FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134  
135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   >>   >|  
her mistress to the bed, where she commenced chafing her temples and pouring reviving cordials down her throat. At length the frightened lady opened her eyes and stared wildly around. "Secure that casement," said she, pointing to the still open window; "and shut all the doors and lock them." "You will stifle without a breath of fresh air this oppressive night," grumbled Hannah, as she proceeded to execute the orders of her mistress. "Better I should stifle," answered the excited and still trembling lady, "than ever behold again the monster I have seen to-night." "Heavens! what do you mean?" exclaimed the attendant, appearing to experience the greatest emotion. "I have seen _him_, Hannah Doliver," said the invalid, shuddering as she spoke. "Who?" asked the hypocritical woman, breathlessly. "The destroyer of my happiness and your good fame," answered the lady. "Impossible!" said Hannah, glaring on the excited features of the prostrate form before her. "I tell you I have seen him!" returned the invalid, shaking like an aspen on her couch. "I cannot be mistaken. 'Twas his face; the high, colorless brow, surrounded by thick, short auburn curls. He stood at that casement, and gazed fiercely on me from his large, dark eyes." "Pshaw!" said Hannah, "'twas but a hideous dream, or a sudden attack of apoplexy. The man you fancy you have seen to-night, has not been heard of these fifteen years, and is probably in his grave." "Then it was his ghost that I saw," said the lady. "May be it was," returned Hannah, smiling strangely; "though I don't know why it should have honored you with a visit. I am glad I was not deemed worthy his ghostship's regards." The affrighted lady after a while grew calmer, and Hannah retired to her own apartment, which joined that of her mistress. In a few days, a letter was despatched to Major Howard by the invalid, informing him of the strange appearance which had alarmed her, and urging his immediate return. The letter never reached its destination. CHAPTER XXXI. "Ask why the holy starlight, or the blush Of summer blossoms, or the balm that floats From yonder lily like an angel's breath, Is lavished on such men! God gives them all For some high end; and thus the seeming waste Of her rich soul--its starlight purity, Its every feeling delicate as a flower,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134  
135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Hannah
 

mistress

 

invalid

 

stifle

 

starlight

 
breath
 
excited
 

letter

 
answered
 

returned


casement

 

ghostship

 
affrighted
 

worthy

 
calmer
 

deemed

 
fifteen
 
retired
 

apoplexy

 

strangely


smiling

 

honored

 

alarmed

 

lavished

 

floats

 

yonder

 

feeling

 

delicate

 

flower

 

purity


blossoms

 
informing
 

Howard

 

strange

 

appearance

 
despatched
 

joined

 
apartment
 

attack

 
urging

summer
 

CHAPTER

 
destination
 
return
 

reached

 

surrounded

 
execute
 

proceeded

 
orders
 

Better