The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-07-10

again revealed.
The notary, with distended eyes fixed
upon the vision, sank back In his chair
with n low moan.
This must be explained, monsieur"
cried, striding to his side and grasp
ing his shoulder. as there any reason
why should not marry Mile. de Bour-
sons?'
mile. de Boursons," returned the
notary. still regarding her with horror,
has been dead these forty years.
"Dead"' ! echoed. staring first ut the
notary and then at the girl. while a
sense Of bewilderment overcame me.
Mile. de Boursons arose with a
charming smile and came TO my side.
"siee, monsieur" she exclaimed mock
ingly and giving me her hand. do
you also think me deadY
The hand was ms cold as ice but its
touch sent a strange thrill through my
body.
"COme, monsieur" | said 10 the no.
tary. who watched the scene in amaze
ment Read the ceremony at once
We are in haste"
Slowly and with trembling voice the
notary obeyed. the girl at my side re-
turning the answers i'm a sweet, collect
ed voice that disarmed my fears and
Gained to some extent the notary him
self
l drew seal ring from my finger
and placed it upon her icy hand. and
in its place she slipped a large ruby
from her own hand upon mine.
The ceremony concluded. ! paid the
notary thanking him briefly for his
services, and, followed by my bride,
walked down the path TO my carriage
The notary stood in the doorway light
ing us with the candle.
At the carriage l turned TO hand my
wife TO her seat, but she had dsap-
pcared
l ran back to the doorway.
"Where is my wifeE' | asked.
'She followed you down the path"
said the man.
but she is not there"
Without word the notary accompa-
MED me back TO the carriage. No trace
of the girl was TO be seen.
Right and left among the shrubbery
l searched. | called aloud her name. en-
treating her to come to me- but no sight
Of the beautiful face rewarded my eff
forts.
l returned TO the notary's study filed
with vague misgivings
where can she beg" l asked dismal
ly.
an her grave" was the hoarse an
swer.
MONSIEUR
81 told you before that she was dead.
1t is true. You have welded ghost"
The next morning, in company with
the notary, | drove down the road till
we came TO the brick wall where l had
first seen Amelie de Boursons.
We entered the gates and walked to
the chateau that stood in the neglected
grounds. An old woman admitted us,
the caretaker. and at the notary's re-
quest allowed us TO visit the gallery.
The notary threw back the shutters,
and the sun came in and flooded the
portrait Of a beautiful girl whose violet
eyes regarded me with the same sweet
expression | had noted in my bride of
the previous evening.
1T is Amelie de Boursons," said the
notary in a gentle voice. II have seen
this picture often and heard the girls
pitiful story. and that is why l knew
her last night to be a mere phantom.
Her father was q stern, hard man, who
insisted upon her marrying a person ut
terly distasteful to the young girl. She
tried to escape, but was captured and
brought home to confront her fate. On
the wedding morning they found her
dead in her bed. She had taken her
own life. That was forty years ago,
monsieur"
AS we left the room l glanced curl
ously at the ruby that sparkled on my
finger.
/ wear it TO this day
1t is the only evidence l have ever
possessed of my phantom bride.