The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-09-25
Frank Sinclair

g. Il am here said voice from beneath;
so close il seemed that every one started
in terror. Not guest was present to
whom that voice was not familiar. =
/ 1t was Frank Sinclair'~; he who lay
buried in the depths of the sea.
The Misses Popplewood tainted.
The strong minded women threw their
arms around Mark Silvertree, imploring
his protection; while Mr.. Bounce fairly
took TO his heels, fled to his own room,
and locked himself in. Lights were
extinguished, chairs and tables over.
turned, and the whole scene changed
into one of confusion.
Nor was it much better, when, after
a time, the guests came trembling back,
pale and terrified group, to gather
around the fire. There were suppressed
voices, fur!ive glances into corners, and
shudderings whenever the eye rested
on that dark, ominous table in the
background. There were wonderings
and surmisings, and dread of bedtime
aud solitary chambers. ff
But bedtime came, and there were
whisperings in the long passages, and
a hurried disrobing, and a burning of
wax tapers as long as they would last,
and burying of faces in the pillows,
and beating of fearful hearts, for the
voice was Franks and Franks vessel
had gone down at sea, and all OH board
perished! .a--a
.lai.i CHAPTER H.
There was a snug little chamber at
the end of one of the long passages,
with the freight flashing on set of
jewels that lay on the dressing table,
and showing robe as soft as gossamer,
with flowers budding round the skirt,
and wreath of orange blossoms, and
a bridal veil, aud a pair of satin shoes,
sat ready for the little feet to pc slipped
into. r
1t must be Lucy's chamber, and we
hear even now her light tread upon the
staircase and along the passage. Here
she comes, pale and agitated, but all
the lovlier for it. She sits down and
cries bitterly. That is very natural,
considering how her dead lover has
been brought to her remembrance.
Mark Silvertrce might have done some
better deed than that, the night before
the wedding. at4.
1t was trick, there Is no question,
for Mark has wit and mischief enough
for any thing; yet Lucy must be very
fickle-we told you so from the begin
ming. See, she dries her tears, and
women like, begins to look about upon
her finery: She puts on her jewels,
and her robe of g"sSamer, and the veil,
and the bridal wreath, and stands look
ing at herself i'm the mirror then she
smiled, and rosy blush suffnses her
check-she is evidently satisfied with
her appearance and with her destiny.
Aud as for Frank, poor fellow his
memory belongs to the by-gone part of
her history. In fact, the less she thinks
of him the better.
Aud yet, when she has composed
herself to rest, her fair hair lying dis
ordered on her pillow, and her cheek
resting on her hand, we hear whisper,
low and murmuring, and yet spoken, as
from the fnllness of her heart. 1t is
only the whisper of name, and then
she falls asleep, as serenely as an infant,
We are not bound to reveal the secret.
but we heard the name distinctly, and
it was not that of Archibald Sinclair.
There is no end to wOmen's caprice
and vacillaiiOn.
Some little distance from this cham
Der, with its robe Of gossaner, and lis
wreath of orange flowers, is another
and very different apartment, with som
Der hangings and massive furniture.
An old fashioned mirror stands upon
the table, and into it is peering q bag
gard, withered face, full Of doubt and
fear, aud disquict. 1t is Mr.. Archibald
Sinclair who has gone to rest. f.)
No one had heard him utter an ex-
clama,ion of fear, or express any opln-
ion of the mysterious voice, save that
liz was a trick cleverly preformed, and
originaled in the fertile brain of Mark
Silvertree. He had rallied his discom
fited gntsts, aud brought them back
from their hiding places. He had
taken pains to efface the disageeable
impression made upon them. lie had
spoken of Frank as his deeply regret,
ted nephew, and reproved Mark for
playing on his ieelIngs-a reproof
Mark bore with great equnimity, and,
strange as it may seem, made no at
tempt at apology.
lie had tried to comfort Lucy, " ho