Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-10-10

will make the season too late and I
think the voyage will benefit them. l
put them in your care and trust You
with them.
80 the two ladies went out with
me, the only women on board the ship,
and we had hardly got out of the chan
mel before the mother was taken sick.
Its queer for such an old sailor
as I, she murmured family as l as
sisted her down below, but I suppose
I'm out of practice.
"She got enough practice in the
miseries of seasickness that trip to last
her some time, poor thing, and in the
mean time the daughter, who, while
her mother slept, invariably came up
on deck, renewed her old friendship
with me. l had not seen much Of her
for some years, since she had been at
school during my brief visits at her
home, and we found the recalling Of
old times delightful.
Every night, even after her mother
had recovered partially, we promenad-
ed the deck together and our friend
ship grew apace. One night, when
the older lady was below, suffering
with headache, we talked until very
late and she told me queer tales Of
ghosts and sleep-walkers and the like.
She had been filled with these stories
while at school and we enjoyed them
as only very young people do enjoy
listening to and telling Of horrors.
Among other things she told me Of an
experience she had once had herself
in the sleep-walking line, in which she
had climbed down a ladder placed at
a second story window and reached
the ground in safety, but still fast
asleep.
while we talked we alternately
paced the deck and leaned over the
side, watching the Phosphorescent
flashes in the water and talking as
young idiots will of the moonlight end
the beauty of the stars, and she sud-
denly said
"'How delightful it would be to
walk out on that pole (pointing to the
main boom) and leap off into the sill
very water.
"She spoke lightly, but shivered
from an unexplainable presentiment oi
evil, and she, catching the influence
of my mood, shuddered suddenly and
hastily turned the subject. We talked
for awhile longer, but the pleasure Of
our conversation had somehow been
spoiled by that careless remark, and
she soon babe me goodnight and went
below.
after she bad gone | made tom
of the ship, according to my custom
and finding nothing to need my pres,
ence, went to bed myself.
"After the fashion Of youth, my
head had no sooner touched the pillow
than l was sound asleep, aud it seemec
to me that only moment had passel
before was reused suddenly by
voice which called to me, Come !.
Il did not recognize the voice at
that Of any one on the ship, butit was
50 full of terror, so thrilled with
quivering fear, that | sat up hastily
trembling and listening for the slight
est sound. The wind was rising and
could hear it wailing softly, with tn,
eerie sound which it always has a
night and at sea, but | could heai
nothing else, and I was about dozin:
when that call came again.
This time it sounded as though j
were further off, but its appeal 70
help was just as clear to my brain
and | hesitated no longer Hastil.
slipping into my clothing, I dashed u
the companion, and as I touched tn
deck I heard it plainly once more
Come, it pleaded, in lingering cry
and as I stood straining my eyes t
pierce the stormy darkness which ha'
succeeded the brilliant moonlight
seemed to die away in the direction q
the main boom. At the same time
saw, or faneied I saw, a glimmer Q
something white creeping slowly alOnt
the boom, and upon coming nearer
saw that it was woman's figure, slen
dei and graceful and clothed in some
thing long and white and flowing
The form was quite erect, and 1t SCENE
to glide along the dangerous way with
out a falter or even so much as feel
ing for footing in the darkness I'll
arms were spread widely in a simila
attitude TO that which a rope wake
assumes when crossing a slack roP'
and the head was thrown back, a
though the gaze was directed TO th