The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-02-07
TaE SECRET CHAMBER.
DEDICATEp TO TIE INoUIRERs IN THE
NORMAN TOWER.
Continued from last lreek.

CONTINUED from tdst lreeG.
The figure rose as if coming 10
him to reply aud Lindores, ovecome
By the apparent approach, struggled
into utterance A cry came from. him
he heard it this time-snd even IN
his extremity felt a paag the more to
hear the terror 10 his own voice. But
be did not finch, be stood desperate,
all bis strength concentrated in the
act be he tHer turned hor recoiled.
Vaguely cleaning through his mind
came the thought that 10 be .hus
brought in contact with the unseen
was The experiment To be most desir-
ed on earth, the final settlement of a
hundred questions but his faculties
were not sufficiently under command
to entertain it. He only stood firm,
that was all.
Aud the figure did not approach
him after q moment it subsided
back again into the chair-subsided,
for no sound, not the faiItest, accom-
panied its movements. 1t was the
form Of man of middle age, the
hair white, but the beard only crisp
ed with gray, the features those OF
the picture-a familiar face, more or
less ike all the Randolphs, but with
au air Of domination and power al
together unlike that of the race. He
was dressed in long robe of dark
color, embroidered with strange lines
and angles. There was nothing re-
pellent or terrible 10 his air-nothing
except the Doislessness, the calm, the
absolute Stiffness, hieh was as much
in the place a. in him, to keep up the
involuntary trembling Of the behold
er: His expression was full of digni-
" and tboughtfulness, and not malig-
pant or unkind Ii might have been
the kindly patriarch of the house,
watching over its fortunes 10 4 secln-
sion be had chosen. The pulses that
had been beating 10 Lindures were
siiiied What was his panic for a
CLEAN even Of se!fridicule took pos
session OF him, 70 be standing there
ike an absurd hero Of sniiquatea re-
nance With the rusty, dusty sword
good for nothing, surely not adapted
for use against this noble old magician
in bis hand
You are right said the voice.
once more answering his thoughts !;
what could You do with that sword
against me, young Lindores ? Put il
By. Why should mv children meet
me Ike an enemy You are my
fesh and blood. Give me your
bandr
A shiver ran through the young
mans frame. The hand that was
held out to him was large and shape
ly and white, with a straight line
across the palma family token on
which the Randolphs prided them
selves friendly hand and the face
smiled upon him. fixing him with
those calm, profound blue eyes.
Come" said the voice The word
seemed to ill the place, melting upon
him from every cornor, whispering
around him with softes, persuasion.
He was lulled and calmed in spite of
himself. Spirit or no spirit, why
should not be accept this profered
courtesy! What harm could come
Of it The chief thing that detained
him was the dragging of the old
sw.rd, heavy aud useless, which he
held mechanically, but which some
feelipg-he could not tell
whst-prevented him from putting
down. Superstition. was it
Yes, that is superstition" said his
ancestor. sternly put it down and
come"
"You know my ,houghts," said
Lindores II did not speak"
Your mind spoke, and spoke just
". Put down that emblem Of brute
free and superstition together. Here
il is the intelligence that is supreme.
Come
Lindores stood doubtful He was