.
First I explored the nest Of rooms
opposite. They were all perfectly
empty except the kitchen, where
found my old Rosinante, who had
apparently betaken himself there
in the vain hope that kitchen
might furnish food, and now looked
more woe-be-gone and out of sorts
than ever from his disappointment.
| Up stairs l tramped, looked into
every room, curiously examined the
turned-up bedstead in the small
room, and came to the conclusion
that it was decidedly disreputablt
old relic, discovered an unlocked
wall press, which, however, contain.
ed nothing but a horrible damp
mouldy smell, and: returned to my
fire as | set out. No sign of liv.
ing thing was to be seen in the
house, and pitching my improvised
torches back on the hearth, | threw
myself with disgust OH the sofa
and revolved the mysterious riddle
in my mind. | always was i'm.
mensely worried by difficult prob.
lens, and this one / couldn't solve
try as | would
i | leaned back oil the sofa still
bordering, and as ! lay there, | fell
a consciousness creeping over me
that there was something coming
stealthily behind my back.
Involuntary | turned my head
Close to me, the soft, brown-bearded
chin leaning on the back Of the
sofa, was mans head. l felt his
breath on my cheek as turned my
face, and his strange, sad, gray eyes
seemed to look me through and
Through.
/ started up and faced him. He
was gone, gone-utterly vanished
Where had he gone toP That was
the mystery; unless he had sunk
down through the floor, which
/ n