The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-14

mOutI, anu alVct d Low painful SbruSSASo
she sank back, gasped once or twice and
never moved again.
OF course thought then and do to this
day that she was looking round the room
for me, and that she had died feeling L
had broken my faith with her. A bitter,
never failing regretl
I have given this light sketch of the
feelings which existed between me and my
Door friend (before narrating the circum-
stances of her supernatural visit to mel,
Just to emphasize the facts of the allurlng
fascination, the intense affection, which
existed between US during her lifetime,
and which, firmly believe, have lasted
beyond her grave.
Quite ~ years after her death my poor
II, with what motive I know not, I'M
less it may have been, as L sometimes
fondly hope, to assure me that she under
stood and sympathized with my sorrow at
my having failed her at the moment of her
extremity, appeared to me. She came
once, but never again. 1t occurred thus:
had been suffering all aHy from brow
ague and had gone early to bed, but not
to sleep. All the evening had been kept
painfully awake by that same church CLOCK
which have mentioned above.
1t seemed to me to strike oftener, louder
and more slowly than any clock had ever
had the misfortune to come across. Of
course my ailment of the moment caused
the clocks vagaries to appear peculiarly
painful, and L bore the annoyance very
restlessly, with my face turned pettishly
to the wall, but when the midnight hour
began to chime 1 felt as though 1 could
bear it no longer. Muttering an impatient
exclamation, [ turned in my bed, so as to
face the room, and, looking across it, l
saw my poor L. standing close to a
screen between me and the door, looking
at me-
She was in her usual dress, wearing
what was then called "cross over, -
which was tied behind, while her bonnet,
which she was always in the habit of TAX
ing off as she came up stairs, was, as usu-
al, hanging by the ribbon on her arm.
She had smile on her face, and dis
tinotly noticed her lovely little white ears,
which were always my admiration, and
which were only half covered by her soft
brown hair.
She stood, minute it seemed, looking
at me, then she glided toward me. and I,
half apprehensive that she was about to
throw herself on my bed, exclaimed, jump
ing up in sitting posture:
dearest, what brings you here so late?"
With deep reverence be it spoken, but as
soon as these words were out Of my mouth
I was irresistibly reminded Of those spo-
ken, holy writ tells us, by st. Peter at
the awful moment of the TRANSPORTATION |!
Awed and dazed at the sight of the spirit
ual visitants, we are told he uttered words
"not knowing what he said.'' These
words of mine also seemed to leap to my
lips, with but little meaning in them, if
any
AS soon, however, as my voice had ceased
the apparition disappeared, and remain
ed some moments motionless.
One of the most curious features of the
case is that, although / was very especial
" restless and awake at the moment of
the appearance, recognized my friend so
completely that I forgot also to recognize
the fact that she had died, or rather it
happened too quickly for me to bring that
fact to mind. Indeed it all took place in
such flash, in such moment of time, SO
much quicker than I can tell it, and she
looked SO exactly like her well known self,
that till she had disappeared really be-
lieved I was seeing her in the flesh! or
course, as soon as I had time to reflect
remembered and realized what it was l
had seen.
was not frightened, but I felt colder
than had ever felt in my life, and have
never felt so cold SINCE but the moisture
seemed to pour off my body. called no
one to my assistance. All l realized was
that God had permitted me to see her once
more, and that perhaps he might send her
to me again. But he has not done SO, and
probably now he never will.
lay awake all night afterward, hoping
for, and, think, almost expecting, her
again, and after the day had dawned I
fell asleep.
Before telling my story to any one, and
dreading unspeakably all the doubling
and sarcastic speeches which such nara
ton would inevitably call forth, sent for
my doctor, an old and trusted friend, and
after making him talk nationally to me
for some time asked him whether he con-
sidered me in an exalted state, or whether
I had ever betrayed any historical tend
encies. He treasured me heartily on these
points and then asked my reasons for such
questionings.
1 thereupon opened my heart to him,
and he neither ridiculed nor disbelieved,
but, on the contrary, told me another case
of the same kind which had lately happen
ed to friend of his, but he strongly ad
vised me to keep my own counsel at pres
emit, which did for some time, and kind
" added that he not only did not look
upon me as iunatic, but simply as a wo-
man for whom one corner of the curtain
which guarded the unseen had been lifted.
In conclusion, repeat I am ready to
vouch for the truth of every word here set
down, and also, should it be required, to
give names, in private, to satisfy those
who doubt.-Strand Magazine.
A South Sea Island Bride.