The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-09-07
A. TRUE GHOST STORY.
BY CORA M'TEAD NEIL.

The facts here narrated occurred in
the International hospital at Naples
in the spring OF 1892. For obvious rea-
sons the full names of the persons con-
cerned are withheld. An illness, con-
sequent upon the dire epidemic, intlu-
enza, made me for few weeks a pa
tient in that excellently managed and
beautifully situated institution, for
merly the Villa Bentinck. The kind
and skillful resident doctor was from
the University of Vienna; the matron
was young Englishwoman; the nurses
were German, Scotch and Italian; the
patients were even more cosmopolitan
than the corps of officials. Thus the
epithet "Internationar' was well war
ranred.
1t was dark, sullen afternoon in
that tardy spring, when ] was taken to
the hospital The carriage wound
slowly up the long hill, and at length,
to my relief, stopped before a broad,
two-Ieaved door, resembling the en-
trance of a New England barn. AS
one leaf of it was slowly opened, l
peered in, and saw what looked at first
l
corridor; but while / wondered what
manner of lamp this could be, it partly
revolved and disclosed profile, and,
as the door swung back, revealed it.
self as the head of tall efficient-look-
ing woman, who was directing a man
bringing the chair in which was to be
carried upstairs. The head was very
round one, and was covered thiclSly
with short, brilliant locks of the color
which in hair is for some reason COM
monty called red; the tufts stood out
like little lambert flames all around
the owners face. This was Miss C..
the matron. She soon turned me over
to the care of my faithful little Ger
man nurse, and began my life in a
hospital.
1t was very regular life, with its
daily morning visit from the doctor,
attended by the matron, an afternoon
visit from the matron alone, and the
tender ministrations of my good nurse
in the meantime Occasionally, how
ever, the matron would make me a
call by herself and bring me, perhaps,
spray of fragrant orange blossoms
from the garden, or, as l got better, in
vite me to sit on the terrace in front of
her room, where looked down over the
city upon that portion Of the Bay OF Ma
Piles which is inclosed between the pro-
montories of Posillipo and of Sorrento,
with Capri floating opposite me. like
violet-hued mountain taking a sea
bath in the vivid vitriol-blue waves,
and Vesuvius, at my left, raising it's
swelling cone in curves of fascinating
beauty, and emitting a trembling
breath of sunlighted vapor.
/ came TO have q homelilse feeling
among nv kind attendants in the hos
pital. and it gave me painful shock
of surprise, therefore, to learn, within
three weeks from the time had left it,
that Miss c., the ma tron, after only a
few days illness, had died. l had gone,
on leaving the hospital, to recruit
further at the beautifully located and
well-kept Pension Weiss, in Castel-
lamare. But few weeks later I re-
J turned to Naples, and Carl and soon
} paid visit to the hospital He had
been to see ME every day while was
a patient there, and was almost as IA
miliar as myself with the place and
with the persons in charge.
1t was hot afternoon in May when
we climbed the shadeless hill, and the
white, glaring street reflected blind
ing heat hardly less intense than that
which srnote from the clear sky. In
the open doorway we were cordially
greeted by the old Italian woman who
cared for the patient in the basement,
and we hailed the refreshing contrast
of the dark, cool corridors as we en-
: tered and went upstairs. On the floor
reached by ascending one flight, and
to the right of the staircase, and fac
ing down the length of a corridor, is
the door of the matron's room. Just be-
fore we reached the top Of the stairs a
tall woman, wearing nurses cap and
, apron, glided out of this room with the
| quick, noisaless movement acquired by
those who care for the sick, passed a
few yards down the corridor from
right to left in front of us, then turned
suddenly and glided back from left to
: right, and reentered the room. The
| door stood open at an angle of nearly
forty-five degrees; but when we looked
in at it she had already disappeared in
to the part of the room which was con-
; cealed from view. Although we had
: been so near her she had not looked at
: us, nor greeted us with good day.
in either of the ''four languages" 1t
being always the custom on the conti-
nent to bid good day to anyone you
may meet on staircase or in CORR
: dor "a custom generally observed,
from those in highest rank down to
the lowest menials-this omission was
noticed by us. But our momentary
, surprise at it was Immediately oblit-
4 Grated by our remarking another cir
cumstance.
\ "That must be Miss G-'s sister,
{ said Carl
| .what striking resemblance" an
I swered.
: "Wonderfully strikingT' Carl re-
! sponded, as we passed on to the dos
tors rooms in the east wing of the
building,
: The good doctor gave us most
: friendly welcome, and after the pre-
liminaries relating to my health were
ended, we naturally spoke Of Miss
! CTS sudden death, and he told US
the particulars of her last days.
"You have her sister to take her
: place, we see," said Carl
mo, we have no one yet in heI
place." said Dr. S..
mo? Why, we just saw some one