The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-02-19 00:00:00

SATURDAY, FEB. 19, 1887.

ADRIENNE ;

, OR,
THE SHADOW OF THE PAST.

rALL BIGHTS RESERVED...I

CHAPTER IX.

ON the morning following that night of anguish, when
Eady entered the apartment of her master, she found
him suffering severely both in body and mind. His
voice was feeble, and his manner wild, as he started
up, and said- -
" Who is that? What do you want ? '
"Hi ! it's only me, marster, an' I comes in every
day, I's sure, widout you gittin' so flustered like."
M. Lecoues head sunk back, and, with a shudder,
he said—
"Oh, Fady ! the White Terror came to me again
last night; she was in this room. She shrieked aloud,
and aroused me from my sleep."
The negress listened incredulously.
"It's jes a figiny o' yer own brains. rye bin 'bout
di s house ar all hours o' de night, an' I've never yet
hearn anything dat was uncountable to me. Some-
times I chooses to scare ole Pierre by makin b'lieve
dat l's seen a ghose, but I hasn't never seen one yit,
an' I don' b'lieve dat I eber shall."
"But I tell you I saw her with my own eyes—l
heard her piercing cry. I believe it would have
roused me from a death trance. Oh! it is a fearful,
fearful visitation !"
He covered his eyes, as if by doing so he could
conceal from his mental vision the image that arose
before it; but Eady regarded him with an expression
of contemptuous pity as she occupied herself with
setting the room in order. M. Lecour presently aroused
himself, and asked—
"ls not this the day for the monthly visit of Father
Eustace ? I trust he will not fail to come, for after
this fearful vision I need his presence."
"An' much good'il he do you," muttered Eady; "for
my part, I hope he won't come, cam he milers puts you
up to some new deviltry every time he does come. I
think Satan's nuff to give you council, widout his
help."
A sudden recollection seemed to strike M. Lecour, and
his, sallow face flushed as he said—
In spite of my commands to the contrary, that
girl came to my room last night. lam sure I had a
distinct view of her person, standing just within the
doorway is hen the phantom roused me from my
sleep. Ask her if she, too, did not see it, and when her
account corroborates mine, perhaps you will attach
credit to the actual appearance of this visitation."
At this assertion Eady appeared to become alarmed
she dropped her dusting cloth and trembled all over
as she deprecatingly said—
"Oh, marster, don' make a dream the cause &blame
to a young gal what seems to have no harm in her.
Main'sellebAdrienne were shet Las in her own room,
an' I's sure she neber were here, no mor'n de ghose
"I tell you they vere both here, and I'll get the
truth out of her about it. Go and command her to
come hither at once."
Eady seemed to hesitate as to the propriety of
obedience, and M. Lecour rose with u menacing air.
She instantly hurried from the room, and knocked for
admittance at Adrienne's door. No answer came,
and after a moment's pause she turned the bolt and
entered.
The young stranger was still In bed, and Eady
drew aside the curtain and looked down upon her.
Pale and still she lay, and Eady found it difficult to
arouse her for several moments. Alarmed as she
was, the woman dared not cry out, and bring M. Lecour
to her side, for she did not know what revelation
?eight burst from those pale lips in the first moment
of consciousness.
Eady raised the nerveless hands, and chafed them
in her own, and the electric thrill thus imparted to
the frame of Adrienne seemed gradually to spread
through the stagnant blood, and arouse her to a percep-
tion of what was passing round her. She shivered
unclosed her eyes, and feebly said—
" Thank heaven! it is day again, and dais not near

Eady's eyes grew larger, and a dusky circle
gathered atound her lips as she listened. She
faltered—
" Who is it, chile? Don't say as you've seen any-
thing, too, caze I don't want ter grow wile dis
raornin'!"

Adrienne's senses were now completely aroused, and
she sat up in the bed and peered curiously round the
room. She muttered—
_ "Everything is just as they were last night. Eady,
have sou the key of that cabinet safe in your posses-
sion?"
"Surely, an' here it is," was the triumphant re-
sponse, as she drew forth the key and held it up.
" Nobody can git die; from me, I reckon, either by night
~n. day.".
"Yet that cabinet was certainly opened last night;
• toe dresses and jewels you showed to me yesterday
were assumed by a tall, pale woman, who stood in
front of that mirror, and put them all on in turn. I
• saw her confusedly, as one in a half-dreaming state,
but she was there. When she put on the last dress I
am certain she went into my grandfather's room, and
aroused him by a most unearthly cry."
Eady wrung her hands in anguish as she listened to
this statement, and muttered--
" Oh, Lot'! oh, Lor'l what shall I do? What shall
I do now ?"
Adrienne regarded her with astonishment, and sud-
denly asked—
" What is the matter? Why are you so much
d'stressed?"
"l's bound to be 'stressed, caze you'll 'firm do
marster dat dis house is haunted by a woman in his
bride's dress. Las' nite was de teg'lar time for her to
come to him, and he's bin. goin' on in t'other room
'bout her screechin' at him, an' scarin' out o' him de
little sense he had lef'. Ef you tells de same tale,
dere won't be no livin' in dis place no more for us."'
"So much the better, for it is a dreary old house,
and we should all be better in any other. I shall
certainly tell M. Lecour whEft I have seen, if it will
bring about so desirable a result."
At this announcement the negress appeared over-
whelmed with dis' ress.
She earnestly said—
" We's bean' to stay here, young mistis. Dere's
• not h'n' else left us, an you don' know what you're
doin' when you let on dat you seen de White Terror
las' nite. Was you wide awake when she come, or
was you dreamin'. Think now, an' don' mix up
,
things."
"It may have been only a dream, Eady, though it
,
seemed very like reality. I have less confidence in
my own judgment,.as I have been a victim to som-
nambulism for several years, and strange fancies have
at times possessed me."
" Dat's it, honey. I don' no what dat long word
means. but I spose it's somethin' what makes
YOU think you's seen what you hasn't really seen."
. "But if M. Lecour saw it too, there must be some
reality in the appearance."
"Oh, chile, Tie carn't be trusted; he's mad as he can
,
be, an' ef you 'grees dat you saw de White Terror
las' nits, I won't answer for the consequins. You
musn't 'low dat you saw it, nohow."
The intense solicitude of the negress suggested a
new idea to Adrienne, and she regarded her steadily
as she said—
.
"You hive a secret which it is important to you
, that you conceal from the old man in the opposite
room. You may impose on him, because he is super-
stitious ; but it is hopeless for you to succeed in any
such attempt with me. Convince me of the necessity
of this concealment, and I will promise not to
betray to him what I now believe I actually saw last
night."
These words seemed to reduce Eady to the extremity
of terror. She bent forward with clasped hands, and
hoarsely 'whispered—
"lt is a life resk et youspeaks de whole trufe. A
,
lire resk, young mistis; caze he'll no more .mind
' killin' us all, den he'd mind wringin' de necks off so
many chickens of day was in his way. I dlrsn't tell
you de horrid trufe 'bout dis ole house; but. it's a
cursed place for de evil deeds dat has happened in its
. walls. You'd better ha' died afore yet put yer foot
inter it, ef ver gwine to back de marster in his frenzies,
for Bich evil'll come of it, dat you'll wish you had
never bin born to bring it about. I 'plores you,
young mistis, to 'fuse all mention o' de strange
as as you hopes for de
dream you had las' 11.—, . iii (10 .
blessin' o' God in dis iffe, and happiness in (te one to
come."
As she concluded, Eady threw herself into an at-
titude of supplicstion before the excited girl; and
alarm d by her words, as well as moved by her en-
treaties, Adrienne said—
"If such dire consequences are to ensue, I cannot
persist in asserting the reality of the scene I beheld
F" last night. I will not speak of what I saw to M.
Lecour; yet, if he questions me, how am I to evade
him without uttering a falsehood?"
"Oh, you has only to do as/does. Treat de whole
story as ef 'twas a strange notion o' his own, what has
no foundation in reality. Ef you doesn't, wuss
things den you think on 'ii be sure to happen."
Deeply impressed by the manner of the old woman,
Adrieene finally assented to this proposal; but it was
,
with a deepening conviction of the reality of the
scene the had witnessed on the previous night, and
with the resolute determination to fathom the mystery
of the White Terror that thus haunted her grand-
father.
' She dismissed Eady with such assurances as calmed
her fears for the present, and then arose to make her
toilet for the day. The long, shining hair was un-
rolled, and caret ally brushed, before being folded
around her gracefully-moulded head, which it crowned
like a coronal of burnished gold. it formed her only
. adornment, save her quiet, girlish beauty, for the loose
black robe she habitually wore differed but little from
- the uobeccening dress of the sisterhood among whom
, she hal been reared.
,
r By the time she was dressed Eady came in with her
bre issfast, and exhorted her to be calm and firm when
. M. Lecour questioned her concerning the incidents of
' the previous night. Adrienne had scarcely time to
- Swallow her cup of coffee and a few morsels of biscuit
•.. 4 when the voice of M. Lecour was heard, in a towering
• passion, calling out from his door—
" Girl, am I to wait all day while you put on your
Frags? cows to me, I command you, without further
delay."
Adrienne-grew very pale. She said—

• I must go to him, or he may come in here."
"No fear o' dat, chile,; you're safe nuff here from
any 'trusion from him. De air o' dis here 'partmen'
don't 'gree wi' his health."
"Why not? You always seem to speak in riddles,
Eady."
She mysteriously replied—
" Dis were de madame's room, an' dere is good
reasons why he won't come in it, ef he can help it;
but I darsn't tell 'em. Dare! jes hear dat ole sinner,
how he's ranpin' and ragin' up an' down his room.
You'd better go, but don't let him run over you; ef
you does, you won't be able to stay in die house
another day, I can tell you."
Thus warned, with extreme trepidation Adrienne
unclosed the door, and proceeded toward the opposite
tower. The cadaverous face of M. Lecour glared on
her as she stood in the doorway, and he scanned her
from head to foot before he said

So-o, you've come at last! One would have
thought, from the time you have taken, that all the
fooleries of a Parisian toilet were to be assumed
before you could make your appearance; after all,
you come before me clad like a crow, with a red top-
knot newly dressed. Girl, that hair never belonged to
me or mine, and it displeases me to Bee its colour on
your head:'
"Yet it is Nature's bounteous covering, non pere,
and I am not accountable for its peculiar shade," was
the reply, uttered with an apparent disregard of his
wrathful mood which surprised him. He drew near
to her, peered into the deep crystalline orbs, which
seemed as wells of tenderness and truth, and then
savagely said—
"l really don't believe you are the least afraid of
me."

Though internally trembling, Adrienne remembered
the words of Eady, and calmly replied—
" Why should I fear you, moo perc ? You are my
nearest relation, my only dependence in this strange
land. I came to you voluntarily, and I canna realise
that it is your wish to inspire your daughter's child
with fear."
"Aye, but I do, though," he hissed, through his
half ciosed teeth, "with deadly, paralysing fear, or
you will soon be playing me some jade's trick which
will make me repent having given you shelter beneath
my roof."
" When that hour arrives, monsieur, I will volun-
tarily take my departure. I can provide for myself,
when I find that 1 can no longer remain here in peace
and honour."

"Hum, a nice provision it would be, if things were
to come to that pass. But we won't discuss that ques-
tion now; I have something of more importance to
inquire about. I wish you to state to me concisely
and truly what you saw and heard last night that was
unusual. Eady has doubtless told you of the—the
singular visitaton I have received."
"I had a strange dream, monsieur; but I am not
certain that I saw anything which cannot be accounted
for on rational grounds."
" Phoo ! nonsense! speak to the point, and tell me
what you actually saw."
. In my dream, mon pere 7"
"No," he thundered. "Tell me what you saw
with your natural eyes, for I saw you standing in the
doorway while that—that thing was here ringing its
eldrick screeches in my ears. Speak the truth, upon
your soul; did you not see a woman, clad in bridal
garments, come into this room last night? Did you
not follow her, and witness what took place in my
apartment?"
Adrienne assumed a bewildered expression as she
slowly said—
"That aparition was no portion of the dream to
which I have referred. If you desire to hear that, I
will relate it to ypu."
"Girl, you evade me! You do not give me a
straightforward answer as I require. You are in
league with this wretched old blackamoor to deceive
me:'

"It would be vlry singular, mots 'lire, if I should
cross the ocean to live with you, and join with your
servant in a conspiracy against you in less than twenty-
four hours after my arrival beneath your roof. If I
did not behold tho phantom bride, how shall I ac-
knowledge it at your request ?"

He gazed searchingly and sternly upon her, as he
slowly replied—
" You are all alike, from the queen upon her throne
to the black cook in the kitchen—all full of deceit,
and treachery, and guile. You stood in that doorway
last night; I am sure of it; yet you wish to convince
me that you saw nothing of the pale bride."
"Monsieur, you are already aware that I am a
somnambulist. My body is often found in places
of which my dormant senses take no cognisance.
That may, perhaps, account for my presence last
night in a place I had the strongest reasons to avoid.
If my mind had been in a condition to judge of the
consequences likely to ensue, do you not think that
your commands and Eady's warnings would have pre-
vented me from intruding here ?"
"And you really did not see it?" exclaimed M.
Lecour, in a sort of despair. "Am I indeed, the only
wretch about this house to whom this apparition is
visible? Can the voice which rings so shrilly in my
ears be but a creation of my own phantasy ?"
He traversed the floor in an agony ot anger and
fear. Adrienne would have left the room, but he
motioned to her to remain, and she sat down near one
of the windows.

At length, wearied with the rapidity of his own
motions, and the feverish anguish that preyed upon
his spirit, M. Lecour threw himself upon his sofa, and
covered his face with his folded arms. The interval
of silence which followed lasted so long that it became
oppressive to Adrienne, and she would gladly have
escaped from the apartment, had she dared to leave it
withowl his p• rmission. At length he seemed to re-
member her presence, and, looking up, he harshly
said— _

"Since you are here, you may as well make your-
self of some use. My eyes are not PO strong as they
were, and you may read aloud to me."
" With pleasure, mom ptre ; what shall I select ?"
and Adrienne arose with alacrity, and approached the
bookcase.

A wild laugh burst from M. Lecour, and he taunt-
ingly replied—
You can find nothing to read to me which would
not shock the pious abbess to see in your hands. The
worst infidel writers are on those shelves. You will
find Voltaire, Payne, and Volney ; day by day shall
y,.0 come to me, till you have imbued your soul
with their sparkling sophistry, and learned that there
are two sides to every question:"
Adrienne seemed so much shocked that M. Lecour
Laughed with scornful glee as he pointed to her
book—

"To work—to work, child. Ido not argue with
such fledgings as you. When you have read all my
books on this subject, we may return to it again.
Then, your impressions may be radically changed."

In a discussion of this kind, Adrienne felt her in-
ability to cope with him, and she preferred waiving
it To touch his heart, revive his deadened sensi-
bilities to the good and true, was her only aim; and
she felt that it would be defeated at the outset by
embarking with him in profitless theological dis-
cuss!ons. Sho would begin by reading to him
such boobs as lie recommended, but she would
gradually induce him to listen to something higher
and more ennobling than the most brilliant products
of the scoffer's pen.
She had, however, scarcely commenced her task,
when M. Lecour abruptly said—
" Put by the book, and talk to me. lam curious to
discover what inspired you with such repugnance to
the life of a religieuse. Until your last letter carnet°
me, the Superior led me to suppose that you willingly
accepted the destiny I had awarded you.'
A faint cobur flushed over the transparent cheek
of the young girl, and, after a painful pause she
replied—
Certain things occurred which rendered it im-
possible to remain without the loss of all self-
ri spect."
"So you preferred risking the loss of your bread
and butter to the sacrifice of such a myth as that!
Self-respect! stuff! As if any one has such a senti-
ment for the miserable mass of selfishness and folly of
which human nature is composed." • .
M. Lecour laughed more discordantly than ever.

"Take a book:" he said, 'and read to me what you
choose. I shall soon sleep, for the sound of your
voice has a lulling effect upon my nerves."
Literally obeying his command to read what she
liked, Adrienne laid aside the volume of Voltaire, and
drew from her pocket a small Bible. She read from
the psa,ms, and after a quick convulsive movement,
and a bitter smile, his features collapsed into their
usual pallid fixedness, and he seemed to listen with
quiet indifference to the words that flowed from her
lips. In a few moments he slept, for the excitement
of the previous night had quite exhausted him.
Adrienne closed her book with a brief prayer for
strength and guidance in the difficult position in
which she had found herself placed, and assuring
herself that the slumber of the old man was not
feigned, she arose, and softly glided from the apart-
ment. As she passed the easel with its concealed
picture, the temptation assailed her to lift the drapery
and look upon the work so jealously guarded from in-
spection.
an struggled
dt
to spirit
eShe i put forth
manfor th
showedher band,
her t
that
thai s glance r e towards
were
the
dis-
turbed, and his lips moving,
as
if
ftidie
was cognisant of her wilful act, a
her forbear. She drew back in affright, and hurried'y
passed out.
(To be continued.) stdruoramg

HEAD OF THE ESTABLISHISIENT.—‘ bavid, you an a
fool!' David: 'Well, sir, I can't help it. When you
engaged me you teld me to imitate you, and I've done
the best I could.'
A SCOTCII lad, accused of stealing some articles from
a doctor's shop, was asked by the judge why he was
guilty of such a contemptible act. • Weel, ye see,"
replied the boy, 'I had a bit pain in my side, and my
mither tauld me tae gang tae the doctor's and tak'
something.' 'Oh, yes,' said the judge. 'But surely
she didn't tell you to go and take an eight-day clock ?'
'Well, judge, you see, there's an auld proverb that
says " Time an' the doctor cure a' diseases," and sae I
thocht—' But the rem&inder of the reply was lost in
the laughter of the audience.

A SHOEMAKER with one eye complained the other
evening that one of his lamps did not burn. One of
his shopnaates, who is a genuine son of the Emerald
Isle, exclaimed, with astonishment, Faith, and.
what do ye want with two lamps; ye haven't but one
eye.