Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-05-29
think it beautiful"

| think it beautiful
1T is not the wind that hear in my
ROOM" she whispered ooh, GOMEZ"
Without another word, / took the
taper from her hand and went with
her. When we reached the room
where Lady Culmore slept, I found
that all the lamps were burning. She
laid her hand upon my arm.
Il want you to listen she said, in a
low, hoarse whisper. ''Listen.'
AS she stood before me, with a
strained. despairing expression on her
hand uplifted, | might have been for
given some little emotion of fear. The
scene was weird enough.
'fListen!" she repealed And then |
heard the soft, sad sob of the wind at
the window dying away into the
faintest possible moan.
What is that?" she asked me, while
a strong shudder shook her whole
frame. Listen again, and tell me.
for heavens sake, what is that?"
The dying wall of the wind was fol-
lowed by a soft tap against the win
dGwglass, so soft, so indistinct, that
could hardly hear it. The sound came
again and again, until at last the ter
rifed woman flung herself upon her
knees with cry of anguish that
| shall never forget-a perfect scream of
| terror. It rings in my ears even now
as | write.
II know what it isl! she cried "You
must not let it in! Keep the window
closed. Send it away. Oh, heaven,
send it away" And she fell sense
| less, with her white, miserable face
upon the ground.
1 raised her, laid her upon the couch,
and went to the window. The moon
shone on the budding trees and on the
| mere. | saw in a moment that the
sound was caused by the tapping of a
small spray Of ivy against the window
J glass. Having found this out, | went
| back to rouse and reassure her She
lay just where I had placed her, her
| blue eyes open and full of inexpIicable
| terror.
| Have you sent it away ?'' she asked,
| in q hoarse whisper.
There is nothing to send away, Lady
| GILMORE" | replied.
| Nothing" she cried. Are you
quite sure? Nothing at all?"
mo. What could there be outside
your Window"
| | began to wonder if her brain was
affected. It was the only possible ex-
| PLANTATION Of her conduct.
The wind had been silent for some
few minutes. Then it rose again-the
| same faint sobbing round the window,
sound as natural as any could be,
but evidently full of supernatural dread
to her. She sprung to her feet and
| held up her hand again.
"Listen!" she cried. =
| 1T is nothing, Lady Culmore,' said,
| speaking firmly, for thought that per-
haps this was but a severe historical
attack. ut is nothing, Lady GILMORE %
| repeated. DO you understand? 1t
is only the wailing of the wind"
"Ah, MOI" she said. THAT is what
it sounds like to you. Do you know
| what it is in reality? It is the crying
| Of little child. quite little child,
standing there. Hark! Do you not
hear it now?"
| There was certainly some faint re-
semblance to the cry of a child, the
wall of an infant in great pain. I
should never have thought of it but
for her
Lady Culmore,' l said, you must
listen to reason, you must be calm.
This is foolish, hysterical, nervous
| nonsense. Come with me to TIE win
dow. Look and listen for yourself"
| She wrung her hands
II dare not!" she cried.
"You must" l said. cit is the only
way in which you can be convinced
Come"
| took the white hands in mine and
compelled her to cross the room. l
drew aside the blinds and hangings,
opened the window, and made her
look out
You see there is nothing" | said.
Look at the moon, the water, and the
trees
She turned away with a deathly
shudder
Il must have dreamt it them she
said.
What did you dream?'' asked.
To be continued.