The Lamar register., 1902-06-18
GHOST GIVES A ROSE
CHARMING STORY RELATED BY THE
MEXICAN HERALD.
Gentle Spirit Visits Childhood Friend
aud Leaves = Gift "for Old Time.
and Dear Rsmem branoes'' True
spanish Courtesy.

In the lovely moonlight few even
ings ago Mexican lady sat within
the embrasure of window in her
country house. looking out on little
square where were trees and shrubs
and fountain that murmured plain
lively. The moon began to shine be-
hind the towers of great church near
at hand, forming picture which kept
the lady at her window. She had
travelled far. in Italy and In Spain,
but, she thought. Il have seen moth
ing more beautiful in any land"
While the lady kept watch in the
window, drinking in the beauty of the
picture which the yellow moon had
painted for her. figure emerged from
the shrubbery of the little plaza,
crossed the street and approached her.
1t was a man, thin, very pale, dressed
wholly In black. His eyes seemed pre-
ternaturally bright, and he smiled as
he came to the window where sat one
who had known him from childhood.
But n shuddering fear fell upon the
lady, for the man, though smiling,
spoke not. He had come quite near
and was gazing into her eyes intently.
She was held as by spell; an i'm
pulse to run from the window seat
and hide within the rooms came upon
her, but sne bravely resisted.
At last she summoned courage, and,
with faltering tongue, said: Pray,
come into the house, Senior L.: the
zaguan door is ajar. We may talk
better. perhaps. within the house."
But the man outside, clasping the
window bars with two white hands,
made no reply.
Then the lady said: you are
strangely pale. Are you i'll? May !
bring you a copita of brandy; | have
some very old and choice"
The man tried to speak, failed. tried
again, and then said in a low voice.
thrilling. unforgetable: did you not
know that was dead? l died week
ago, and there is sorrow and weeping
still in my house and l dare not re-
turn there. even to see my loved ones.
felt that | must see old friends and
familiar faces, so | came here. i have
many visits to make tonight The
bright eyes of the dead man shone
with a mysterious light.
The lady had summed up her cour-
age end said: Yes now / remember
that they said you had died. | felt
sorry, but we had not of late been
good friends, and SO l did not grieve
as once might have done. We knew
each other in youth and were chill
dren together. / am not afraid of you
now. and again ask you to come in
Pray enter. Pray enter!"
II do not need to enter by the door;
| can pass through here" said the
bright-eyed ghost of the night. and
he entered as if the window bars ex-
listed not.
Taking the lady's hand the dead
man wandered out into corridor.
down into great garden. The air
was full of the perfume of flowers.
The dead man plucked red rose,
moist with the dew and gave it to the
lady.
This for old times and dear remem-
brances of childhood" he said, and he
walked away and seemingly through
the garden wall.
The lady called servant; he locked
the zaguan door. the lady went to her
bedroom, placed the rose in vase
with water and soon was sleeping.
In the morning she wondered, on
first awakening. If the vision of the
night had not been of the fancy.
wrought perhaps by the witchery of
the moon. But the rose was in the
vase. the rose given for old times
and dear remembrances.' Mexican
Herald.