The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1894-10-04

strange surroundings and not altogether
free from n sense of fear at the silence
end shadows of the deserted place. now
noticed for the first time that beyond
r,y candle and little to the 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. IL was
fully life size, and the frame that in
closed il wide and elaborate, although
now tarnished and dusty.
But IL was the figure itself that most
attracted ME. The face was that OF
woman not beyond go years Of age ard
beautiful in the extreme Her hair was
wealth of glistening gold, her dress
that of 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 l forgot any
incipient fears that had lowered about
me and fell to speculating M on the his
tory Of this deserted house anu the story
Of that fair bride.
Twas too tired to muse long My oye-
lids grew heavier, and caught myself
mingling fact and fancy without being
able to distinguish them Then l fell
asleep.
do not know what time il was when
woke, but it must have been very late
for | noticed that the candle had burned
low and WAS flaring wildly as from -
draft At that moment fear came upon
me such ~ had never known. An lei
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 almost
expired from fear, for into the chamber,
her head bowed and wringing her hands
in evident distress of mind, there On.
tered tho lady of tho portrait. The coun-
terpart was eXact-the dress, the pattern
of tho lace, even tho rings upon her
slender white fingers That it was u
spirit never for % moment doubted.
Slowly she approached the bedside
without noticing me at first and seated
herself in heavy armchair fow feet
away. still moaning and wringing hcr
beautiful hands. Raising her eyes ut
last, she seemed 20 become conciouss Of
my presence aud spoke.
"Oh, pray for me-, she moaned.
''pray for my soul Oh, pray for rue.
| know not what power possessed n.s
at that moment, hut suddenly, in spite
Of my abject terror, | found myself up
right upon my knees in the bed pouring
forth prayer for the beautiful, dis
tressed spirit before me. AS the wor,is
fell from rIy lips-words which seemed
to be uttered through rather than ly
me-l noticed that sho seemed to grow
cllmer and at last turned her sorrow
stricken face full upon me. noticed.
too. and with the utmost terror, that
tho candle had burned down to tho
wood, and that i'll another moment We
would be in darkness. Still the earnect
words poured from my lips. and the
face before mo seemed to be growing
misty i'll the flickering light Of the cx-
piring candle. Suddenly the figure rose
from the chair, ard taking one step to-
ward me stretched forth her exquisite
arms above rlino and vanished. As shc
did so | distinctly felt something hot.
like wax from u dripping candle. fall
upon the Lack of my right hand. At
that instant, too, the candle gave one
final fiaio. and went out.
When CONSEQUENCES returned, wns
lying .oss the bed, and the sun WI,
streaming i'll at the open window For
moment | was little dazcd at ny
surroundings; then it ali came back 10
me. Seized with wild paiiic-such
panic rs POSSESSES stampeding cattlo-I
caught up my clothes and my horses
saddle and fled As passed the portrait
its eyes seemed to follow me and added
to my terrors Through the dusty
rooms, out Of tho weed grown yard, [
/ 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 fight. Then, suddenly
remembering, / glanced at the back OF
my right hand, and there-round, red
and dry, like a crimson wafcr-was a
drop Of blood. Detroit Free Press.