Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-09-11

be. Suddenly it came into my mind
that | might even lose my little Nelly
and be left quite desolate.
1T has all come from her foolish
talk" | said. II will shake II off"
Then | took the Bible and tried to
think of all its promises, and l sought
the consolation OF prayer. This cam
ed me, and at last did actually sleep.
and so long and soundly that when |
opened my eyes it was twilight
| sprang to my feet and rubbed my
eyes. l had strange feeling. as
though l had been out of my body and
had seen something / could not re-
member A glass of water restored
me, and then | began to wonder
whether lea was ready and why they
did not call me.
Suddenly voice I knew well called,
Grandpa"
| looked around Nelly was peeping
in at the window. She had thrown
white shawl over her head. and had
drawn her face down into a great sol
emnity of expression. She just showed
it for a moment, and then disappeared.
"Ah, you witch,' | cried. 81 see
you"
Grandpa" she said again in a faint
melancholy grandpa
She had come to the other window
and was standing there. Her white
shawl was wrapped about her. and her
hands were crossed upon her breast.
| laughed again.
Come In, Mistress Ghostess,' said l.
Appear"
Again she was gone. And 1t was
very absurd to me, but / began to feel
very uncomfortable.
Once more, as ! spoke. | saw the face
at the window. with the white shawl
disposed about It like a shroud. and the
child had done something TO make her
self look deadly pale.
Nelly! Nelly! Nelly" I cried. This
is going too far This is disrespectful
when | command you to cease such an
tics. You may think it fine fun, but
I Come in, Nelly"
This time she obeyed. She entered
the door. She had cast the white
shawl entirely over her. A point hung
over her face, and on either shoulder
The long black hair dropped heavily
like wet hair, IL occurred to me. she
walked straight to the sofa and lay
down upon II. As she did 50 the white
drapery dropped back, and | saw great
drops Of water drip from her tresses
upon the floor. / rushed toward her,
Her garments we're soaked through and
chung to her. Her face was white, and
her eyes wide open and glazed In
one hand she grasped a long bunch Oh
wet water grass.
Nelly" / screamed. Nelly. dar-
ling. what has happened? Speak
And | stretched forth my hands to-
ward her They touched nothing
There was nothing to touch. The sofa
was empty.
MY brain is disordered," said tc
myself. IF have been dreaming But
l shook with terror Ike one palsied.
Nelly. where is she?' / cried. and
I rushed out into the garden calling
her. As | reached the gate | saw q
man rushing up the lane, staggering
and stumbling as he ran, and "a"
that IL was Charles Steen, my Nelly 8
boy lover. and that he was 20 wet that
the water dripped from him, and ms
feet marked the dust Of the road with
wet spots.
Charlie" I screamed. where Is she!
Nv little Nelly, where is she?"
He elasped his hands to his head ana
stared at me.
Where? Where" he echoed. "oh.
an hour ago she was with me. She was
mine. Now-0h, tell me where she 10!
The boat overset with US. | tried to
save her. / could mott" and with
horrible groan he fell upon MS face at
my feet.
Ny little Nelly was drowned, A
few hours after she lay upon the sofa
where / had seen her lying in my
vision. with the same woeful express
sion on her face, and the same long
bunch OF water-gTass elinched in her
hand. Her dripping dress chung to her
as / had seen 1t. and the great drops
Of water dripped from her hair TO tns
floor Is had fancied that they did.
I still live. an old man of eighty, and
I am so near TO my meeting with all /
Nave loved and lost that / can speak
calmly even Of that time; but | cam
not tell what II was that / saw In the
library that woful day long ago. or
whether my Neliy's spirit really came
TO me- All that / can say ID. that II
gil seemed 20 me as have written II
down.-New York NeTs