The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-01-22
THE GHOSTLY SINGER.
BY ALICE z. IVES.

ly fortunate to have her here to loo
4 after things" he said.
: Eleanor didn't agree with him. bu
concluded that silence in this cas-
3 was wisdom.
l "Mr. Burrows will take a room. toe
80 there will be the added protection
5 of a man in the house," added MI
) Masters.
Mr.. Berkeley Burrows was a nephey
of Mrs. Verlance; he had been intro
duced to the Masters family by hi
) aunt. Eleanor felt something of tn
same aversion for him that she did fo
Mrs. Verlance; but the Reverent
Masters considered him a young gen
tleman of great promise. Besides, h,
had large expectations, as that gen
: tleman phrased it, and such things ar,
not to be looked upon as drawbacks il
son-in-law.
No communication being allowed
between the young man in the from
window of the bank and the youne
woman next door, Mr.. Jack Shelby
went off on his vacation without hav
ing had an opportunity to inform Miss
Masters of the fact.
| Shortly after he left she sailed TO,
Europe, having cast longing glance
into the front window as she entered
the carriage which was to convey he,
to the pier. The glance met no re.
spouse, and she was both piqued and
grieved, but gave no sign.
Mrs. Verlance came into possession
and the bank clerk returned from his
vacation. His weary eyes watching
for Eleanor's fitting to and fro were
greeted only with the apparition of a
rather stout blonde woman handsome
ly arrayed, and not disposed to look
his way.
He concluded she was q visitor of
the Masters; and that perhaps Eleanor
was away for week or two. He knew
nothing Of the departure of the family
for Europe.
One evening about haff-past six, as
he was going to dinner, he discovered
that he had left in the bank two thea
tire tickets, which he wished to use
that night. He turned back, wonder
ing if he would be able to get in to find
them.
The deaf old janitor was just finish
ing up his work; but he had some
trouble in attracting his attention, the
night Waterman not having yet come
on duty. He finally succeeded, and
the old fellow sat down in corner to
wait for him, and dozed off.
How quiet it was! The street traffic
and roll of teams had ceased, and for
the first time Shelby heard the tick of
the clock on the wall. He had never
been in the bank before so late. This
strange silence made him feel as
though he sat with the ghost of the
busting, noisy. business place whose
features heknew so well. It was some
thing dreamlike and unreal.
The strangeness of it all seemed to
produce a peculiar impression upon
him. He felt that could he sufficient
ly master the occult forces of nature,
that in this great, quiet place, and SO |
near her home, he might make the
girl he loved feel his presence.
The silence became more profound.
he heard low, musical
sound. He could not tell from
whence it came. 1t seemed almost
Under his feet. As he listened it be-
came more distinct. There was a
strain very like well-known air from
"Trovatore.
Next he heard name which made
lis heart beat fast.
80 Eleanora," sounded the soft.
mysterious voice, instead of the
amiliar words so Leonora" in the
,pera.
Then it died out, and he heard no
more.
The young man seemed under a
pell. For moment or two he could
lot move. When he had sufficiently
covered himself, he started up and
opened all the doors into the various
Ipartments and corridors, trying to ac-
count for the mystic voice.
The more he searched the more he
,ecame assured that the sound had [
ome occult significance, and came
ither from the woman he loved, or
rom some spirit who wished to warn
lin of peril to her. I,
As he closed the door leading from ,
he president room the sleepy janitor
with start. He eyed Shelby
II
"Was ye wantin' anything in there, s
ir?" he asked gruffly. II
No; I simply opened the door be-
ause 1 heard strange sound. Do {
ou ever hear strange sounds about 1
ere?" he asked III
Don't hear nothin', answered the
eaf seryitor, crustily, aud Shelby
ook himself of. II
The next day he thought of nothing I
ut the strange happening at the bank. i
Ie burned with curiosity to again in t
estigate. After hours he went again
little later and found Flynn, the a
ratchman, there. Flynn didn't seem s
isposed to give him much time alone /
DR. occult demonstrations.
He invented pretext for getting
lynn away. 1t was quiet, and he
stened intently. Again he heard :
he low, musical sound. Then came 9
be wailing words. low but distinct: