The Democratic advocate., 1908-05-08
/ he Lady In
The Picture.
Bv CLARISSA MACKiE.
,,o,vrighted, 1908, by Associated
0+' Literary Press.

tross Elizabeth Mowbray," remark
dickson to his assembled guests.
s.. !, one accord the four persons seat
tho table in the great dining room
81 and looked at the picture.
,,mod in gold, it hung over the
,,nov niece, reaching almost to the
cpiIing 1t depicted the life size
no Of 4 beautiful young woman in
o,o gray gown in the fashion of a
injury past
large gray plumed hat rested on
= dark hair, and about her shoulders
:, loose rose pink cloak caught to-
sstber by one slender hand, while the
sssor held a plumy spray of white
riclson arose, glass in hand. "To
III frnss Mowbray; always young, al
6 beautiful and''-he paused and
ssSod with a mischievous glance at
lid wife-"ever silent"
rbare was laughter from the men
~, q merry protest from Mrs. DICK
son as they drank the toast ana re-
s,,ned their seats.
apather an unfair advantage to take
- Mistress Mowbray," objected Mark
nondoInh. with a glance toward the
portrait. ....,,,+,o,
n am sure that Harry's insinuat1on
3 ouite unjust" said Mrs. Dickson,
I'm snirit. Family history relates
that Elizabeth Mowbray possessed
yery pretty WITT!
III Sunpose there is story connected
,r,th the fair ladyT' insinuated Searles.
sritb a smile at his host.
Mrhere is" admitted Dickson cheer
suilv "There is some tale about the
obost of Mistress Mowbray, who is
aid to step down from her portrait
and walk about this room, leaving
81 rrance of white lilac in her wake"
pTTave you witnessed this appari-
tiop? :" asked Randolph, with interest.
eNever." replied Dickson, helping
bipself to walnuts, "but 1 will admit"
"a continued. with a quizzical glance
At his pretty wife, "that l have de-
toetod the odor of white lilac in this
room"
eVhen does the ghost walk?" asked
Randolph
AInvarably on the 18th of March,,
replied Dickson, leaning back in his
chair and looking fxedly at the por-
frait. I'VE have never seen the ap-
narition. but some of the servants claim
to have seen it. 1t has so happened
f1,at We have never been at the hall on
the 18th of March since our honeymoon.
Irecollect that we came downstairs
one morning on the 14th of March and
detected strong odor of white lilac.
AS the conservatory was empty or
plants and as there were no flowers OF
ann sort in the house. it was rather
az
"a shockr' interpolated Mrs. Dick
son. with decision. "It was a positive
shock to smell the odor of white lilac
thai morning. especially as old Hannah
had regaled US with the story the night
before."
And so you have never waited up
to see the ghost walk?" queried Ran
doph as he opened the door for his
hostess.
fNo. To tell the truth, we always
run away" she laughed. Suppose you
come down on the 18th of next month
and watch for Mistress Mowbray.
Hannah will take care of you, and then
you can report to us the result Of your
Investigations"
Agreed" he said readily. and as she
left the room he returned to the table
and remarked to the others. ANY vol
unteers to keep me company"
Not l." returned Searles quickly. II
shall be south about that time"
And We" said Dickson lightly, twill
be in Egypt"
Fl had forgotten that" said Ran
doph. Nevertheless I shall accept
Mrs. Dickson's invitation to run down
here and make the acquaintance Of fair
distress Mowbray."
tle was looking at the picture with
creamy abstraction in his eyes.
You admire my beautiful ancestress,
tHen. Mark" Dickson shot q keen
gAnce at his friend.
\ es, was the low response. "She
Ienlnds me of another whom I once
new"
On the 18th of March Randolph jour-
neEed down to the sleepy old New
siahd village where the Dickson
nolhestead spread its comfortable wings
nehnd sheltering elms, now leafiess
and soughing mournfully in the east
Hlhd. Within doors all was cheeriness
nu comfort with soft lamplight and
bhzng fires.
hen Hannah had cleared the din
III table and departed. Randolph
e" himself into huge easy chair
tote the ire in the dining room and
phed up at the pictured face of Mis-
SS MoWbray. He compared her face
III that of another Elizabeth Now
'S' cousin of Harry Dickson and
descendant of the lady in the
'uie II was an old story now, ten
Us old. He and Beth had quarreled,
u sne mad returned his ring and gone
eA 10 her home in the south. They
never met afterward, but he had
EYER forgotten.
Randolph Dlaced not tho e,;rb+os+ oro
Il lee IN the story of the apparition of
slleSs Mowbray, but the idea of
nuing an uninterrupted evening be-
Tue portrait appealed to him. Un-
" longer withstand the glance Of
e. lender eyes, he buried his face in