The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-09

closed it wide and elaborate, altnoug.-
now furnished and dusty.
But it was the figure itself that most
attracted me. The face was that of
woman not beyond 30 years of ago and
beautiful in the extreme. Her hair was
wealth Of glistening gold, her dress
that of a bride. The picture appeared to
have suffered but little from age, and
TIA hight as it fell upon it made the
view from my position remarkably good.
AS lay there in silent contemplation
Of this beautiful portrait forgot any
incipient 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 I fell
asleep.
do not know what time it was when
Invoke, but it must have been very late,
for noticed that the candle had burned
low and was faring wildly as from
draft. At that moment fear came upon
me such as I had never known. An ioi
ness seemed creeping over my body, be-
ginning at my feet and extending rapid
ly upward. was trembling as with an
ague.
A slight rustling sound from the next
room attracted me, and turning my eyes
involuntarily in that direction I almost
expired from fear, for into the chamber,
her head bowed and wringing her hands
in evident distress Of mind, there en-
tered the lady of the portrait The coun-
terpart was exaot-the dress, the pattern
Of the lace, even the rings upon her
slender white fingers. That it was
spirit never for 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 eyes at
last, she seemed to become conciouss of
my presence and spoke.
"Oh, pray for me-" she moaned,
"pray for my soul. Oh, pray for me,
l know not what power possessed me
at that moment, but suddenly, in spite
of my abject terror, found myself up
right upon my knees in the bed pouring
forth a prayer for the beautiful, dis
tressed 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 sorrow
stricken face full upon me. I 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 darkness. Still the earnest
words poured from my lips, and the
face before me seemed to be growing
misty in the Pickering light of the ex-
piring candle. Suddenly the figure rose
from the chair, and taking one step to-
ward me stretched forth her exquisite
arms above mine and vanished. AS she
did SO l distinctly felt something hot,
like 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
L pulCetihlhS LII az uliO UPON WAhuOW. VI
moment 1 was little dazed at my
surroundings; then it all came back to
me. Seized with wild panic-such
panic as possesses stampeding cattle--I
caught up my clothes and my horses
saddle and fled. AS l passed the portrait
its eyes seemed to follow me and added
to my terrors. Through the dusty
rooms, out of the weed grown yard, 1
tore as one distraught to where my
horse was quietly waiting. A moment
later was urging him down the unfre-
quented path.
Not until was far away did pause
in my frantic flight. Then, suddenly
remembering, l glanced at the back of
my right hand, and there-round, red
and dry, like a crimson WATERWAYS
drop of blood. Detroit Free Press.