The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-09-17
The Lady In
The Picture.
By cLARISSA MACKIE.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

1T Is the portrait Of my ancestress
Mistress Elizabeth Mowbray," remark
ed Dickson to his sembled guests
With one accord the four persons seat
ed at the table In the great dining room
turned and looked at the picture.
Framed in gold, it hung over tbs
chimney piece. reaching almost to the
lofty ceiling. 1t depicted the life size
figure of a beautiful young woman IL
a pale gray gown In the fashion OF @
century past
A large gray plumed hat rested or
her dark hair, and about her shoulders
was loose rose pink cloak caught to
gether by one slender hand, while tbs
other held a plumy spray of white
lilac
Dickson arose. glass In hand. "TC
Mistress Mowbray; always young, al
ways beautiful and"-he paused and
added. with a mischievous glance al
his whichever silentW
There was laughter from the mer
and merry protest from Mrs. Dick
son as they drank the toast and re
sumed their seats.
Rather an unfair advantage to take
Of Mistress Mowbray." objected Marx
Randolph, with a glance toward the
portrait
81 am sure that Harry's insinuation
is quite unjust" said Mrs. Dickson
NTH cntr ri 70 mill hfutnru Iaf foe
that Elizabeth Mowbray possessed q
very pretty wit"
81 suppose there is a story connected
with the fair lady?" insinuated Searles
with a smile at his host.
"There Is" admitted Dickson cheer
fully, There Is some tale about the
ghost of Mistress Mowbray, who Is
said to step down from her portrait
and walk about this room. leaving q
fragrance Of white lilac In her wake"
Have you witnessed this appari
uon?" asked Randolph. with interest
Never" replied Dickson. helping
himself to walnuts. but will admit "
he continued. with a qulzzical glance
at his pretty wife, that ! have de-
tected the odor of white lilac In this
ROOM
when does the ghost walk ?'' asked
Randolph
Invariably on the 18th of March,
replied Dickson. leaning back In his
chair and looking fixedly at the por
trait I'VE have never seen the ap
partition. but some OF the servants claim
to have seen It, 1t has so happened
that we have never been at the hall or
the 18th of March since our honeymoon
I recollect that we came downstairs
one morning on the 14th of March and
detected a strong odor Of white lilac
AS the conservatory was empty OF
plants and as there were no flowers OF
any sort In the house, 1t was rather
a.
"A shock" interpolated Mrs. Dick
son. with decision. at was q positive
shock to smell the odor Of white lilac
that morning, especially as old Hannah
had RECALLED US with the story the night
before"
And so you have never waited uI
to see the ghost walkf querled Ran
dolph as he opened the door for bis
hostess
NO. 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
untecrs to keep me company"
Not l." returned Searles quickly. 81
shall be south about that time
And We" said Dickson lightly, twill
be in Egypt"
81 had forgotten that" said Ran.
doph. Nevertheless | shall accept
Mrs, Dlckson's invitation to run down
here and make the acquaintance of fair
Mistress Mowbray."
He was looking at the picture with
dreamy abstraction in his eyes.
You admire my beautiful ancestress
then, Mark Dickson shot a keen
glance at his friend.
Yes" was the low response. "She
reminds me of another whom / once
knew"
On the 18th of March Randolph jour
neyed down to the sleepy old New
England village where the Dickson
homestead spread It's comforta BILE wings
behind sheltering elms, now leafless
and soughing mournfuly in the east
wind Within doors all was cheeriness
and comfort. with soft lamplight and
blazing fires.
When Hannah had cleared the din