The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-11
MY VISITOR.

Me summer was 1ngSuSo4y 1C6 E0Cp1o
Nm the tenement houses of the crowded
sitv died like flies. Into my small room
In an up town fat the heat seemed to be
filtered. I could not sleep at nights and
the long days in a great newspaper Office
vera not calculated to improve my health
and spirits. I had begun to ask myself If
life were worth the living when L received
q letter from = friend, lately married, 1nvit-
ing me to visit her in her new home.
went to the managing editor and assur-
ing him nothing less than months rest
would save me from an early grave exact
ed his consent.
What delight I experienced as felt my
self being whirled through the fresh, sweet
country air! My friend met me at the
station. She was radiant with health and
happiness-such a contrast TO my pale;
miserable looking self.
L. is a charming country town.
new town, you know-and it's pretty cot
tages are all of modern style. But on
cliff frowning down on the village stands
q somber house Of stone, moss rooted and
ivy clad. Grand old trees, over whose
head centuries have passed, stand sentinels
around it, A winding drive leads up to
it, and when my friend turned her horse
in at the iron gateway exclaimed:
''Whatl Is that your hOuseS' for knew
they were far from being rich.
Eyes. Is it not lovely? We got bargain.
They almost gave the place away. And it
was furnished tooP'
l was not the only guest, as my friends
aunt, a most delightful old maid, was also
visiting there. AS 1 expect to be an old
maid some day, always make love- to
them, as a little friend once expressed it.
The room assigned to me was 'front.' one.
Opening on to it was another one. some
what smaller, but fitted up in the same
style, and I came to the conclusion this
had once been Some early mistress apart
ment. In the smaller room the old maid,
or Miss Sue, as shall call her, slept.
Now, observe the only way Of entering
her room was by passing through mine.
When we babe each other good night I,
with true feminine caution, locked and
bOlted the door opening to the hall, but
the one separating our rooms I left open.
There was a little table in the center of
the room, holding the lamp. I drew up
chair and tried to read. But I could not
fix my attention; my eyes would wander
from the pages to the things around me.
1 shall not attempt to analyze the peculiar
feeling that began to take possession of
me. 1 shall only soy the general impress
sion left or me, after careful survey, was
that the personality of some other woman
than my friend fingered in the room.
felt that personality, like living, breath
ing thing. It was creepy sensation; SO
undressed and went to bed, and being tired
Perhaps slept an hour, perhaps not ten
min utes, but gradually over my sleeping
senses came q power subtle, mysterious,
drawing them back to the real again. 1
can never describe that awakening. To
think of 1t even now sends an unaccounta-
bic chill into my heart.
The moon was shining and the room
was filed with light. 1 Enclosed my eyes,
and leaning upon one elbow glanced to-
ward the stand, and there on the chair
had recently occupied sat q young girl.
She was dressed in white and had short,
curly hair. One elbow rested on the
stand, and she was leaning her head on
her hand. I sat up in the bed, and, never
suppOsing my visitor was other than flesh
and blood, and thinking I was at my
boarding house, asked:
Have you no bedP'' But the occupant
of the chair did not move. Then like
fash remembrance of where was came
over me.
Miss Sue, !" I called, sshere is a girl
Has she no place to sleep2''
A snoFe from Miss Sue was my answer,
and still the girl did not move. I got out
of bed. On the stand were the matches,
but to reach them I should have to pass
my arm around the silent figure The &C
ton of course brought me near her, and
was conscious of only one feeling-to avoid
personal contact with her. I had my eyes
on her until reached for the match, and
then they were removed only for second,
but when looked again the girl was gone.
For a moment I was too surprised to
think Then lighted the lamp and glanced
around the room. 1t was deserted. went
to the door and found it bolted as had
left it. 1 stole into Miss Sues room, but
she was sleeping soundIy. had seen a
ghost-a creature of the other world. 1t
completely upset me, and determined to
leave the next day. The heat of an uptown
boarding house was preferable to the COM
pany Of spirits.
With daylight thought I might have
been mistaken and concluded to stay an
other day But I entered my room the
following night with many misgivings.
beguilded Miss Sue into conversation, but
she soon grew sleepy and left me would
not allow my mind to dwell on the sub
ject, but read until I could no longer keep
my eyes open. Then went to bed and
soon was asleep. After time the strange,
magnetic force began to steal over me.
had left the lamp burning I opened my
eyes, and there by the stand, in the self
same position, sat the girl. The sight was
too much for me. I covered my head and
called for Miss Sue, and as 1 did a sigh,
the deepest, saddest, most heartrending
was waited to me from that silent figure
And then I realized soul, once the dwell
er in human frame, standing in need of
help, had appealed to me, but because of
my pitifu1 mortal weakness 1 could not
aid it.
The next day I went home. About six
months afterward heard my friend had
sold her house, and from that judged 9th
ers had seen the ghOstly visitor.
And often my mind goes back to her.
Poor SOUL Wandering nightly among
scenes of former happiness or woe, are you
weighted with some secret, atoning for
some crime, or is this your punishment
for life misspent?
But to my questioning there comes no
answer.-Cincinnati Post.
Hnm "a HRaar TaunIa.