The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-05-04

argument. Il shall occupy the apart
IS ment tonight, so the least said abou
Il the matter the better
Occupy it did-at least for season
h taking up the line of march abou
e eleven O'Clock.
g Aunt Jerusha followed me to tn
door, and there said good-by, with
I face as solemn and tone as lugubri
), as though l were to be hung.
: Scream if you are frightened, Made
e lon, and we will all hasten to your as
sistance hope you won't be a ravine
, maniac in the morning. | have heard
, of such things
I'D rather be crazy than feol,' was
my impatient rejoinder.
Madame Belsrave's room-as we
called it-was large chamber on the
second 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, thickly pan
eled, and over the carved chimney
piece was raised fgure-typical of
heaven only knows what-witk di-
minutivc shield extended in one hand.
had barely glanced reuud at my
quarters when something fitted past
my head with a whizzing sound and
alighted i'll the midst of the shield.
A quick, balf-frightened glance at
the object in question brought smile
to my lips.
! 1t was q bat.
Now l had always great antipathy
TO these yampire-like creatures; so
catching up the poker from the fender,
aimed a deadly blow at the intruder.
The bat escaped unhurt through the
open window, being too quick for me;
but the poker descended with consid-
cradle force on the spot where he
should have been.
The same instant heard a sharp,
clicking noise, aud the shield slid
away, revealing to my astenished gaze
a small chamber, constructed in the
massive chimney.
In this novel hiding-place lay a pile
of papers.
Trembling a good deal. caught up
the topmost one, and hastily examined
it by The aid of the Pickering candle.
Instantly l knew that my first star
tied conjecture was shrewd one, and
that now held in nay hand Madame
Belgrave's true and last will and testa-
ment, and that Lawrence Belgrave,
not l, was the rightful owner of
Roundwood!
1t was scarcely a pleasant discovery
to make.
Thoroughly bewildered, l dropped |
into one of the quaint easy chairs, try
ing hard to command my wandering
senses sufficiently TO realize it in all its
bearings.
My candle sputtered and went out.
presently, but still sat there, quite
oblivious to the fact, thinking only of
my loneliness and the treadmill of
to which must return,
AT last was aroused by rustling
sound, and muffied step on the bal
cony without.
With a sudden thrill Of horror be-
held dark figure rise up before the
and slide noiselessly over the
sill.
The next instant a dark lantern I
flashed its light over the room,
started to my feet with shrek of I
terror.
In an attempt to rush to the door,
my limbs utterlyfailed me, and |
pale and painting against the
wall.
Miss Lane! You here ?'said voice
and the man put down the lantern and
came toward me. 4 beg a thousand s
pardons for giving you such start
1t was Lawrence.
l rose up again, thoroughly asham-
I'd of myself for having manifested l
such extreme terror.
MY emotion was quite excusable.'
'aid 1, with all the old sauciness, for
lad grown bold as lion again, now. c
here was no real horror to confront.
l did not expect to see you at Round- {
wood to-night-hencc my SURPRISE
The fact is. he returned, ,manifesting 6
confusion, Il haye come
lere every night for two weeks back,
hunting for Madame Belgrave's will.
Lawyer Green has told me she made
,ne, about six months since. lie '
links she destroyed it afterward, as
t has not come to light. l hold TO a l
liferent opinion. The will was in my
avor, as you must readily guess, and
believe it is hidden in some safe |
,lacc which: Madame was prevented c
rom disclosing by the awful sudden
less Of her DEATH {
'Then you were the ghost? ?'I gasp.
ii. I
Il suppose I must have been.' 1
We'll it is laid forever. You have I
10 further need to haunt this apart c
nent. Here is the missing document c
or which you have been searching; ;
o-morrow l will abdicate as graceful t
y as possible, and Richard shall have
lis own again. a
And while he stood staring at me as
f quite dumb-founded, pushed the a
will into his hand, and made a second g
fort TO gain the door. o
B This time it was Lawrence who de- q
aimed me, forcibly.
Don't go, Madelon,' he whispered, O
lis arm gathering me close to his side.
Now l can speak my mind freely. I'll t
lot be master here unless you consent c
q hc m isf fa,. LIZ -