The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-01-31
CHAPTER II.

Lord Gowrie vas very grave, aud
very pale. lie was standing with
bis baud or his sons shoulder 10
wake him: bis dress was unchanged
from the moment they had parted
And the sight Of this formal costume
vas verv beglderiag 70 the yOung
man a. be started no in his bed. But
next moment be seemed % know tx
ecliv how il was, and, more than
that, 70 nave kngwa II ali ms life
Explanation seemed unnecessary
4, any other moment, in any other
place. man would be startled to be
suddenly woke up iu the middle Of
the night. Bur Lindores had no such
feeling; be did not even ask ques-
ion, buJ sprang up, and fxed his
eyes. taking 10 81 the strange circum-
sauces, on his fathers face
Get up nv boy, said Lord Cow
RE, "and dress as quickly a. you can: /:
it Is full time. | have lighted your
candles, and your things are al
ready. Y0u have had a good long
sleep
Even nov be did not ask, What is
il. a. under any other circumsisn-
ces be would have done. He got ~
without a word, without an impulse
Of nervous speed and rapidity Of
movement such as oulv excitement
can give, and dressed himself, his
father helping him siieltIy. It was
= curious scene; the ruom cleaning
with lights, the silence. the hurried
toilet, the stiffness Of deep night all
around. The house, though 90 foil,
and with the echoes Of testiTity bat
Just over, was quiet IS If there was
1 not q creature within it-more quiet.
indeed, for the Stiffness Of vacancy
is rot half 20 impressive a. the still
oess If hustled and slumoering life
Lord GJwrie went 10 the table
when this first step was over aad
poured out glass Of wine from a
bottle that stood there-a rich gol-
den, pe-fumy wine, which sent is
scent through tne ION. "Tou VIII
want al your streng(o," be said ;
take this before you 20. Il > the
famous Imperial Toka: there : cnly
a IitLe lefr, aud you viii want al
yoar strength"
Li1dores took tie wine: be bad
{ ueFer drank any Ike Il before, and
the peculiar fragrance remsi5ed in
I bis mind, as perfumes 20 often d.,
wiJh . whole world Of association il
them. His fG-her's eyes dwelt upon
tim with . melancholy sympathy
You are going % encounter the
greatest trial 1f y0ur life. be said :
sad taking the youog mans hand IN
lo bis, FELT his pulse at i quick.
bu. quite irm. aud v0g have mad 3
good long sleep Then be did wbsr
/ Il needs a grssf deal Of pressure 70
induce an Engiisbman % do-be
kissed bis son on his cheek God
[ bless vouttr be said. falrering. Come
nov, everything i ready, Liadores
He took up in his hand s small
lamp, which be bad sppsreutly
7 brought With him. aud led the way.
By this time Lindores began 20 feel
I himself again. and 70 wake 70 be
( consciousness Of all bis own superi-
critics aaG enlighteoments TIE s.m-
+ ole sense that he wss one Of Ile
{ members u a family with mystery
4 aud that the moment Of bis personal
4 encounter wi-h tbis special plxsr Of
dark1ess had come. bad been the first
thrilling. overwhelming thought
? Bar uow, ss be followed BIS father,
Lindores began 20 remember that be
himself was not altogether Ike other
3 men tba, there was that 10 bin
which would make II natural that be
should throw some light, hitherto NJ
;hOaghs Of. upon lhis carefully pre-
s-rved darkness Whss secret even
there nigh; be ID i--secsef Of heTed-
ilary tendency, Of phyehie force, Of
mesrsl conformation or OF 6oue euri-
oas combination Of eireuEsts1ees az
once more or less potent than these
+ /. was for him 20 ind On, Ee gath
cred all bis forces sbouc biD, remind
ed binzeIf Of modern enlightenment.
and ba5e BIS aerFe= be sfesl 70 al
vulgar hCsrors. He. 100, felI his own
pulse a. be followed his father To
spend the night perhaps snoug TIE
skeletons Of that cid world massacre
and - regent the sins Of hss acees-