The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-08


 Two months passed, and nothing un- usual had happened. External ap- pearances at least were normal My wife and I thought that we were com ing out of very ugly situation in very satisfactory mahner, and with this pleasing thought we were con- graduating each other on certain night the occurrences of which am about to relate.
 The weather for several days had been unusually warm, for the autumn was far advanced. The air was life- less, moist and heavy, indicative of an approaching storm. On this night I sat reading in my study, and as every thing was cosey within I rather en- 5oyed the thunder and rainstorm that broke suddenly toward midnight. I could see the vast flashes of lightning and hear the prolonged rolls of thun- der. The Gulf had held its breath for mighty blow, and the land acknowl- edged the strength of It's fury. Mid- night found me still reading. The girls overhead had long since gone to bed. but doubt if they slept: indeed an occasional footfall suggested the contrary However, we could scarcely blame them for wakefulness during so noisy war of the clements The fierce storms of the South ceme quickly and as quickly go, and so 1t was that night.
 was about to close my book and retire when my attention was attract ed to the noiseless opening of my bed room door. Come in!' I called, but received no answer, except that the door closed again with click. Going into my bedroom, I found my wife staring strainedly into vacancy. II saw at once that she feared that she was about to witness some such phe- nomenon as I had witnessed the night of my arrival. Very pale, she sat lock- ing at me.
 Was it you who opened and closed that door?' she asked.
 Before could reply the opposite door. leading to the dining room, slow ly opened and as slowly closed. For moment we remained in our respective positions as though we were figures of stone. A speechless horror had set- tied down upon us. We were sick at heart with apprehension. Even the candle light acted queer1y, and evi- dently the night was propitious for horrdrs. With bated breath we heard the low cry that once before had so terrified me. It was an indescribably thrilling sound, which would suddenly rise to tragic note of malediction, then die down, down, down to a sob of despair.
 The voice seemed to proceed from just outside my window. I blew out the candle, went to the window and looked out. The storm had passed, and high in the sky hung the great palpitating Southern moon. With sudden frenzy I had a sort of twin realization of the beauty of the place and the danger Of losing 1t all. There flashed through my mind the idea that some malevolent human agency was
 
 depreciate the property in order to purchase it. Or perhaps 1t was some fool who relished just such terror as his antics might inspire. Quick as a thought discarded my slippers, drew on my boots. seized my pistol, walked the length of the corridor, through the front doors and out into the grounds. Following narrow path next to and parallel with the walls of the build ing. I made my way to the window of my bedroom, whence the sound had seemed to proceed.
 Although the moon gave a somewhat diminished light. it was enough with which to distinguish objects at quite a distance. But everything was still. The only motion observable was the slow waving of the tired foliage, which seemed heavy with a wealth of unshed raindrops. Pistol in hand, I stood in the shade of a banana tree, its big leaves almost obscuring me. Had any one stood near the window after the storm a footprint was inevitable. Therefore, l made a close search, but the ground was quite smooth. stood thinking for few seconds, and im- pulsively turned to the front of the l house. l almost shouted aloud then for only few yards ahead of me I l distinctly saw figure of young wo- man clothed in white. Her arms were crossed upon her bosom, as if support | ing some object there, and there was | about her an indescribable grace of | form and carriage. With the resolu- 1 tion to know all, quickened my steps, | but at the same instant I perceived that | she did the same, for almost imper- 1 ceptibly the distance between us in- creased so that when I turned the | corner of the house she had vanished.
 l crept under the library window. Tine moon was shining directly on the 1 panes of glass, and, standing on a lit- | tie garden bench, I peered into the | room. For a few seconds I could sec | objects but dimly, but as my eyes | grew accustomed I was transfxed to | the spot There on the hearth stood | the woman I had seen in the garden a | few moments before. She seemed to | hold something in her arms, and, with | out moving her feet, swayed her body | EldeWlse, 10 ana ITO, ike mother | putting her baby to sleep. was | frozen with fear and incapable of mo- ton, My heart and brain seemed to | stand still. Only a few seconds she | stood, and then-vanished like mist.
 With the first return of conscious ness I returned to my room. I found my wife in fearful suspense. waiting | and expecting she knew not what. l sat down beside her and told her every thing that had happened. We sat in silence for a long time. then with a sudden thrill, we sprang to our feet. Scream followed scream in quick suc- cession. Breathlessly we ascended | the stairs and threw open the door. lit every candle, flooding the room with light, and demanded to know the | cause of such pandemonium. But my efforts to pacify were unheeded. As the six girls had lain in the same dark ened room talking the spectre I had seen had appeared to them, standing pietously for a moment, then dissolv- ing into nothingness.
 All over the house lights were lit and every girl began packing her trunk. Nothing could stop the exodus, and by noon next day not one pupil remained. I found, too, that my wife, without con- sulting me- had likewise packed our trunks and ordered carriage for our departure.
 We were the last to leave the house. and sadly we walked the length of the now darkened halls. through the great doors and down the flower Dor. dered path..At the gate we instinctly turned back. There stood the old ,fv,o tn