Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-04-05

!, Join us"
: No, no. said he, ''that's not neces-
> sary. I know my ehiId's voice. But
i but, she died in New Orleans. don't
/ know what to think"
e Still, should Florence also recognize
e the voice, there would be SO much the
more conformation don't you see p
Think of my suggestion, and give me
/, your answer tomorrow"
After lunch, the next day, my hostess
: came to me. She was prOfuse in her
, I apologies, but, really, some one whom
they could not put of had telegraphed
to Mr.. Vellany; and, if didn't mind
shortening my visit then and finishing
it some other time, could 20 down to
the boat in the carriage that was to
bring up the new arrival. 1t was i'm
possible, of course, to decline so cordial
an invitation to withdraw, and with
dismay in my heart, as thought of my
learned friend on the other side, / re-
ported to Mr.. Hassler my approaching
absence on furlOugh.
Send you offi7 he exclaimed
Here, Vellany How about that tel
\ egram Who's coming ?"
Unluckily for our host, his wife had
left the room
Telegram - he returned. g I've had
/ no telegram"
I" There 81 said Mr.. Hassler, turning
to me, =" that woman simply wants you
out of the house. I want you in il. I'u
] v
shall join us there; as I've concluded,
on the whole, to adopt your sugges-
ton"
Five minutes after half-past twelve, a
/ light tap, at Mr.. Hassler's door, an
/ nounced the arrival of his daughter.
/ "FlOrence,' - said he, 81 am going to
/ ask of you something that will require
t all your hrmuess."
Dear me, papal Then don't begin
/ by frightening me to DEATH"
fEgea rsrrry
A ghost! How delightful! But the
! sterner sex surely don't propose to send
me after it all alone ?'
g We are going, OF course. have a
/ particular reason for inviting you to
/ iOin Us. I think-ahem-- [ think that
sounds; but they are heard. VIII you
s' Why, to be sure I will"
I admired her more than ever, as she
laughingly stepped before us and led
the way to the corridor. We had nearly /
gained the foot of the lower stairs, when, |
CHANGING to look behind me, toward |
the entrance from the main building, |
saw a female figure come right out of /
the wall. darted back-came upon it !
opening whence 1t emerged, and, seeing /
that it was rObed in a domino and wore /
a mask, seized it. Mr.. Hassler came to I
my assistance. The struggle was short, /
silent. The mask drOpped-Mrs. Vel
lanV We fell back in amazement
and the woman, breaking away from
US, fed silently along the corridor and
down the stairs.
But FIOreuce's involuntary shrek
had reused the house. The gentlemen t
appeared upon the scene. in uudTess
uniforms, and with small museum of
heterogeneous weapons. The ladies,
wholly unlike to what they had been in
the draWing-rOOm, huddled together in
incOnspicuOus places, content, for once,
to see without being seen. Last of all
VeIlany appeared from his room, fully
dressed and swearing terribly The
moment he caught sight of me, as I
stood, guarding, so to speak, the secret
door, an expression came over his face
such as I desire never to see again.
Will you allow me to ask said he,
with OminOus courtesy, whether you Il
came to my house for the express Pur-
pose of prying into my family affairs .
I discIaimed any such intention.
Sc With what object, then, do you go
about my premises spying, caves esdrop-
ping, and questioning the servants p
VIII you Oblige US by explaining your
assault upon my wife p
How do you know I returned, that
there was any assault at all How do
you know thatthe person assaulted was
your wife p
e I am not, [ conceive said Mr.. Vel
lany, turning toward his guests, called
upon to reply to these impertinences.'
felt that public opinion would turn
against me in two seconds. ID
Il beg your PARDON said I, with pro- / ]
found respect, 'but the person who came /
down those stairs and out of this door !
was disguised. There is some one con- {
fined here
''There is,'' he replied. "Are you
to inquire who it is ?''
Perhaps If he had stopped there L !
might have been bIuffed off; but he Z
went on:
"Since, in return for my hospitality, /
you compel me to bring to light sad /
that Mrs. -VeIIany'' / :
a family secret will inform you, and :
these gentlemen" /
There was a murmur of protestation I
against his doing anything Of the kind {
but with an inexplicable fatuity, he s
went on: 4
ssThat the sounds, said to have been S
heard in this part of the house hare been
heard. My wife has a-an unhappy [
sister, whom we are unwilling to trust /
to the tender mercies of an insane asy- &
un-~ One of her most painful halluci- Q
atoms is, that we are slowly starving b
her; yet she will take no food only at a
5his hour. At ordinary times we give /
aer the range of that staircase, as well
rs her rooms above. When excited a
however, she is dangerous. She may O
"
allow me to close that door ?" a
There was an instantaneous unanim-
tV in his favor. Some of those in 'front.'
ell back. My learned friend on the f.
)ther side .puDItcLy reLnonstrated WIN {
ne on the indeliCacY of my proceedings. =
" WiLL you have the goodness to step e
aside ?" demanded my host, who, as / =
now discovered, could show his teeth :
rom other causes than mirthfuIness. :
tOnce already, our unhappy sister has :,
r q rfTaur her - /
ga fact for which I can vouch," said
ny legal friend.
For moment longer, however, I | r
stood my ground. suspicion that q
lad been vaguely haunting me had
AIKEN definite form and vivid color, as =
Vellany texplained, +" and I saw that =
he moment had come for giving it ut =
erance. I took the risk.
''Will you permit me, Mr.. Vellany, =
20 ask you one question ?'' !,
With a smile of resignation, as who =
ihou1d say to those about him, 1.-THE 4
avs of hospitality cOnstrain me TO be y
patient with this fellow the master or =
he house replied,
"A dozen-if you will be kind enough T.
o let me shut that door or to shut it =
7OurselE' i
What perfectly candid, courteous,
,pen and above board sort of gentle
nan Mr.. Vellany showed himself un- :
Ter those trying circumstance J q
f'Oue moment II You pIeaSey SalQ l. | 7
With (as our English cousins phrase it, 7
the door in my hand rs the lady up .
Itairs your wife's sister p !
4 told you So .
-'Or,' Continued I, not needing the
your wife herseIf?'
He reached me in a single stride.
closed with him-felt that / was -
1eing overpOwered, and called out:
Come down We are your friends. =
Here is your father /,
'He had his hand upon my mouth y
put my. cry was answered.
Help Helpl Helpl' :,
sIt is my sisters voice = cried Florence.
And, as Vellany was dragged away -
rom me, there appeared in the narrow F
doorway, the spectral figure of a wO- =
nan. was nearer to her than any g
body else, and, just in time, stretched /
1ut my arms and caught her as she
ell.
Come you all and look at her y n
,ried I.