Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-04-26


and shackles, and where in the ring of
one set of letters were two Wondering
human bones. 1t was no wonder ghosts
were said to haunt place like that.
In the midst of these thoughts the
gate he had left open swung too with
clang, shutting out earthly things be-
hind him. Step by step he went down
the stone stairs into blackness to which
the night outside was twilight. Some
times he seemed to hear sound, but
when he stopped to listen it was the
beating of his heart. When he reached
the foot of the stairs he still went on;
every now and then his out-stretched
hands struck against wall or pillar, for
he was passing through an arched hall
that ended in a narrow passage. He
next entered what he thought to be
large room, for the air had an indefn-
able difference and the blackness seemed
that of space instead of substance. AS
he stood there uncertain which way to
move and the very echo of his footsteps
ceased, the horror of darkness and
silence which had been growing upon
him reached its height. He tried to
utter his challenge, but his dry lips
would give forth no sound, an abyss of
night seemed to swallow him up.
Suddenly he fancied he heard move
ment, he thought that something like
palpable blackness fitted about him.
He turned to fly and took few hurried
steps in the direction of the entrance.
Then he stopped. 1t was no ghostly
presence that arrested him, but the iron
hand of his resolution; he had come here
to do certain thing and was not to be
cowed by feeling which he would be
ashamed to own to himself in the day
light. He faced about and went for
ward quickly few steps.
"If there is any ghost let him now ap-
pear" he called loudly.
The dreary walls answered his cry
with dull reverberation.
With arms folded he stood moment
the hardest thing of all to do-await-
ing results If there had not been a
roar in his ears, if the beating of his
heart had not made even his vision un-
steady, he would have said that he
heard subdued laughter, or moaning, it
was impossible to tell which as the
sound rolled toward him from the hol-
low sides, and that he saw something
like a whiteness In the distance, while a
sense of presence made him cold with
horror.
He had done all he had resolved to do
and was free now to get out OF this dread
full place. He hurried toward the en-
sense of pursuit that comes over one
when he turns his back upon danger.
All at once he lost his footing and lay at
full length on the slippery floor; the
shock, however, only Jared and Devil
dered him. As he put out his hand to
rise he touched something from which he
drew back instantly with stifed exela-
nation; he thought it must be one of
the reptiles likely to be crawling in this
den. But he recollected that it was
small and hard, perhaps it was curious
stone which would prove his nights ex-
cursion if the strangers he was with
should be tempted to doubt it. After
little cropping he found it again; it felt
like stone covered with Shiny moist
ure, and putting it into his pocket he
made his way into the ruins as best he
could
When he returned to the house his
friend was alone waiting for him, and
sleepy, as Homer could see, consequent
~ trife annoyed at being kept up SO
late. The guest said nothing that night
of where he had been.
In his room he took out the stone It
was not pebble or piece Of the pave
ment, as he had supposed, but an oval
of grayish lava that had once been a
brooch or part of a bracelet. AS he
cleaned it with his pen-knife and pocket
l. 80 H,oe
it vas beautiful; it was figure of Min
erva, the very folds in her tunic careful
~ cut. and, as he saw by his magnifying
glass, with light tracery of carving on
her helmet and shield. On the opposite
side just under the shield, was the word
"Violet.
It was evidently the owners name, but
who was she? Where did she live, and
when? The pin, if it were pin, had
not lain in it's last hiding place long, he
thought, it was not enough stained by
the dampness, yet he was not sure about
that. "Violet" might have belonged to
former generation or might have been
sleeping the sleep of the just for CEN
fury. But suppose not, suppose she
were young lady beautiful as her name,
wealthy and high-born? Well, what
then?
Homer put out his light and went to
bed, but not Immediately to sleep. The
affair seemed to promise an adventure; as
such it would have been interesting to
any young person. But Ashton, in ad-
dition to being barely twenty had
been obliged to make his way for the last
ten years; for thouph he was of good
family, Dame Fortune had started him
In life with no more than one of her pen
MES, which, however, every time man
turns it, as is the legend, leaves a gold
piece In his hand.
The next morning but one tall young
man with dark hair and eyes and an ex-
preston amused, yet resolute, handed
in his card at Grantham Hall and asked
to see it's owner, Sir Gresham Laud.
CDR. Homer Ashton" cried Sir
Gresham, looking up from his letters
displeased at the interruption. "Who's
he? / don't know any such person.
Beryl,'' to the servant, "what does he
look ike?"