Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-10-04
CHAPTER TX.
A STARTLING VISITATION.

perfume foated about on the airy
draughts that wandered in fresh from
their morning dallance with the flowers
of maLy fields; and soft, delicious spell
seemed to reign fairylke over the semi
enchanted place, If the soul OF the
phantom lady had pervaded every room,
carrying with it the atmosphere OF the
blessed realm where dwell the spirits OF
all like her, balnfier breath could not
have como to kiss the brow Of him who
was passing into the shadow.
I had been sauntering thoughtfully
through the rooms and chambers OF the
old house for an hour or so, having, upon
our arrival, left the mother and son
alone in the sacredness Of their meeting
for, under the circumstances, this meet
ing was sacred.
The once strong young man, now
weak and at times dellrious in the
burning and the eating of the
fever, pouring the discontented 60
ouence of his life's great sorrow and de
spair into the tender recesses of that
mothers heart, and the reassuring words
of love and comfort and sympathy
spoken in return by that mother, are
matters to which You and l are not
parties We can only guess by what has
come under our own observations, and
perhaps our limited eXperie ces,
what transpired during that interview,
but do know that the heart that hao
been broken in early year., and lefl
bleeding and disconSOate by the cruel
neglect and cold trea,m mt of proud ano
unfeelng parents; the heart to whit
1 4 Il -. ho do n
babyhood as If his very being were q
hea ing balm that might assuage its
intermnable aching, aye, the mosl
faithful Of mother hearts, still yearneJ
toward her boy in his manhood as it haJ
in his infancy, and that its chords of sym
Ia hv would vibrate at the slightest
word from that boy in tender love u;
sweet as the whispe cd music OF th3
Folian harp when the evening zephyr
scarcely touches it and away.
had been wondering during this lioui
what should be done next what the
whole meaning cou d be Of my mission
at the villa and among its mystic an0
shadowy people.
AsI was thus thinking, felt touch
upon my arm, and upon looking up, be-
held before me the shadowy, beautiful
form of the Senorita Ell Muza. She
pointed to one side, and following the
direction she indicated ! saw such
counterpart of myself that l had to loob
the second time to ascertain that there
was no mirror there to reflect back my
form and visage. This person thus
lointed out had the shadowy appear
ance | had noticed in all the spirits.
pleasant smile overspread hl5-cOunto
nance when he noticed my discontinue,
and he said: "You are evidently sur
prised at the fact that you and | resem-
Bile each other so closely; still ther9
ne,d be no surprise when you learn THAI
we arc related by long line of ances'
try through your mother, descendant
o. the Ell Muza stock but of a different
wing of the family.
@There are," he continued, "o1ly two
re representatives of the rect lines now
living on earth. These two are the
Sonora Arold and you friend Burton.
The Sonora is my sister, so | am the
vou7g mans uncle My parents treated
them shabbily because IL was thought
that the Sonora had allowed herself to
be disgraced by being betrayed into a
false marriage, followed by apparent
deserton on the part of her husband;
but they have fully repented of their
harsh conduct since their advent into
| the spirit world where we have all met
her husband. who was shipw! ecked on
the coast of Florida while on the way to
| ioin her, and have learned that the mar
| riage was valid They wish to repair
well as they can the injury done their
daughters happiness. he must be
kindly taken care of during the remain
der of her natural life, and when she
ioins us in the future existence we vii
( all be happy together forever more.
"This estate" continued he, "was a
! rar nership one The Ell Zegals arc all
| in the spirit world, the Sonora Aro!d
| was dis Inherited, and the whole estate,
under certain conditions, falls to a
nephew by marriage) of Mcntinni S.,
who resides at Ven ce. The transfer is
made subject to the MANAGEMENT OF an
administrator. Now, there never has
| been any administrator appointed, but
| legal forms are drawn up accompanying
| Montinnis last will and testament,
wherein places for an administra-
tors name are left blank. We author.
| lie you to atfix your name to them, and
to take al legal steps necessary to Sc
cure your position The two-thirds OF
the estate left without a will by El
ZegaI and Ell Muza are in such posi-
tlol that they can be placed in posses
sion Of Montinni nephew or given over
to the discretion OF the state. What we
want you to do is to acQuant Montinnfs
heir with the power vested in you and
| to get a testified contract from him to
the effect that if this property is given
over to him that he will allow the Sonora
Arold the freedom of the villa as home
| and provide her with proper maintel-
ance drring her natural life, and SO
make the transfer that if he fails in the
leastwise to comply with his intruste1
| obligations his aim to the FL Muza and
El legal property shall henceforth be
null and void.
"You will fird the rafers in q sma
iron safe in one of the closed room UP
stairs. If you go Immediately for them
the doors will be opened for you The
heirs address will be found among the
papers.
| TO BE CONTINUED.
| ------------
| HE told his love in burning words.