" Great Anniversary Spell.

Charles also assisted her , and it was finally arranged that he should devotedly study the complications of that noble instrument the organ . He also read all her books , went ardently through all her plans , ancl entered full y into the spirit of the absurd work . Being deprived of his mother , to ivhom he had been A'ery much attached , he , not unnaturally , longed for her , and , having been brought up in ignorance of the world and its waysancl fed by superstitionhe embraced it

, , as a welcome friend . Had he imparted his thoughts to another friend it mi ght have been different , but he kept secrecy . The next anniversary passed by without the accustomed trial being made , as Charles had been at first unable to obtain the post of organist , but soon afterwards was installed into that office for the little church . It was never suspected that any harm might accrue from it , but for the next three years Miss Moon and her nephew might have been observed at

midnight on the last day in each December wending their way to the Gothic edifice . There Charles played the organ , ancl his aunt sat shivering in her old place , but always with the same result—they came back disappointed . Another year had now arrived at its close , and Charles was about to set out alone on his labour of love . His aunt was unable to accompany him , her last visit having given her rheumatic fever , from the effects of which she never

perfectly recovered . Charles ' s only objection to her plans had hitherto been on the score of arithmetic ; he saw the possibility of a " spiritual interview , " but complained of the disastrous chances . How great were the odds that he should strike the right chord on the right tier of pipes at the ri ght moment ! True , he had varied the stops as they are ordinaril y clone , but they' Avere capable of almost infinite changes , and then the external circumstances of

sound alone were so numerous that he almost sank into despair at the prospect . Still he carried on his resolution , though ivith less ancl less confidence , impelled by the love he bore his mother ; but contact with the world Avas by degrees rubbing off the film of superstition that enveloped him , and his aunt reproachfully taunted him ivith scepticism . Still he did not reveal to her all his thoughts , for fear of hurting her feelings ; but on this ni ght he mentally resolved that this visit to the church should be his last .

These were his thoughts as he sat staring at the fire , now at a white heat . There he was busy building castles , and thinking more of Lucy than of his mother , and the faces in the coals seemed now to resemble one , then the other . His aunt saw a face there , too , but it was the melanchol y face of her sister , horribly distorted , and struggling to reveal some ghastly mystery . Very few words were spoken that ni ght until the time came for Charles to go , when the old lad

y loaded him with instructions , and bid him be careful , parting from him with a regretful kiss . Charles ' s step was not so light as usual , ancl he mechanically reached the little church , of which he had the key . He was not afraid , but he felt a sense of utter loneliness he had not before experienced . Suppose his mother should appear ! He almost hoped she would not , and began to feel a tremor at his heart the

as key rattled in the door , and vague doubts arose to his mind . His steps echoed loudly in the church , which seemed listening to his thoim-hts . Iu his abstraction he left the door unlocked ; on his way he stumbled over something , which sent a cold shiver all over him , and he found it was a Bible that had fallen from one of the pews . He had to pass the place where the wraith was expected to appear , ancl a cold clammy feeling crept over him . at last reached the and

He organ opened its rust y hinges . The bellows could be filled by pedals , and , having a quarter of an hour to wait , he set his watch before him and began to play a chant , Avhich rolled harmoniousl y through the building . This gave him courage , aud he felt prepared for any trial . His thoughts seemed to go out with the music , and fill the little church with their immensity . _ He was beginning to scout the idea of ghosts and look upon his idle

journey as , when he fancied he saw a white figure behind one of the pillars , but it immediately disappeared . His fears were again aroused , and he