The daily Alaskan., 1915-10-21
AnApparitiOn
A Story of the Great
 European War
ByF. A. MITCHEL

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 During one of the incursions of the Russian armies into German territory a general, passing the estate of d noble, said to one of his ulds:
 Captain TvOnovich, I wish you to re- main here till you get further orders from me. Take half dozen cOurIers from my escort, and whenever you see or hear of any movement of the enemy send me word immediately"
 Captain Ivan IyunOvlCh left the staff, directed the commander of the escort to detail six men to attend him and, fol- lowed by them, rode into the grounds of the house, which was set upon an Cmlnence and commanded a view of the surrounding country. Dismounting at the main entrance, he went up on to the porch and rapped loudly on the door with the .hilt of his sword. An old man appeared, who seemed to be n major domo, and the captain said to him:
 "I desire quarters here for awhile for myself and my men,"
 The old man invited him in, telling him that the family, on the appearance of foreign troops, had left the premises in his care und gone elsewhere.
 The captain chose a room for himself on the second floor and QuUrturcd his men in the basement, for Ivan Ivanu- ylch, being noble himself and a re- fined man, felt disposed to treat the place as he would wish his fathers eS- tate fur back In Russia to be treated if the fortunes of war should bring about its occupation by the enemy. Having thus taken possession of his quarters, he asked the major domo Peter, if there was anything to eat in the house. Peter said that there was, but no one except himself to cook it. But, since he had been a chef, he could get up a meal of such provisions us were in the house. The captain direct ed him to prepare breakfast for him and give the men such supplies as they needed.
 Having refreshed himself, Captain Ivauovich went out on the porch, which extended entirely around the house, and made the circuit now and again raising a puir of binoculars to examine rising smoke here, a flag there, a strong position on the crest of the hill anything, in short, that might be of military importance. There was no flag in sight except the Russian impe- rial standard and the captain, lowering his glasses, went back into the house. Being free to use the library, he took down a book and, being a student as well as a soldier, was soon lost in its contents.
 The next morning it occurred to him that a cupola that topped the house would ufTOrd him a better view of the surroundings, and he started to go up there for the purpose. Finding the door leading from the second floor to the third locked, he called to Peter for the key.
 q haven't the key, eZcellency," said Peter. When the family left the prem ises they placed articles valuable only to themselves. such as papers and heir looms, on the floor above, locked the door and took the key with them"
 Iyanoylch could have forced the door; but, as has been said, he was a refined man, unftted for the barbarous side of war, SD he concluded to be content with the view he could get from the porch. Quite likely he was also infu- enced by the earnest look on Peters face, which indicated anxiety that he should not inGude on the floor where the family heirlOOms and archives had been stored.
 One night while IvanoviCh was lying awake he heard a sound without his room. in a large open space, through which ran a massive stairway. Soldiers in an enemy'P country are naturally on the lookout for danger, and, taking his pistol from under his pillow, he got out of bed and walked noiselessly on his bare feet to the door, which was ajar, and peeped out. A surprising sight met hls view.
 Bright moonlight was streaming in through a large window at the head of the staircase and dimly illuminated what at first the captain conceived to be an angel. It was a female figure robbed in white. It was standing as if to listen. The fuce was sufficiently lighted to indicate that 1t was that of a young girl. On second thought IvanO- vich believed that the figure was one of flesh and blood wearing a nightgOwn and walking in sleep.
 The figure presently started on, de- scended the staircase and disappeared in the darkness. IvanOviCh, too honor able to follow. remained where he was,