Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-08-09

pryinG open enc Of the cracking
windows and its heavy shutters 10 let
fresh air into the muSty apartment,
fastened back the draperieS of the tall
bed and throw back the long unused
bedding. the odor Of which rrmjued
me of ccrrmrntS. To relieve this some
what | covered the pillow with nv
coat, and removing only my outer gar
mentS | lay down, for | was greatly
fati2ucd with riding, an exercise 10
when WAS totally uuaCcuStomCd,
! My candle had. With Il few drops
of melted WAX, affixed to a small table
lear the center of the room, and hay
ing no desire To remain in darkness
i'll this lonely place. | left it burning,
As | lay there wondering NJ my
strange Surroundings and not alto
gcther free from sense Of fear At
the silence and shadows of the de-
serted place now noticed for the first
time that beyond my candle and a
little to the left there hung against
the partition wall separating the two
rooms, a full-length portrait Of Il lady.
The picture was an oil painting and
the execution admirable. 1t was fully
life size, and the frame that incloSed
1t wide and elaborate, although now
furnished and dusty
But it was the figure itself that most
attracted me The face was that OF
Il woman not beyond 20 years of Sc,
and beautiful in the extreme. Her
hair was wealth of SliStrning gold,
her dress that of Il bride. The picture
appeared to h9ve suffered but little
from age, and the light rs it fell upon
it made the view from my position
remarkably good. AS l lay there in
silent contemplation of this beautiful
portrait, forgot any incipient fears
that had lowered about me, and fell
to Specializing upon the history of
this deserted house, and the story
of that fair bride.
| was too tired to muse long; my
eyelidS grew heavier and | caught my
self mingling fact and fancy without
being able to distinguish them. Then
fell asleep.
| do not know what time ii was
when | woke, but it must have been
very late for | noticed that the candle
had burned low and was tlaring
wildly as from draught. At that
moment a fear came upon me such us
l had never known. An icineSS seemed
creeping over my body, beginning at
my feet and extending rapidly up
wards. | was trembling as with an
ague.
A slight ruStlinG sound from the
next room attracted me. and turning
my eyes involuntarily in that direc-
ton, l almost expired FROM fear, for
into the chamber. her head bowed,
and wringing her hands in evident dis
tress of mind there entered the lady
of the portrait The counterpart was
exact; the dress, the pattern of the
lace, even the rings upon her slender
white fingers. That it was a spirit
| never for moment doubted.
Slowly she approached the bedside
without noticing me at first, and
seated herself in heavy armchair
a few feet away, still moaning and
wringing her beautiful hands. Rails
ing her eyes at last she seemed to
become conscious OF my presence, and
spoke.
"Oh, pray for ne she moanrd,
pray for my soul. Oh, pray for me,
pray for met
l know not what power possessed
me at that moment, but suddenly, in
NJ ,.p hi fam a
self upright upon my knees in the bed,
pouring forth Il prayer for the Dcauti-
full, distressed spirit before me- AS
the words fell from my lips words
which seemed to be uttered through
rather than by mel noticed that she
seemed to grow calmer and at last
turned her SORROWS tricken face full
upon me- | noticed, too, and With the
utmost terror, that the candle had
burned down TO the wood and that in
another moment we would be in dark
ness Still the earnest words poured
from my lips, and the face before me
seemed TO be growing misty in the
tlickering light Of the expiring candle
Suddenly the figure rose from the
chair and taking one step toward me
stretched forth her exquisite arms
above mine and vanished. AS she
did SO | distinctly felt something hot
like wax from a dripping candle fall
upon the back of my right hand. At
that instant, too, the candle gave one
final fare and went out.
When consciousness returned | was
lying across the bed aud the sun was
streaming in at the one open window.
For moment | was a little daZed at
my surroundings then it all came
back to me Seized with a wild panic
such as possesses stampeding cattle
i caught up my clothes and my
horses saddle and fed. AS | passed
the portrait its eyes seemed TO follow
me, and added to my terrors Through
the dusty rooms, out of the weed
grown yard, | tore as one distraught
to where my horse was quietly wait
ing A moment later / was urging
him down the unfrequented path.
Not until | was far away did |
To, g., a