The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-07-02
1t was nearly midnight ,theo.

"a L y OA1 -, AoSfs
1t was nearly midnight .theo. !
,,e "You are not really going to do it,
are you ?" Jack Eversley said, whom
the Blakes had gone.
He had made no: comment before !;
and when Jack spoke it VA generally
to the purpose. -.
Blanche looked guilty and ftighten-
ed; the men exchanged glapoes;
Frank looked At Miss Filmer, on whose
face smile, half soornfal, half amused ;
was playing.
ITO be sure I am" Frank replied,
lightly; II have made my will, and
paid my tailor's bill, and it'a all right y
The lugubrious face of Sandy ,.ap-
peared At the door. '..The carpenter is
here, sir.'
"Hurrah!'' exclaimed Blanche, ostoh-
ing her friends arm ), ,"nov.r for tho
skeleton. Hoo hoo!. Dqesn't II
make you creep, Georgie7 Come and
get shawl
Frank helped to put on the, shawls,
~ shall hold you 70 Jour wosd,". be
said to Georeie ; and .somethiog iu. his
tone gave her = .tssli.g Of half 7rsspsot
half fear, that was quite new.
"What if he makes me love him Of.
tor all Z" she said to herse4.
It was low nArrov door placed 10 I
recess in the, wall, hallway up stone
staircase that led up to the: tower, aud
from which branohsd, 4 little ~sy
above tho closed door, themaiu passage
for the bedroom, to which the. p,luoi-
pal staircase also led st tho other: end
There Was 4 narrow step or ledge be.
tween the door aud stair, and on lhil
ledge, Laing, the carpenter, knslt with
his screws and saw; 70 undo tho. nail,
and the plaster that held the door
there was no handle at all, and tho key
hole had been stopped up. The Others
sat or stood above and below the door.
way on the stair; the maids crspt from
the passage, and tho menssrvants from
below, to look on. Julia Gorts joined
them, having escaped from the indig.
nation Of Lady Blake aud the tears o.
Lucy. Small jokes and whispers went
on while the carpenter worked !; no on,
seemed to like to speak ont loud. Al
last he turned round and signi6ed thai
. push would open tho door,-.ll obsta
oles were removed. :.
Franks voice sounded loud and hol
low in the vaulted stone etairwsy, IS hi
called for the lamp, and in breathles'
silence tho group behind him waited
while he and Simon leant their shout
ders against tho wood. work !; there ~!
a low orunohiDg Of the pl,stsr;' end
then tho door fell backward with,a dull
thud. Every head .wss, bent forv,rd
tho two Frasers aud the carpenter stood
in the: doorway, when . slight hgur,
like ghost in its white dr,pery ant
a pale face passed between them ant
stepped first into the "dom-ohsmber.
It was Lucy Blake.
"Take care p Colonel Fraser *
claimed, catching at her sleeve, "ther'
may be nails and holes.''
| His voice broke the spell that lay OF
all the others. Lucy, trembling ant
oyerwrought, was unnotioed sh'
scarcely knew that Simon Fraser drew
her gently back, and made her sit dowl
on the stair: outside.
Poor Luo, Frank did not svs1
zee what she had meant to risk for hi
sake. He had turned ~ soon - b.
had put his foot within the room, ani
read his answer in Georges eyes.
/ There was no skeleton, but there ~
dust,-dust and stiaed, death. .lk
olosens,s. A worn ont colorless rug
in the middle of the worm-eaten board.
a ziekety table with carved legs ls.ninl
against the wall, . few chair, gnsvs'
and rotten, black wooden seat uude
the window and round one aide Of th
room, cobvebs everywhere, {, fadsd:b
of tartan hanging by oas nail At th
side Of the narrow dimmsd window,
; llsupboard: door half open,,--v Ill The
.ax; l>dead mouse lay in tho smpt
} cupboard but Oh lifting the falle
door they found 4 4 pistol Of elana
/ sh.pe bit ouriopsly wrought inhi
handle, and tied to il !. knot Of libbo!
stiff aud stained, 80 stiff that it brot
inte little bits, like wood, At tho fiji
touch. '''' - "
! After the 6rst moment every one b.
crowded into the room. There We,
exelam.tious Of disappointment, -.
, skeleton, no glove,, no torn letter, I
ghost nor trace Of ghosts,-only Il
!, moat abominable smell Of dead NOUS
"I-of dust.dom. After. due pokiz
about and much laughter, they oil va
, down stairs, and drank to Frank
!, health.
i Lucy went to hsr room and eri'
bitterly. Her mother eame in to he'
ill about it.
II "He is safe, quite safe! But,
[ mamma, I saw him speak to her afts
I wards !; aud it is al settled,-1 kuo
=, it. O Frank, Frank.-she is n
worthy Of him,-ahs does not care +
h;mI Isav h;s fana vhila-~ ha ann]