The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-12-09

Tucker aud ] lett the room together aud
descended to the parlor, where. being
seated, he drew chair close to mine
aud said, You see, MIR. Wharton, how
the case stands. aud il will be necessary
for you to attend to this matter innie.
diotely ! trust you can draw up the
will Mt once, so that before | bid you
good bye | may have the satisfaction
-" Here he paused as though he
had incauiiously gone too far, but
quick ly recovering himself he continued,
''of seeing poor mother made happy
before she dies" "3
was shocked; my suspicious were
again aroused, but manugea in care.
less tone to say, do you desire that ]
should remain here all nightg"
/. "0h, by oil MEANS" he said "You
cannot reach home to. night in any way,
and if you could, you little know the
hospitality Of our people IL you suppose
we would consent for you to go out at
this hour.
know not why, but | felt delighted
at his offer, for something seemed to
say, "Stay," aud stay | did. | was
shown to my room, situated just above
the sick chamber, aud bidding my com.
panion good night. closed and locked
my door, threw of my coat, aud seated
myself at the open window, excited,
nervous and conioundcd After little
time thought ofthe mysterious woman,
and suddenly remembering the soiled
paper, drew il forth from my sleeve,
aud read as iolows
"Save me, friend, from death. BE
very cautious, but save me for Gods
sake, and you shall be rewarded. Save
me, save me"
here was no signature, but the hand
writing was clearly that Of lady, and
the style convinced me that the writer
was an intelligent person. What could
this mean! What terrible mystery was
contained in this scrap of paper? My
head was in whirl, my mind wandered
| could not think; | hasiencd to the
window, 1t was beautiful night the
blue canopy Of heaven was studded with
inuumerable bright, twinkling, silvery
stars All seemed culmncss aud tran.
guilty. What contrast to the fearful
uncertainty Of my mind. turned to
listen Inside. All was still as death.
| opened my chamber door, still no
sound Yes, | hear footstep; a mo.
ment more and discover a light below.
The light reflected the shadows of two
men on the wall; | moved uoiselessly
forward, and leaning over the balustrade
caught glance Of Tucker, as he disup.
peared through a closing door | hes
itated moment TO collect my scattered
thoughts debated in my mind what
to do; my first idea was to follow and
discover, if possible, what these mys.
terious movements meant. Then |
checked myself and said, "What is il
all to mer" but the skeleton hand, the
iron grating, the crumpled paper, and
the appeal save me, struck home, aud
| determined to descend, come what
might. @
began my descent with all the care
l could summon, fearing in the dark.
ness that might fall, aud thus ruin
all With one hand grasping the bal.
ustrade and the other pistol, with
which | was happily provided, I CROPPED
my way down iuch by inch. AS L
reached the lower fight, my foot caused
a step TO give squeaking noise, and |
halted. Hearing nothing, | concluded
no one had heard me and passed on,
reaching the bottom, when | suddenly
heard approaching footsteps, and ali
being in darkness, | feared some one
was on my track. stood still, hold.
ing my breath. Seeing a light through
u door to my right, shrunk back
against the wall aud intoa a niche formed
by an archway in the passage l had
scarcely concealed myself when Tucker
looked out Of the door and holding a
light high above his head pcered aronnd,
but In a moment closed the door again.
| breathed ugain. felt relieved. but |
still dared not stir, and the deathlike
stilluess was only broken by the whist. |
ling Of the night wind thro' the cracks
aud creviees Of the old house. | |
pondered what to do next / knew | |
was in the main hallway, but how to
get out or where to move, | knew not. |
| finally espied thin stream of light
shining through door in the rear of
the house and approachiai. discovered |
lt was the moon shining through the
window and the door, the latter being
slightly ajar. pushed the door gently.
II yielded, aud l entered large room.
we'll furnished, the windows being hung
with very many lace Gu; u;tains. Within
the shadow Of one of these windows |
discovered some dark object, aud at
irst feared | was discovered, but seeing
no movement | approached, aud was
struck with fear and trembling to find
a corpse. tJ
dumped back in alright; my limbs
gave way, my blood eurdled, and fel.
= though fright was consuming me-
What can this mean, thought /; more
What would come next?
summoBing up oil my courage, / ap,
preached nud raised the covering, and
BY the bright moons rays discovered
hat the decensed was lady, well ad
gapced in age, her hair being nearly
white. A closer look developed that
;he bore a striking rasetahla N ca N Aha