Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-22
might render assistance to whoever il

q tray, and the fair entertainers AM
their guest were soon discoursing pleas
antIv over the sumptuous visnds.
As soon as the tea tray was removed
Edward Harvey begged Miss Ashton t
favor him with song. UnhesitxtnRl,
she replied, and seating herself at iE'
piano sang in a contralto voice of mucl
power and sweetness. 1.-The Ro,ebud.
Harvey remained entranced long after
the last note of the beautiful song WA
| hushed.
Beautiful, beautiful" he exclaimed
do sing another, Miss Ashton. Any
you may select, for 1 am poor musi
clan, and know bnt few songs by name
mot tonight. Mr. Harvey. l must
beg that you will excuse me from sing
ing any more"
Ring the bell. Rosa; it is qnite late
The storm delayed our tea," said Mrs
Ashton.
Miss Ashton rang small bell upon
the center ia BILE, and the servant women
and an elderly man entered the room
and seated themselves upon chairs al
the far corner of the room.
"Mr. Harvey, it is my custom to read
family prayers night and morning,
Will you remain ?"
GLADLY, madam replied Harvey.
In pure, sweet voice she read the
fifteenth chapter of St John. and after
kneeling invoked from on high protec-
ton through the watches of the night
As soon as this invocation was fin.
ished they arose. The ladies retired
from the room. Conducted by the man
servant, Harvey assembled two flights Of
stairs aud entered room on the right
Of the hall-a neat little room. Upon
the msntel an exqnisitely arranged
flower vase scented the room with the
perfume Of geraniums, heliotropes and
narcissus.
do you think the storm is over "
asked Harvey of the servant, after gaz-
ing admiringly around the room.
II fear not" he replied, apparently
rearrangiDg the cloth on the center
table. ~ looked ont before prayers,
and the night 10 as dark as death. You
may expect another storm before morn
ing. Can I do anything for you, sir ?"
he asked. as he walked toward the
door.
Nothing, thank YOU" replied Har-
vey.
Thomas Hatters II may as we'll call
him by name now as later left the
room. and Mr.. Harvey seated himself
near the table upon which stood the
lamp. swell. we'll, strange incidents
have happened this night" said he to
himself, II have formed the acquaint
ance of two as lovely ladies as ever fas-
cinated an old bachelor, but am i'm.
pressed with the idea that these ladies
have q deep secret which they are
hiding from the world. Heigho! what
is this ?" said he, opening a note ad-
dressed to Edward Harvey, Esq, which
lay on the table before him. He began
to read it aload.
eff you will be advised. be ready for
an emergency. l am fearfully i'm
pressed with impending danger.
Respectfully,
"RosE ASHTON"
Determined not to fall asleep that
night, Edward Harvey remained seated
At the table for hours. The lamp began
to flicker and then slowly burned out,
leaving him in total darkness. The
prediction of Thomas Hatters proved
true. At midnight the wind began to
blow in fearful gusts, the rain fell in
and the winds shrieking around
The gables of the old house, dashed the
window shutters to and fro with great
force. Edward Harvey endeavored
Dnoe or twice to close the beating shut
Ter, bat his efforts were futile; the clasp
was broken.
"What fearful night Perhaps I
should go to the ladies, who are perhaps
in terror; but no, I may be deemed Off
oious," said he.
His attention was attracted by a hasty
and foreible wrench of the door knob,
the door was forced open. and by the
light Of lamp hanging in the hall he
saw the wild face of an old man thrust
in the room and as suddenly Withdrawn.
The face vanished and Harvey heard
the steady tramp of feet ascending q
A door was forcibly opened
and u piercing scream was heard above
the bowling wind, echoing through the
house. Hurried steps rushed by his
room and cry for help! help! issued
from above, and then horrid maniacal
laugh, and all was still.
Hesitating no longer Mr.. Harvey
rushed from his room. and attem pied to
follow the voices. He was not long in
doubt. He heard a struggle and then
another cry for help! help! Ascending
the stairway rapidly he met Mrs. Ash
ton, frantically exclaiEaing:
Get ladder, sir; he is on the
roof!"
"Who?"
"Albert Hartwell," she replied, pass
ing him rapidly on the stairs.
Mr.. Harvey mounted the stairs which
led to trap door. Through this he
onto the roof. Total darkness
him; through it he could
discern nothing. Listening attentiYely
he heard a low chuckle and then wild
voice chanting this rhyme:
II am the god of the wind,
| rule the storm
cry in the night, cry in the morn"
This was repeated over and over
again, each time wilder and wilder.
What shall do, sir? Can you not
devise some way to get him from the
roof" asked Miss Ashton in whisper
DO return below, Miss ashton, !
insist; you can render no assistance and
will only EypOSa y0ursaif To tla tlIyht