The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-06-12
The. Lady In
- The Picture.
By CLARISSA MAcKIE.
By CLARISSA MAcKIE.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

rd NJ the table In the great dining room
turned and looked at the picture.
Framed in gold. 1t hung over the
chimney piece reaching almost to the
lofty ceiling. II depicted the life size
figure of beautiful young woman in
pale gray gown In the fashion Of a
century past. @-a
A large gray plumed hat rested on
her dark hair. and about her shoulders
was loose rose pink cloak caught to-
gether by one slender hand. while the
other held n plumy spray Of white
lilac. . .~s
Dickson arose. glass In hand. ITO
Mistress Mowbray; always young. al
ways beautiful and"-he paused and
added. with a mischievous glance at
his wife-"ever silentr'
There was laughter from the men
ind a merry protest from Mrs. Dick.
."n as they drank the toast and re-
-umed their seats.
Rather an unfair advantage to take
Of Mistress Mowbray." objected Mark
Randolph. with n glance toward the
portrait.
! am sure that Harry's insinuation
Is quite unjust" said Mrs. Dickson.
with spirit. Family history relates
that Elizabeth Mowbray possessed
very pretty wit- .
Il suppose there is story connected
with the fair lady?" insinuated Searles.
with smile at his host.
There is." admitted Dickson cheer.
fully. There Is some tale about the
ghost Of Mistress Mowbray. who Is
said 10 step down from her portrait
and walk about this room. leaving q
fragrance Of white lilac In her wake"
Have you witnessed this appari.
tion?" asked Randolph. with interest.
Never" replied Dickson. helping
himself TO walnuts. "but will admit"
he continued. with o quIzzical glance
At bis pretty wife. 'that ] have de-
tected the odor OF white lilac in this
ROOM"
When does the ghost walkr' asked
Randolph.
Invariably on the 18th OF March"
replied Dickson. leaning back In his
chair and looking nxedly AZ the por-
trait I'VE have never seen the ap-
partition. but some Of the servants claim
TO have seen II. II has so happened
that we have never been at the hall on
the 18th OF March since our honeymoon.
recollect that We came downstairs
one morning on the nth OF March and
detected a strong odor Of white lilac.
As the conservatory was empty OF
plants and rs there were no flowers OF
any sort In the house. II was rather
a.
a shock" Interpolated Mrs. Dick.
sol. with decision ut was a positive
shmrk tO smell the odor OF white lilac
that morning. especially as old Hannah
had rrgaled us with the story the night
before"
And So you have never waited up
10 s,r the ghost walk quericd Ran.
doth as be opened the door for his
hostess.
M" 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 WITH take care OF you. and then
you eau report 10 Us the result OF your
investigations"
Agreed" he said readily. and as she
left the room be returned TO the table
aud remarked 10 the Others. ANY vol.
untecrs 10 keep me company?'
Not l." returned Scarles quickly. 81
shall be south about that time"
And We" said Dickson lightly. will |
be 10 Egypt"
u had forgotten that" said Ran.
dolph. Nevertheless I shall accept
Mrs, Dlckson's Invitation 10 run down |
here aud make the acquaintance Of fair |
Mistress Mowbray."
lie was looking mt the picture with
dreamy abstraction M his eyes
'Yon admire my beautiful anccstress.
then. Mark Dickson shot d keen
glance at his friend.
YES" was the low response. she
reminds me Of another whom I once
knew"
ON the 18th Of March Randolph Jour.
ncyed down TO the sleepy old New
village where the Dickson
homestead spread its comfortable wings
behind shcltcrIng elms. now lcafiess
and soughlng mOurnfully IN the cast
wind. Within doors all was cheeriness
and comfort. with soft lampllght and
blazing Ores.
When Hannah had cleared the din.
her table and departed. Randolph
threw himself Into a huge easy chair
before the firc IN the dining room and
ookcd up at the pictured face Of MIs.
rcss Mowbray. lie compared her face
with that 81 another Elizabeth Now.
bray, a cousin Of Harry Dickson and
llso q descendant Of the lady IN the
picture. u was an old story now. ten
years old. lie and Beth had quarrcled.
md she had returned his ring and gone
back 10 her home IN the south. They
had never met afterward, but be had
never forgotten.
Randolph placed not the slightest ere.
fence In the story Of the apparitIon Of
Mistress M0wbray. but the idea OF
snpndIuy nm fgftfntarrttf,fsSd. evafluuy Nm. |