, 1874-01-18
bapds~-of~ iron nearly foot in breadth were

.Sure|y. sir. this is curiosity" said I, turn
ing to Mr. Bandeswyke. He was gone, but Gwen
stood beside US. Gwen and Harry and / All,
once more were we destined to stand side BY aide
at that door!
at 1s," said she, answering my remark; ait
leads to the old part Of the house, which my
father considers unsafe. 80 that it ia never en-
tered. believe this door has shd associations
for him. He never likes to hear 1t talked Of"
A another time should d, have teased Gwen Re
oppression which could not shake of kept me-
silent. By S o'clock the day set in for rain. By
6, we had one Of the most tremendous storms It
has ever been my lot to witness. Our ride had
as best We might in the billiard-room, when the
door burst open, and the old butler entered into
the room There was that in his appearance
which made us leave our game and gaze At him
with astonishment. His head tremblcd, his
dress and hair we're disairAnged and wet. EVl-
deutly he had been ont in tue storm
"Master, the trees down, aud this is the 26th
Of August!" he exclaimed in d choked voice.
And 1lr. Dandeswyke, The last to SEQ him,
turned suddenly in the very act OF playing, aud
promptly responded, ''fou old foo!:" IN tone
of such energy, and . manner 30 different from
his usual reserve, that Harry and looked at
one another in amaZement-
Mr, Dandeswyke aud his servant vanished be-
hind the swing-door almost as soon as the two
sentences we're uttered, and Gwen recalled us to
that the incident was no business OF ours. Mrs.
Bandeswyke had less tact. and poured forth ex-
cuses for maatcr and man. Gwen quietly
stopped her with the remark that Ransey Was
very old servant, and so attached to the place
that the loss Of single tree was real trial to
him. With mind prepared to receive strange
Impressions in this strange place, l, however,
fancicd that her careleesness wss assumed, and.
narrowly watching, perceived that her hand
tremb1ed as she tried to steady her mace.
Nlr. Daudeswyke appeared no mole till the ar-
rival OF tho other guests, and before that event
occurred We had dreary time OF it, for Gwen
Likewise disappeared, nr}1 re were left to The
tender mercics Of her mother.
The guests were dull. Harry WAS dull, Mr.
Dandeswyke WAS dull, was dull. I may as
who was Just as usual. In spite Of that, WAS
glad when wo dispersed FOR the night.
Let's 20 out and SMOKE" I whispered to
Harry, as We stood together ut the drawing
room door.
Gwen was close to us and heard. She turned
back and said, loud enough for her father to
hear:
80, not tonight, do not 80 out tonight. It
is 10 damp after these storms.
It was unlike Gwen. I felt ANNOYED. Old
Dandeswyke wa1ed paternal on the spot.
'My dear boys. don't think OF such thing.
You have no idea OF our mountain air after n
storm. Go to the billiard'room."
Nv curiosity was again reused. Why were father
and daughter leagued to prevent us from going
out? OF couree we vent. -,
II wonder wby they did not want us to 60"
said I.
rheumatism" said Harry shortly.
"Humbug." responded !, not more 1engthily,
and then added: ''That might do for madam.
not for master, nor for"
Miss Bandcswykc, " interrupted Harry with
decision. ,-.
Then + know what was to happen. We had
talked Of her as Gwen before We came to ths
Dumberdene.
We walked on in silence till We came to the top
of the stepB leading down the mountain. The
moon, which was at the full, WAS almost entirely
obscured by MASSES OF black clouds, driven
widely over her face. For the moment. as We
etood under tho rocky wall, the full mild light
illuminated the scepc before us-the old castle,
the mountain. the trees. 1nvoluntarilv We both
started forward, for that momont had revealed
to us the largest OF the great cedars rrostrate
on the ground. In it's fall n mass Of foliage had
been torn from the old building, which was now
"The tree is falleu,"1 exclaimed. Again the
moonlight passed away, and for minute the
darkness WAS dcnse. The old tower clock struck
the hour. We counted the strokes; there were
thirteen. AS the last hoarse clanking sound
died away, tho scene Was once more illuminated.
Not by tie moon, however. A red Light blazed
suddenly forth inside the min, exactly behind
where the fallen cedar had stood. The house
was on fire! A led Light, = dull, glowing red
We could see the flames. and We could see fig
q!es pass before them We rashed 1osSaFa sslot
As approached. ono figure became distinctly
visible as it passed and repassed before the fire.
Nay. I paused in horror till Harry joined me;
for though the flames were confined to one room,
this figure was plainly adding to their fury. and
with long iron rod heaping up fuel and ronslng
the fame. We we're now so close to the house
that we could see every line Of the mans coun-
tcnancc, and it Was an evil one eyes near to-
gether. . large purple scar" I1 ac5oss tue face,
sion, dirty woollen cap with red tassel on one
side Of his hend the left leg somewhat
ehrunk, and supported by nu iron frame.
the sqncaking Of which We heard DIS
tinctly as he limped around his diobolica1 work.
Presently he paused, and taking mp small box
tor changed in an instant to vivid green, ren.
de1ing his countenance gbastly. Apparently tho
heat wns unboarab1e, for ho stepped hastily
back. Ua. he stumbies, tries to save himself
in vain Ho falls, aud falls into tho very middle
Of that furnace. with d shrek which freezes the
blood in our veins. Again we dashed forward,
aud the moon once more lending her light, We
c1ambercd,' grasping and clinGing to tho ivy,
straight up tho old wall. and crashing through
the window we stood in the burning room.
mock us, as il to prove that we had not been
dreaming, large space in tho centre Was low
ered and bricked as If to contain fire; Curl
Gus chimney, shaped like an extinguisher hung
orcr it from the ceiling nshes aud cinders,
amoug which some charred bones were plainly
visible, we1o scattered about, and an iron frame
.cas lying straight across the quaint fireplace.
It was moment never to be forgotten. Wo
looked at ona another in silence. Even Hurry
MAS moved.
Scan we have como to the wrong room7" 7
whispered.
He shook his head, and pointed, 10 the iron.
Then he crossed the room, and tiled door. It
was locked, but the lock was old, and wc could
easily have burst it. il the moonlight had not
again left us in pitch darkness. "Coma away"
whispered. am ashamed to say ! vas trem-
bling like girl
II mean t. see this out" replied Harry. "0f
course it is a trick. Will you fetch tue lantern,
OF shall II"
Both appeared equally terrible, to leave him
or to be left.
"You will bc quickest. will watt" said he,
in tone which admitted no reply; and Was
out of the window and scramblns down the ivy
in asecond.
Az I returned with the lantern. which fortu-
nately We had taken out with US. again paused
in horror, for the flames we're again visible, and
fha .r with tha irnn sraa oncn Ynnrn stirring