The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-09-22

strange surroundings andnot altogether
free from q sense OF fear at the silence
and shadows OF the deserted place. / now
noticed for the first time that beyond
my candle and a little TO the left there
hang against the PARTITION wall separat-
ing the two rooms a full length portrait
OF a lady. The picture was an oil paint
ing and the execution admirable. 1t was
fully life sire, and the frame that in
closed il wide and elaborate, although
now furnished and dusty.
But it was the figure itself that most
attracted me. The face was that of a
woman not beyond 30 years of age and
beautiful in the extreme. Her hair was
O wealth of glistening gold, her dress
that of a bride. The picture appeared to
have suffered but little from age, and
the light as it fell upon it made the
view from my position remarkably good.
AS / lay there in silent contemplation
of this beautiful portrait I 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 soo tired to muse long. My eye
lids grew heavier, and ! 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 the candle had burned
low and was 1aring wildly as from a
draft. At that moment a fear came upon
me such as I had never known. An ici-
ness seemed creeping oven my body, be-
ginning ut my feet and extending rapid
~ upward I was trembling Is with an
ague.
A slight rustling sound from the next
room attracted me, and turning my eyes
involuntarily in that direction / almost
expired from fear, for into the chamber,
her head bowed and wringing her hands
i'm evident distress OF mind, there en-.
tered the lady of the portrait. The coun-
terpart was exact-the dress, the pattern
of the lace, even the rings upon her
slender white fingers. That it was a
spirit / never for a moment doubted.
Slowly she approached the bedside
without noticing me at first and seated
herself in q heavy armchair a few feet
away, still moaning and wringing her
beautiful hands. Raising her eyes al
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,
] know not what power possessed me
at that moment, but suddenly, in spite
| of my abject terror, / found myself mp.
right upon my knees in the bed pouring
forth q prayer for the beautiful, dis
tressed spirit before me. As the words
fell from my lips-words which seemed
60 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, / noticed,
too, and with the utmost terror, thai
the candle had burned down to the
wood, aud 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 tho Pickering light of the ex
piring candle. Suddenly the figure rose
from the chair, and taking step to
ward me stretched forth her exquisite
arms above mine and vanished. As she
did SO I distinctly felt something hot,
like wax from a dripping candle, fall
upon the back of my right hand. Al
that instant, too, the candle gave one
final flare and went out.
When consciousness returned, ] wa
lying across the bed, and the sun wa
streaming in at the open window. Fol
a moment / was q little dazed at my
surroundings; then it all anne back Il
me. Seized with q wild ~panic-suci
panic as possesses stampeding cattle
caught mp my clothes and my horse
saddle and fed. As passed the portrai
its o seemed to follow me and addet
to my terrors. Through the dust.
rooms, ont of the weed grown yard,
tore as one distraught to where m.
horse was quietly waiting. A momen
later I was urging him down the unfre
quented path.
Not until I was far away did / paus
In my frantic flight. Then, suddenl.
remembering, I glanced OF the back 0
my right hand, and there-round, re-
and dry, like q crimson wafer-was
- AEaE - So