The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-01

And 80 you are anxious Roundwood
should have master as we'll rs u mis-
tress"
You know dp not mean that, | re.
turned. blushing and speaking quite an
griy. This inheritance more than meets
my luxurious notions you have a sort
OF claim on it---l am quite willing to
make over the half to you Indeed an
idea of that sort has been in my head all
along.
This is Quixotic'
No it is making two people happy aud
comfortable instead Of one,
But l refuse to be made happy and
comfortable at your expense. lfMadam
Belgrave had wished me to share her
property. she would have left some docu-
ment expressing the DESIRE
'Perh"ps there is a will that has not
come to light, said L laughingly
lie gave a quick start. and changed
color.
Il cant help thinking so, but it is de-
lusive hope, tear
You are entirely too anxious to con.
sign me to obscurity and school.kcoping
again
No, you should never 60 back to that
drudgery if
He stopped suddenly, hestated a mo-
ment, then held out his hand
Really, | feel like an intruder here,
Miss Lane. I'd better say goodmorniDg Dg
and leave you, before I'm betrayed into
any further folly
He turned abruptly away. Did you
know there was a ghost Of Roundwood p
| called after him.
No. looking back.
They say Madam Belgrave--a sure in
dcation she is displeascd with something
probably the unjust disposition she
made Of her wealth
An expression | utterly failed To coin-
prehend hoated over his expressive iuce.
You have no occasion to be troubled
on that score ne answered and went his
way
watched him until the windings OF
the road hid his tall, stalwart figure en-.
trely from view, and then returned to
the house in reflective mood
Aunt Jerusha,' said l abruptly. 4 AIN
going to sleep in the haunted room to.
night
She stared at me utterly aghast
You foolish child. you would never
dare
Have the room thoroughly aired and
made comfortable interrupted in tho
brusque, decided tone of one who does
not wish to enter into any argument. Il
shall occupy the apartment tonight, so
the least said about the matter the bet.
ter
Occupy it I did-at least for season
taking up the line of march about elev.
en- o'clock.
Aunt Jeruaha followed me to the door
and there said good.by with face us sol
emn, and tone as lugubrious as though
were about to be hung.
Scream if you are frightened AIadelon
and we will all hasten to your assistance
| hope you won't be n raving maniac in
the morning. I've heard Of such things.
Il rather be crazy than fool, was my
impatient reioinder.
Madam Belgrave's room, as we calico
it, was large chamber on the secont
floor The furniture was quaint and old
fashioned of some dark foreign WOOD, with
immense carved feet, that looked very
odd and ridiculous to my new fashioned
eyes. The walls were Of oak thickJ
panelcd, and over the carved chimney
piece was raised Ggure-typical Heaven
only knows Of what-with diminutive
shield extended in one hand.
| had barely glanced round ut my
quarters when something fitted past m,
head with whizzing sound, and alighte,
in the middle of the shield. A quick
half frightened glance at tho obiec
brought smile to my lips. 1t was bat
Now had always great antipathy II
these vampirc.like creatures; so catching
up the poker from the fender, lined
deadly blow at the intruder.
Tho bat escaped unhurt through til
open window. being too quick for me bu
the poker descended with considerobl
force on the spot where no should hav
been. The same instant | heard shar
clicking noise. and the shield slid away
revealing to my astonished gaze IL sma
chamber constructed in the massive chin
ney
In this novel hiding place lay pilu Il
papers. Trembling good deal. caugh
up the topmost one and hastily examine
7 it by the aid of a flickeriDg candle. II
stantly | knew that my startled conje'
n ture was shrewd one, and that | no
held in my hand Madam Belg.ave's ;ru
. and last will and testament, and Law
renee Belgrave, not l., was the rghtf
y owner of Roundwood
1t was scarcely pleasant discovery
q make. Thoroughly bewildered, droI
ped into one OF the quaint easy chair
3 trying hard to command my wanderir
IS senses sufficiently TO realize it in all
1, bearings, My candle sputtered and We
out, presently, but | still sat there qui
e oblivious Of the fact, thinking only of II
loneliness and the treadmill Of poverty
3. which | must return At last W
It aroused by Iusting sound, and II mu
It led step on the balcony without. With
d sudden shrill Of horror l beheld da
Ie figure noiselessly over the sill The ne
instant dark lantern flashed its lig
4. owes the room, started to my feet wi
- shrek Of uncomfortable terror. in an Q
p tempt to rush to the door my limbs fail
IS utterly, and | crouched pale and pantr
If against the wall.
Miss Lane! ! you here. = said vote
and the man put down the lantern a
'. came toward me, i beg thousand pa
It dcns for giving you such a start,
ID 1T was Lawrence. | rose up aga
N thoroughly ashamed of myself for havi
No manifested such extreme terror.
My emotion was quite cxcusable, 81
- |, with all the old Sauciness. for ! h
e. grown as bold as lion again, now the
a. was no real horror to confront. Il