The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-08

Especial Dispatch TO the New York
American,)

London, April 21.-One of the weird
est phenomena in the history Of Dboto-
graphy has caused Miss Gladys MIN
ming, a beautiful Southampton girl.
to break her engagement with LieIt.
Gordon Waters, now on service in IN
dia.
In every II of a dozen photographs
the camera revealed a ghostly figure
with dagger in hand lowering over her
She recognized the figure as he fiance@
and Immediately broke the engage
ment, believing that it was a warning
OF what would happen should she be-
come his bride.
The course Of true love ran smooth
for this couple until Lieut.. Waters
was called way t India. He expect
ed 20 reurn to England on a furlough
in Il year and take his bride back to
India with him for the remainder of
his service.
Letters were exchanged with regular
ity during six months and the preDa~a-
tons for the wedding had been COM
menced Then IN day, an old friend
an unsuccessful rival of the Indian Of
ficer, paid a parting call. He was on
his way to America in a few days, and
begged for a photograph.
Miss Manning had 70 recent Dictur-
es and was easily persuaded to sir Cor
9 ones The next day she found
time during her shopping trip to Lon
don - call at Il well-knOwn photogra-
piers studio.
PHOTOGRAPHER ASKS ANOTH-
Err SITTING.
Two days later. insyeaG Of the ex-
pecJed proofs, came a short letter OF
apology. Would she please make no.
ther appOintment-an accident had
ruined the plates.
Her London trips were very frequent
just then. She sat again without a
murmur. Again a letter Of apology
instead of proofs. This time the let
ter was longer and spoke vaguely OF
strange action of the light.
The photographers request fol 4
third sitting was granted with tho
mildly expressed hope that nothing
would happen this time. Several
strangers were about the studio dur-
Ills tHt JulIN attempt ~fAioo
observed with a well-trained periphery
of a woman's we hat they were
watching her with evident curiosity.
Though this espionage was annoy
ing and intuition told her something
was wrong. she showed no sign OF
displeasure even when one Of he OBJ
servers stole up and snapped her with
q hand camera. Miss Nanning's un-
e~asiness was further Increased when
for the third time a letter Of apology
arrived instead of proofs. There was
no explanation. The photographer
begged her TO come to the his studio
as c as possible and bring some one
with her. He would then he said en-
deayor to explain why it was impossi-
BILE to photograph her.
Mrs. Manning and her daughter took
the next train to the metropolis. The
PHOTOGRAPHER led them into a private
room and produced a handful OF
plates.
DESCRIBES A TALL LIETENANi.
Before showing the plates to the
mystifed women, he asked OF MISS
Manning: DO yol happen TO know
a very tall young lieutenant Wits
dark skin and light hair?'
WHY YES, l do answered Miss
Manning, glancing at her mother.
We'll. perhaps YOU can account lot
these plates" said the photographer;
handing them over. Il never hSd
ANYTHING like this happen to me DILL
once before"
With successive gaspS or allaz9-
ment the young looked at !ne
mates and then at the proofs when
showed things much more clearly.
IN each case her picture was clear
and quite good. They were the aver
ace work of a frst-class photographer.
Rrt in every case there loomed cloS7
to her a strange, ghostA, yet distinct
figure. In the figures right hand was
a dagger.
There was no question OF ldentl'S.
II was Lieut.. Waters, tail, Iro"hlhS'
and sinister. Sometimes the lleuten-
ants figure was on the lett, sonie-
times on the right of his nance Duy
more often behind her. in every
Mate the dagger was held close ~
Miss Manning. Three plates Sno"eu
him holding it point JUS
above her head. In others II was d.
her throat and breast Inc polse VI
+he mysterious figure showed tnat =
was lot in the act ol d oa.
but held itself balanced IN reaoihe''
to stab tho
So ominous and threatening was Ine
effect that the two women were q'i'o
overcome. tho,
What do you think it cans: the
asked. rrrino
Were you thinking or worrylns
vary hard about him. he asked III
reply.
HER MIND FULL OF SHOPPING
Miss Manning was quite sure tnas
during the first W slttlngs nel n.y.
was full of shopping, ana at tlre M
ooI,nt for the curiosity she was 1nspiF-
ing. +bo,yh+
CONSEQUENCE from your mind TO the
o1a+a" he said. 81 have heard OF this