Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-04-26

came.
Mcrciful rowcrsl could not move /
was losing The use of my limbs. l fell into
O semunconrcious state IT was not sleep.
1t was more like fearful nightmare with
out sleep. All strength forsook me. l felt
utterly powcrlcss, raralyzcd in 'ery limb
The sense of hearing vanished. My eyes
were ClCscd against my Will could not
open thcm. All that was conscious of
vas u sensation Cf the utmost terror. l
fought was dying or passing into an
otter state or another world. Presently
felt something touching my neck like cold,
icy fingers or cold steel. Tlcn before my
clo cd eyes there seemed to be n glowing
light. l tried TO speak, but my tongue
clavc to my mouth. Again those Icy fin
gers at my neck.
My coat ard linen about my neck were
being unfastcncd. / suddenly emerged
from my torpid condition, saw the candle
falling To- the floor and the figure of IA
gaunt, withcTcd creature leaving the room.
The figure was clothed, as it seemed, in
a tattcIVd gray garment, and over her
shoulders long wl.ite hair streamcd. 1t
was but u momcntary glance | had, for the
candle was cXtinguishcd as it touched the
floor.
l sprang to my feet. The bell rang
thrice again. Then all was silent, save for
the fltful wind l grolCd about for the
matches, but could not find them. L raised
my hand to my rcck, expecting to find
trickling blood, but there were no signs of
any wound At that moment l heard
low, plaintvc voice on the landing, THAT
wound, that scar, it is thcreH' l felt again
at my neck, but with the same result as
before g.nrcd about frantically for the
matches, but il vain
After few minutes the voice spoke n
second time on tie landing, or on the
stairs 1t nuttcccd two words, repeated
thrice at intervals: THE resurrection The
rcsuirvctionl The rcsurrcctionp'
The NO.Gs rose and fell with II mOurnful
cadence mingled with terror and helpless
ness and gradually died away as the speak
err witldr'W - n distance.
| IstcrLVd softly to the landing. 1t was
/ in pitch darkness. dared not move either
to the uIIcr or lower rooms without II
/ light to guido me.
| | returned to my chamber sat on the
side of the bed, and listened for further
sounds. Surely, thought, was strong
enough to coTc with the apparition, how
ever murdcrous its intentions might be.
Why should l succumb to cowartliceY
| heard the boards crcak in the room
above me, then low mutterings, as if com
ing from two or three voices-ncxt, IA
steady footstcp pacing to and fro, ceasing
for n 1nomcnt, and renewed on the stairs.
Nearer and nearer the footsteps advanced.
Horror That torpid sensation was stealth
lily creeping over me again. which felt pow
ercss to resist There was glimmcr of
light through the half open door and the
footsteps abruptly stopped. A loud though
tremulous voice rcaled and echoed through
the house. Richard, Richard, Richard
Dudley
The voice recalled my ebbing senses. \
thousand thoughts surged in my brain.
Was 1 really human being, or had l
passed into IA transition state bordering
on the world of spirits?
Again the voice, Richard, Richard,
Richard Dudley
started to my feet and made my way
to the landing, ard there, at the foot Of the
stairs stood the woman clad in gray, Il
candle held aloft in enc hand ard IA framed
portrait of youth in the other. l gazcd
in speeches, ii;cetrucl amazcmcrt, for !
bclcld il that G.i.cn, withercd tace-my
own mCthcr!
! was iadccl Richard Dudley, the elder
son of the squire.
The meet ing was indeed like Il rcsurrec
ton to both Ct u. lrelcr 10 Cr;lw II veil
. over much that PASSED between lis from
the moment Of recognition to the time my
friends returned Ny mother led the WA
to a small attic chamber lighted by II win
dow in the roof. Out of boxes and Other
, lumber left behind by the creditors eh,
I had contriycd to form ii table and u rougl
bedst cad. And here sccrc,v,i from ali I'll,
, world, she Lad lived in solitudc, as l uf.cr
Il al
d 1t was many day, before l could Oh ali
! a coherent outline Of her sad history. Sh,
II had gone to the south with my father
both of Thorn broken down in ncalth ant
! fortune. When cNc.y avenue fer finding
means of livelihood seemed ;Aut out, III,
I fat her destroyed HIM elf
% Then my Inctl-r, lf.rndlcss, distractc,
e. with grief and lc. Lcntal faculties under
q mined, conceived IA longing to return t
the old house and die there. At length
4 unknown to any one, she managed TO fin,
a her way down to the Grange and settle'
E down in that attic chnmbtr.
% About once II month on a SaturdI,
Il night my mother was in the habit Of go
Il ing, thicllly yelled, to IIollcuon tolrocur
provisions. Her mode of cglcss was dow
d a narrow staircase out iLe The attic leading
o to the stable yard, and which must hay
II been constructed after ny departure iron
home. Avoiding the main road and ncvc
a entering iuto cOnNcTSlt ion with any one
| she contritcd to Preserve her place of +,
If treat II profound secret. To cVadc ohscryu
ton she lad always prepared l., food dun
>. ing the night, sleeping in the daytime, :
e. that the smoking chimney m: ght not be
Ia tray her Ircsclc,. The fuel she used WA
NJ woodwork broken away from the huus
1 itself
y My mother suffered from alteration
&c and decisions, and after nightfall sll
II usually gave vent TO her inconaolablc griC
y at The los, of her husband, children an
e. worldly good, in litcJus cries and lamcI
tations. Wien she awcke from her stun
Iu bers that Christmas eve, she suspoc'c
some one had intruded into the hous'
l. After IL search she discovered me in I'll
in very room where l was born.-WestmiI
al ster Budget.
M Her Age.
? "And what is your age, madam" WI
~ the attorneys question.