Show A illOS rS I 1 had always been something of a ial and when the fancy took me lo 10 rent for alio summer nil alil mansion bv the sen owner was abroad bcd to occupy it alone with alic 0 ot two servants it was just alko me anil expressed no hiir prise it was june when I 1 took up my by the sen and I 1 spent nearly ill that month ill becoming acquainted quain ted with the bouso and its history and in exploring the surrounding country in july alio heat was extreme and I 1 passed my days lying in some sheltered nook on the could hear alio llio lazy of tho waves and with half shut eyes rive myself up to tho evenings and indeed tho nights if varv warm I 1 spent in a hammock on the ong piazza choro alio llio moonlight filtered through abo vines and fell upon iny face as I 1 swung gently lo 10 and fro or lay asleep one day a storm arose that lasted far into thu night after a struggling sally to the beacha camo back with a broken umbrella and drenched clothes and having no maud to battle further with powers so evidently superior 1 dressed in dry clothes and gave myself up to meditation and reading by a bright ahro of driftwood tho day wore on and night fell so eliat I 1 could longer see from tho parlor windows the white caps as they cosed like signals of distress far out at sea I 1 could still however hear the of tho wind as it flung it kelt around the corners of the lionso and tho brocking crocking croc king of the old trees as their stin aged limbs tried to bond before it these sounds witti the occasional dash of rain upon alio panes of tho sido windows pave a feeling of additional comfort to my safe and comfortable retreat the leaping names in tho fireplace shone on tho polished andirons and irons and lighted spectral anres in ho dark wainscoting the in their brass sconce s remained unlimited and only the fitful ablao of tho driftwood mo the tall straight backed chairs and mahogany table and cabinet ou the walls hung two or portraits knoof abo young owner of the couo alio now in europe on liis wedding journey I 1 biad often examined the face ami thought it liand sonio tonight to night in tho dim light I 1 seemed to sec traits hat were hidden by day the lips looked self indulgent the eyes Jau guid the whole face appeared that of one who could not bear ain who shrank weakly from suo cr edg of any kind I 1 foil into a train of thought so absorbing eliat I 1 sat for hours motionless in my armchair arm chair only aroused by tho old clock in the hallway which struck twelve I 1 arose willi a start and went to the window alio rain anil wind continued though in a somewhat subdued fashion ho of a child after a burst of tears As 1 stood there a feeling camo over me that caused mo to look back over my shoulder a it I 1 expected u bee some one me I 1 did some one the chair I 1 biad jait left pushing it back as I 1 did so was drawn up to tho tire and in idsal a woman wondering if by any possibility this could bo an insane person confined in the house and waited on by steal th I 1 stood still looking at her and waiting to what she would do her arcs was apparently of some iliin white material and without dec bcd lines of any kind seeming dimply to cm clop her person and then to como vague way like the cigua of a cloud iii r face I 1 could sec it in only waa pale painfully pale and her dark hair looked as if it were heavily gray afterward when I 1 came to look at it more I 1 saw it was covered with the camu thin mist that dulled the lines of her gown I 1 could scarcely see her ryes fur alic was looking straight at the fire but I 1 kucia froni the of her mouzli that they must show the dejection alio put out her thiu hands to the fire with a slow shiver it is so cold so colda on her left hand 1 noticed gleamed a heavy w adding ring almost too much of a weight for tho fragile finger to bear coming to tho conclusion eliat whoever sho might bc eha was certainly tor hospitality on such a night I 1 her slowly aud quietly not to startle her and said you have not been out in the torna madam she did not start though she showed by her look that alic had not known of my 0 o no have not been in alio storm she said but it would not have hurt me if I 1 had mad as thought I 1 as I 1 leaned against the high manaol shelf and looked down at her she continued to gaze into the firo for awhile then aid simply by way of explanation not apology 1 I always come at twelve because then even one is asleep and the bouso is I 1 suppose the storm kept vou awake asaho spoke she raised her eyes and looked directly into my face which she had not done before large dark were but cien the firelight ans reflected in them dimly there teemed to bo a chellin he atmo phero about her as about one who comes in from wintry abc frost in his clothes 1 I cs ildas abo storm 1 replied but jhc teemed already to haru for gotto nhat abe had asked me and was caia deep inhar ni using c as I 1 was about to make question she said codly it you are not going will you not have chaira ono ires so soon egand 1 aug you will find iho old chair by tho cabinet anything can bo comfortable sho added drearily 1 had no thought of going to leavin gIho bouse and ita inmates to abo ca prices of a mad I 1 involuntarily to the corner sho had indicated an old stood tharo which to my recollection bad not been out of ita place since I 1 birst rented the house she had not turned her head as she spoke to look for it but referred to its portion with perfect AS if elio herself might havo placed it there I 1 brought it nearer 0 o and sat down linding it ai sho had said very comfortable As soon as I 1 M n scaled she began in A low monotone anil with many pausa to talk but not dioro to me apparently alian to herself and for her own relict the quality of dreariness in her boico that I 1 had already noticed did not prevent its having R sort of minor which was far froni disagreeable 1 I licup feeling thit this is my house it was once not quite two years ago before I 1 dlud 1 gave a start which lio must liast noticed for diio repeated yes befoul I 1 died I 1 im a ghost DOM tha frighten you do nol let it 1 navor harm any one 1 niu only unhappy she lifted her hand and though it was held between me and the ire eisaw nofio of alio llio rosy color which firelight makes as it shine shinei i through translucent human hush and blood aho twisted alio wedding ring slowly round and round that bho did wa done slowly and lifelessly and said i sometimes I 1 wish to tako my ring 00 it reminds mo so but I 1 died with it on and I 1 must wear it while she had been speaking I 1 had called to mind the fact that the owner of the lionso was in reality on his second wadding having lost his first difo within six mouths atter their marriage wife having como to thin conclusion starling with the that ghosts exist I 1 was ready to understand when sho said ho is varv handsome do you not think bo I 1 glanced at alic portrait on the wall toward the original of which I 1 began sentiment of dislike but I 1 said cry handsome to satisfy her ho biad dark gray sho went on of all eyes in the world tho dark gray can say tho ho was very lonely when I 1 died he traveled everywhere I 1 way lonely too I 1 wanted to him anil I 1 used to come back sometime he never saw me but when I 1 was near him ho could not help think ing of me one day I 1 found him in ida room in n little hunting hotel in switzerland when I 1 went into iho room lie was reading but boon he began to feel my he threw down hia book crying shall I 1 never be ablo to forgot and left iho room he wished then to forget me I 1 had never thought ol 01 that I 1 had been happy before in n quiet way at the times alien I 1 was allowed to go to liidi but that waa all over I 1 never followed him again after that it seemed as if I 1 should die of my loneliness and longing to sec him 1 looked up quickly as she spoke last sentence a strange one for a person dead to utter but lie had not noticed and went on sinco I 1 could not be where ho was I 1 camo to alic house where wo had been so happy together I 1 wandered through tho room at night and looked out of alic windows where wo had stood fo and watched the sea but I 1 never distin bcd anything 1 did not want the servants to know that I 1 came I 1 thought I 1 had crad all there was to er when we that is always some new trouble on tho way to us one night I 1 found an open letter on the table it was in his hand and I 1 kissed it then 1 read it it was to alio housekeeper directing her tc rent the lioi iso ho was to bo and to travel again there was r long silence my heart roso in pity for the poor young alio had believed in aws of eternal lovo and remembrance and it grew harder toward the original of tho portrait I 1 could say nothing of my w n but the words of scripture fell involuntarily from my lips liko tho hamem branco of 1 guest that carrieth tar rieth but 0 day sho paid no hoed to this jobs comforting but her clain upon her hand and with her eyes still fixed alio lire which ans now indeed nothing but ember went on 1 I blomo him ho was lonely and that was alio only way to help it but thoy will come back and I 1 cannot bear it and so I 1 bleill bo driven cronl hero I 1 bondt it she looks as I 1 n sed to if she did over so little and I 1 could know that that was what drew him how it would comfort me 1 I leavo met i since I 1 died wives alint lived with luicir husbands nearly n lifetime and yet within a year choir were holud almy tell me that it is to be expected and that I 1 shall grow used to it it can not last forever I 1 know but oh I 1 want to him aal aol I 1 bent my head to hide the tears gathered as tho monotonous voice ended in this plaintive cry han I 1 raised my eyes I 1 sat alone the armchair arm chair was empty and there waa nothing to remind me of my guest except a chill in tho air as if tho wind and swept through tho room I 1 sat still thinking thinking until I 1 fell asleep in the gray of tho morning I 1 awoke was it a dream I 1 myself but tho two chairs stood thoro together to convince con vinco TOO that it wa not man IF hummer in current |