, 1865-03-17


denly a shadow fell hcross the moonlight upon
the floor. l glanced around and carghta glance
sf Edith gliding froh the room. Her face was
deadly pale, and her eyes had strange wild
glitter. I endeayoied to reason myself into the
belief that it was the effect of my imagina-
ton, and in my new found happiness theremem-
brance soon faded from my mind. But when it
was too late, the circumstance returned with
startling distinct
Oh, the gloriously Aappy days that followed
How bright dream to have so terrible an
awakeningl But why should | dwell upon this
blissful period2 It only renders the gloom of
the present deeper by contrast. The fatal day
was fast approaching which was TO wreck my
happiness forever.
Mr. Glenn was great fisherman; and one
cloudy morning, we fingered over the break
fast-table, he remarked, "a glorious day for
fishing Harold 1t would be a good idea to take
our rods, and devote the whole day to the sport" "
yielded ready assent, and We were soon
equipped and off, We met with excellent sue
cess and returned ID Glenrue late that night,
after the house had retired feeling quite fatigued
with our long day.
Early the next morning hurried to the draw
ing room, expectingto find Maud prepared for
our accustomed before breakfast ramble. But
the room was empty, and impatiently seated
myself in our favonte recess, thinking every
moment to see the Gutter of her white dress in
the doorway, and hear her sweet tones Of well
come. Still she fingered, and, leaning my head
upon my hands l fell into pleasant reverie2'
"Awaitng Maud2'
The words we're lightly andmockingly spoken.
started up. Edith stood before me, wild
light in her eyes aud bitter smile curling her
lip.
"Listen," she continued "now that my ends
are accomplished and my revenge complete, l
have a revelation to make"
Her words and looks were totally incompre-
hensible, andI was about to speak, but she 81
fenced me with a gesture.
"Hear me through " she said, 'and witness
my triumph From the first moment that we
met l loved you with love that Maud's cold
gentle nature could never lathom. You would
have leal ned to love me in return, but she step
ped between us, andI hated her for it. While my
heart was torn with, conflicting emotions, you
two were happy; but my time had yet to come.
Ny hate grew deeper day by day, and Ifet soon
er than she should possess your love | would
make any sacrifice. No one ever dreamed nor
did reveal, that had explored the unused left
wing and made the discovery offs secret room.
1t was wonderful piece of mechanism. BY
touching a small spring door would fly back
from the seeming unbroken surface of wall, re-
r99m T%t dodbgd @9 roupH II Tas wRcn Rea
no shrek or groan could penetrate With the
door closed upon a.human being, life would be-
come extinct within fifteen hours Doubtless it
had had its score Of victims. My plans were
formed, and yesterday an opportunity was pre-
sented to carry them into effect l tempted
Maud to this secret room, and while she was
wonderingly surveying it, with her back turned
to me, l stole away and touched the spring. the
door flew back in its place, and left her alone
10 darkness and death. All that night, in mag
nation heard her shrieks and moans and calls
for help; beheld her beating her hands against
the wall endeavoring to discover the spring, and
pictured her despair at finding her attempts all
in vain. But there was no pity in my heart for
had she not robbed me of happiness2"
stood like some statue before Edith as she
spoke, each terrible word falling upon my heart
like lead, but without realizing sense.
'Do you not comprehend" she said. ''Per-
haps it seems incredible. Then come and see
Like one in a hideous dream, I followed her
almost mechanically as she led the way to the
left wing. The key was applied to the rusty
lock, the door swung back with grating sound
and we entered. Onward we went up the creak-
ing stairs, and through the long corridors At
length she paused and touching almost con-
cealed spring in the wall and door few back.
Extended on the bare floor, with her long
golden hair falling around her like a shroud, lay
Maud my Maud, cold and dead. To spring to
her side and raise the dropping head to my bosom
L
that life was really extinct. / essayed to lift the
light form to bear tito the fresh air. but all things
swan before my sight, and found oblivion from
my wretchedness in insensbility When | re-
covered consciousness I was lying in bed in my
own room, and the family physician of Glenrue
bending over me.
II am glad to find you better, Mr.. Ashley" he
said, cheeringly. ~ hope you will soon entirely
recover"
Al i
mind with lightening-like rapidity.
'Have been i'll ong2' I asked.
"Several weeks, was the reply.
"Doctor," | said "anything is preferable to
this tortuing suspense. What of DIaud?''
His tones were full of deep sadness as he re-
piled, "We can but bow submissively to the Di-
vine will, Mr.. Ashley, knowing He doeth all
things we'll
l had intuitively felt chat all hope was over,
but the shock of having my worstfears confirmed
was a bitter one.
"And Mr.. Glenn and -" Ny lips could
not frame Edith's name, and the words died
away.
''Mr. Glenn is also dead" be said edith is
hopelessly insane, and confined in an asylum"
''Insane?' l exclaimed, shudderingly.
~ suppose you are not acquainted with Mr.
Glenn's early history for he rarely spoke of it,"
said the physician "When young mamie was
a great traveller, and while SOlOurnlng IN Italy
welded an Italian lady, very beautiful, but of a
fiery, passionate nature. She died insane, leav-
ing one little girl Mr. Glenn returned to Eng
land, and after expiration of few years
again married. His second wife was frail and
delicate, and in a short time he again a wild
over with two motherless daughters. Almost
broken-hearted and weary of the world, he came
to Glenrue, hoping to find in solitude some balm
for his wounded spirit.
"He has long feared the development Of this
terrible malady in his eldest daughter, but lit
tie imagined that it would be attended by such
result. Upon the day of that sad occurrence,
Mr.. Glenn startled by loud and piercing
shrek. The door of the left wing was found
open, and guided by a second shrek, he hurried
to whence he thought the sound proceeded. In
that fatal room you were discovered, lying in
sensible by Maud's lifeless body, with Edith
bending over you. From her rawlings it was
comprehended that in a fit of insanity she had
immured her sister within living tomb, and,
when all was over, scquainted you with thesawl
full fact. Mr. Glenn never recovered from the
shock. Maud's name vas ths last upon his
lips"