Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-02-12

the inner-hall, which was the ordinary
dining room of the Abbey.
AS we faced each other at the we'll.
spread table, began to hope that the
familiar influences of his country home
were beginning already to breathe their
blessed quiet over the disturbed mind
Of Romayne. In the presence of his
faithful old servants he seemed to be
capable of controlling tho morbid re.
morse that oppressed him. He spoke
to them composedly and kindly; he
was affectionately glad to see his old
friend once more in the old house.
When we were near the end of our
meal something happened that startled
me. I had just handed the wine to
Romsyne, and he had filed his glass,
when he suddenly turned .'pale and
lifted his head like man whose atten-
tion is unexpectedly reused. No per-
son but ourselves was in the room I
was not speaking to him at the time.
He looked round suspiciously at the
door behind him leading into the library
and rang the old-fashioned handbel
which stood by him on the table. The
servant was directed to close the door.
"Are you GOLD ?" asked.
"No." He reconsidered that brief
answer, and contradicted himself.
"Yes--the library fire has burnt low, I
suppose"
In my position at the table I had
seen the fire; the CRATE was heaped
with blazing Goals and wood. I said
nothing. The pale change in his face
and the contradictory reply reused
doubts in me which had hoped never
to feel again.
He pushed away his glass of wine,
and still kept his eyes fixed on the
closed door. His attitude and express
sion were plainly suggestive of the act
of listening. Listening to what
After an interval, he abruptly ad-
dressed me-
"Do you call it quiet night?" he
said.
Gas quiet as quiet con be-" l re-.
piled. "The wind has dropped, and
even the fire doesn't crackle. Perfect
stillness-indoors and out"
"Out ?" he repeated. For moment
he looked at me intently, as if had
started some new idea in his mind. l
asked as lightly as I could if I had
said anything to surprise him. Instead
of answering mo he started out of his
chair with a cry of terror and left the
room.
scarcely knew what to do. 1t was
impossible, unless he returned imme-
diately, to let this extraordinary pro-
ceeding pass without notice. After
waiting for few minutes, I rang the
bell.
The old butler came in. He looked
in blank amazement at the empty chair.
"Where's the master?" he asked.
Icould only answer that he left the
table suddenly, without word of ex-
planation. "He may perhaps be i'll" l
added. GAS his old Servant, you can
do no harm if you go and look for him.
Say that 1 am waiting here, if he wants
me-"
The minutes passed slowly and more
slowly, 1 was left alone for so long a
time that 1 began to feel seriously un-
easy. Ny hand was on the bell again,
when there was knock at the door. !
had expected to see the butler. 1t was
the groom who entered the room.
"Garthwaite can't come down to you,
SIR" said the man. "He asks if you
will please go up to the master on the
Belvidere."
The house, extending round three
sides of a square, was only two stories
high The fiat roof, accessible through
species sof hatchway, and still sur
rounded by its sturdy stone parapet,
was called "The BeIvidere," in refer
ence as usual to the fine view which il
commanded. Fearing knew not what,
mounted the ladder which led to the
roof Romayne received me with q
harsh outburst of langhter-that saddesi
false laughter which is true trouble in
disguise.
"Here's something to amuse you,
he cried. "I believe old Garthwaite
thinks / am drunk-he won't leave me
up here by myself"
Letting this strange assertion remain
unanswered, the butler withdrew. Az
he passed me on his way to the ladder,
he whispered BE careful of the mas
ter tell you, sir, he has bee in his
bonnet this night" Although not o.
the North country myself, knew tn,
meaning of the phrase. Garthwaitt
suspected that the master was nothing
less than mad.
Romayne took my arm when we wer,
alone-we walked slowly from end tt
end of the Belvidere. The moon was
by this time, low in the heavens; bu
her mild mysterious light still streamet
over the roof of the house and the higl