Year: 1874

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brought up, to spend some months with
a relative of his deceased mother in the
city of c.. The time of his absence
appeared very long to Mr.. Bannister.
He had never before been separated
from the youth, who was, in fact, the
sole remaining tie that bound him to
existence. He was looking forward
with delight to the moment in which he
should welcome him to home that he
secretly determined he would not again
consent to his quitting, when he re-
ceived letter from his relation, Mrs.
Martin, informing him that John was
dangerously i'll, and entreating him to
lose no time in coming to them. 1t was
evident from the tone in which the
letter was written that the writer's fears
were even greater than she ventured to
express.


Poor Mr.. Bannister, therefore, anti
cipated the worst. He thought that
death was about to rob him of the only
stay of his declining years, and he set
out for Mrs. Martins house in a state
of mind bordering on despair.


''Is he alive ?" was his first question
on alighting at the door.


| hhhC yes, Jul


"Show me to his presence" said Mr..
Bannister in husky voice.


"That must not be-" replied Mrs.
Martin she is so weak that the least
surprise would perhaps kill him."


He shall not be surprised" rejoined
Mr.. Bannister. 81 will not speak, nor
even stir, only allow me to see my
nephew"


Mrs. Martin led him in silence to the
chamber where John Burney was lying.
All what a sight met his eye. The
youth whom he had seen so recently in
the highest glow of health and manly
beauty, was extended on his bed in a
death-like slumber, that seemed the
precursor Of his dissolution. 1t was
only the eye of affection that could
trace in his sunken and CHASTITY fea-
lures, the resemblance to what he had
so recently been.


All the uncle's self-command was
scarcely adequate to repress the anguish
of his soul. He hastened from the
room, Mrs. Martin following him. She
informed him that about a fortnight
before, the spirits and appetite of John
Burney began to fail him, but he made
no complaint. She wished to summon
a physician, but he resolutely declined,
saying that nothing allied him, and that
he would soon be himself again. His
illness, however, increased rapidly, and
she called in a physician, who declared
there was very little hope of saving his
patients life.


The sentence of his own death would
have been comparatively welcome to
poor Mr.. Bannister.


Goods will be done," said he, but
added with quivering lip, "and if it
be His will, may soon follow my poor
boy"


The physician at this moment arrived
and charged the uncle that he must not
venture to make himself known to his
nephew, at least for some hours. 1t
was then late at night, and Mr.. Ban
mister, exhausted by his long journey,
which he had pursued without inter
mission, yielded to Mrs. Martins press
ing request to retire for few hours to
bed. The nurse who attended John
was an old and faithful servant, upon
whom Mrs. Martin could entirely rely.
That lady herself also slept in small
chamber and adjoining that of the
young man, and visited his apartment
generally two or three times during the
night.


Tomorrow" said she to Mr.. Ban
hester, 81 viii give up my room to you.
You will then have an opportunity of
seeing him from hour to hour but for
tonight you must seek little sound
repose."


Mr.. Bannister felt that sleep was i'm
possible, but he was toe much exhausted
to argue the point, so he retired to the
chamber prepared for him. 1t was
large, old-fashioned apartment, its i'm
mense size and antique furniture gave
it altogether a gloomy air, which added
to the deep depression of his spirits.
He tried for long time in vain to
sleep and he had Just begun to close
his eyes, when a slight noise startled
him. He rose up in his bed, and be-
held figure dressed in white, and COW
cred with long veil, close to his bed
post. Surprise, perhaps terror, chained
saw it distinctly reach the extremity of
his room, and then vanish. Springing
from his bed, and seizing a light, he
ran to the spot at which it had disap-
peared, in expectation of finding door.
There was none. He then turned to
that of his char,ber 1t remained
locked. Unwilling still to give credit
to the belief that he had seen a super
natural visitor, he carefully searched
every part of the room but in vain.
No trace of the figure could be found,
and he was driven to believe that either
his imagination had deceived him, or
that he had really beheld spectre.
"Was it a ghost?" he asked himself.
'Pshaw impossible. Besides, for
what purpose could it Gomez"


He paused, for his conscience ac-
Quilted him of crime, save the common
frailties of humanity, and more COM
posed, he threw himself upon his bed,
and tried in vain to sleep.


After some time he arose and, dress
ing himself, proceeded to the apartment
of his nephew. He found the old nurse
in tears.


can is over" said she to him softly.


"Oh, heaven I" exclaimed Mr.. Ban
mister. SIS he then dead 2"


'sNo, he still lives" replied the
nurse, "but his last moments are fast
drawing on.


Mr.. Bannister fell upon his knees by
the side of the bed. He scarcely dared
look upon his nephew's face. And when
he did so, what was his astonishment
and Joy to find him in tranquil sleep.


"Wretch !" he cried to the nurse,
"why would you crush the little hope
that still remains in mel"


"Hope," exclaimed the nurse, 'fhere
is none. He has received his last
warning, and poor soul, he knows it.
too, for L distinctly heard him say, Il
come ?"


At this moment Mrs. Martin entered
the room, and her interrogations drew
from the old woman an account OF her
having seen female, robed in white,
bending over the invalid. Whether
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