The Argosy — page 399: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

An Unsolved Mystery. 385 doctor who had just taken out his diploma. He had passed a brilliant examination, and before again resuming work, had come to spend a few weeks in Dublin, for the purpose of resting his overtasked brain. It was agreed that he should not be told anything about the mysterious old woman. On Christmas Day a number of friends were expected to dine. There was also to be an evening party ; therefore, in order to save trouble, Mrs. Comyers had had the dining-table arranged early in the afternoon, and then locked the door. She was very proud of her daintily-arranged table: she had tastefully disposed the quaint-coloured and gilt Venetian glass, and the rare old china belonging to the house. Groups of shepherds and shepherdesses holding cornucopie filled with glistening holly, interspersed with its own bright red berries and the snowy white ones of those of the mistletoe, were placed at intervals along the table. About five in the afternoon, as Colonel Comyers and his nephew were sauntering home round the square, a sudden and heavy shower came on. They walked fast, but by the time they arrived at the hall- door they were thoroughly drenched. Colonel Comyers immediately went into his dressing-room on the first landing, inviting his nephew to follow; but that free-and-easy young gentleman preferred taking off his wet boots in the hall. ‘‘ Here, Bridget !—Mary !—Whoever you are, take these boots, like a good girl,” said he, addressing a woman standing in the shade at the top of the kitchen-stairs. An aged woman, habited in an old-fashioned black gown, with a white handkerchief pinned across her bosom, approached him. He threw the boots to her, and, to his horror, they went through her! and then the figure vanished! Val, being a doctor, his practical thought was, “By Jove! my head must be in a precious queer state! a bad look- out for me, and Christmas fare in prospective. I had better say nothing, however, or these good folk may think I am completely off my head.” He walked slowly up the stairs, and on the first landing again was the figure. It preceded him step by step, but Val did not feel frightened ; as before, ascribing the vision to purely physical causes acting upon a brain which he felt was overtasked. Although a medical man, it did not occur to him to apply the unfailing test of pressing one eye so as to throw it out of the parallel focus with the other. If the object be the result of hallucination, it is seen still and simply ; if actual vision, it is seen double. The figure entered the drawing-room. Val me- chanically followed it ; and there, what a scene met his eye ! On the polished oaken floor near the fireplace lay the body of a young and beautiful foreign-looking woman richly dressed. There were wounds about her neck half-concealed by her long raven-black hair. A tall, dark-complexioned man stood near, holding a long, thin VOL. XIX, BB CORnniclooolkks (CO) inn