The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-31


free from a sense of fear at the silence
and shadows of the deserted place, now
noticed for the first time that beyond
my candle and q little to tho left there
hung against the partition wall separat-
ing the two rooms full length portrait
OF lady. The picture was an oil paint
ing and the execution admirable 1t was
fully life size, and the frame that in.
closed it wido aud elaborate, although
now furnished and dusty.
But it was the figure itself that most
attracted me. The face was that Of q
woman not beyond 30 years Of age and
beautiful in the extreme. Her hair was
q wealth of glistening gold, her dress
that of bride. The picture appeared tc
have suffered but little from age, and
the light as it fell upon 1t made the
view from my position remarkably good.
As lay there in silent contemplation
OF this beautiful portrait forgot any
lncipient fears that had lowered about
me and fell to specializing upon the his
tory Of this deserted house and the story
Of that fair bride
Twas too tired to muse long. My eye
lids grew heavier, and I caught myself
mingling fact and fancy without being
able to distinguish them. Then fell
asleep
do not know what time it was when
woke, but it must have been very late,
for noticed that tho candle had burned
low and was flaring wildly Us from n
draft AT that moment fear oame upon
me such as had never known. An lei
ness seemed creeping over my body, be-
ginning mt my feet and extending rapid
~ upward. was trembling as with IN
ague.
slight rustling sound from tho next
room attracted me, and turning my eyes
involuntarily i'll that direction l almost
expired from fear, for into the chamber,
her head bowed and wringing her hands
III evident distress of mind, there en-
tered the lady of tho portrait. The coun-
tcrpart was cXact-tho dress, the pattern
OF tho lace, even the rings upon her
slender white fingers. That it was n
spirit never for u moment doubted.
Slowly she approached the bedside
without noticing me at first and seated
herself in heavy armchair few feet
away, still moaning and wringing her
beautiful hands. Raising her ewes mt
last, she seemed to become conciouss of
my presence and spoke
"Oh, pray for me-, she moanod,
pray for my soul. Oh, pray for me,
know not what power possessed me
at that moment, but suddenly, III spite
Of my abjcct terror, found myself up
right upon my knees in the bed pouring
81,
hcsscd spirit before ne. AS the words
fell from my lips-wortls which seemed
to be uttered through rather than by
me- noticed that she seemed to grow
calmcr and at last turned her sorrow
stricken face full upon me. noticed,
too, and with the utmost terror, that
the candle had burned down to the
wood, and that i'll another moment we
would be in darkness. Still the earnest
words poured from my lips, and the
face before me seemed to be growing
misty i'll the Pickering light of the ex-
piring candle Suddenly the figure rose
from the chair, and taking one step to-
ward mo stretched forth her exquisite
arms above mino and vanished. AS she
did SO 1 distinctly felt something hot,
llSc wax from dripping candle, fall
upon the back of my right hand. At
that instant, too, the candle gave one
final flare and went out
When consciousness returned, I was
lying across the bed, and the sun was
streaming i'll at the open window. For
a moment I was a little dazcd at nv
surroundings; then it all came back to
me. Seized with u wild panic-such
panic as possesses stampeding cattle-I
caught up my clothes and my horses
saddle and fled. AS passed the portrait
its eyes seemed to follow INC and added
to my terrors. Through tho dusty
rooms out of the weed grown yard,
tore as one distraught to where my
horse was quietly waiting A moment
later was nrging him down the unfre-
quented path.
Not until was far away did l pause
in my frantic flight. Then, suddenly
remembering, I glanced at the back of
my right hand, and there-round, red
and dry, like crimson wafer-was a
drop of blood. -Dotroit Free Press.