The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-09

Uut "uo VIII A~Ao ~ , -
We can? Has any one offended you
dear Dora?"
"No." answed Dora. shuddering,
"but 1 shall prefer to live alone"
"You are 80 young, 80 ignorant of
the ways of our towns" said quiet
Mrs. Arlingford, here Ginning in, anx-
iously, sit is a mad thing for you to
think of, child"
II must CO." responded the orphan,
averting her pallid face that the dark
misery of it might not be seven.
So, when the persuasions OF himself
and the pleadings and the tears OF his
women availed not, Mr.. Arlingford got
offended, "Let her please herself. Pen
sic. Ring and order Sam to bring the
carriage around"
Dora swallowed a cup of tea and
choked down morsel OF bread, and
then she went back to her room to put
ON her hat.
Locking her trunk took but few
minutes.
She flung herself upon chair and
wept silently, feeling herself to be
the mostdesolate and friedless being
on the face of the earth.
"M hat should she do in London p
Go to her fathers lawyer and tell
him she did not wish to marry Walter
Cary, then live alone in such lodgings
as the remnant of her fortune could AZ
ford her.
All! it was indeed terrible mistake,
that clause in the will.
1,k of har r, N
stole sound which thrilled her once
more with awe.
The swish of garment, the rustic
of a paper, just as it aroused her last
night.
Dora gazed about her like one be.
reft of reason.
The large old Bible lay quiet enough
and closed exactly where she had placed
it-no living thing was in the room
but herself
An then she saw the whole mystery
The window was partly opened, and
. slight pull Of wind had blown on the
crisp white curtains in the roon; ther
receeding. had sucked them outward
through the aperture, while the i'm.
prisoned air. running up the blind, had
caused the tissue paper hanging at the
top to rustic.
There came another puff-the trail
of the curtain over the carpet, the rus
tie of the paper hanging.
Dora sat gazing at the window, her
face, in its astonished thankfulness, d
study for an artist.
At this moment Penelope came in
She had been weeping.
1.-The carriage is ready, dear cousin,
sighed she, TREMENDOUSLY.
Dora passed her hand over her fore
head, then facing her rival, asked il
hurried tone: "Were you up las
night at any time Miss Arlingford ?"
Yes" answered Penelope, in sur
prise, "about four o clock | rose anC
closed my window. The wind was ris
did you hear cock crow as 20,
did SOP"
"Yes, I did: why do you ask, m,
dear ? Stay! 1 know why. You were
frightened 10y hearing a board creal
beside your bed; | should have told
you about that board; how stupid o
me-"
II heard board creak," said Dora
scarcely believing her own ears.
Yes, it ought to be fastened down
1t runs the whole breadth of he house
and when l tired on one end of it in my
room the other end creaks in this
Listenl'
She ran across the passage, shutting
the door after her, and in n moment the
veritable creaking commenced, accom-
panied by the clicking OF the latch dooi
which had so petrifed Dora.
When the young lady returned, the
expression of her cousins features
were so nightly altered that she ex'
claimed: why, my darling girl,
do not think you want to leave us be-
cause you thought the house was
haunted"
"Per-perhaps-yes," faltersd Dora
wistfully gazing at her.
You poor little darling" murmur'
ed Penelope, in voice of deep COM
passion, and she took Doras unresist
ing hand in hers. why would you
not tell mo Don't you know, Dora.
and smile plaid on her lips, I'VE
ought to love each other very dearly
We are both going to marry Walter
Cary, and be the closest OF cousins"
Are there two Walter Carys" ejac.
ulated Dora.
WHAT" cried Penelope. her coun-
tenence slowly crimsoning rs the situa-
ton burst upon her; did you-imag
inc"
She never completed the sentence,
but, snatching up the poor. tired little
Ornhan To her bosom held her there