Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-05-03


and then his ou,streiched hands struck
AGAINST a wall or pillar, for he was
passing through an arcbed hall that en-
ded in narrow passage. He next Gu
tered what he thought must be large
room. for the air had an indellnabie
difference and the blackuess seemed
that of space instead of substance As
he stood there, uncertain which way TO
move, and the very echo OF bis loot
stems ceased, the horror of darkness
and silence which had been growing
upo II him reached its height. he trled
TO utter his challenge, but his dry lips
would give forth no sound. an abyss Of
NIGHT seemed TO swallow him up.
Suddenly he lancied he heard
movement, he thonght that something
like palpable blackness fitted about
him. He turned to fly aud took lew
hurried steps in the direction OF the
entrance. Then he stopped. Il was
no shostly presence that arrested him.
but the iron hand of his resolution; nc
had come here TO DO certain thing
and vas not to be cowed by a fee'ng
nbIcb he would be ashamed to OVID
himself in the daylight. lie faced
abou, and AZ d vent forward qnic3ly a
lew steps.
If there is any ghost lsi Dion no" ap
pear he called loudly.
The drcary walls answered his cry
with dull rcverbera'ion.
With arms folded he stood a mo-
meni-;be hardest thing of all 10 do
awaiting results. If there bad mol
heon q roar in lis care, if the beating
or hi. heart had not made even his
vision unsteady, be would have Saln
tba, he Heard subdued laughter or
moaning 1t was impossible 10 tell
Which As the sound rolled towards him
from The hollow sides, and that be saw
sor,ething like II whiteness in the dis
tan.c. while a sense o! presence made
him cold with horror.
lie had done all he had resolved 10
do and was free now to get ou' OF ''is
dreadfal place. lie hurned toward
the enterance, urged on by The unrea-
sonine sense Of pursuit that comes
over one vixen he turns his back upon
dancer. All at once he lost his loot
ino and lay at full length on the slip
pery foo; the shock. ho%ever' only
;orrod and bcwilGered him. As he put
ont his bands to rise he touched
something from which be drew 0ach
Instantly with a stihed exclamation; ne
thought it must be ore of the replle'
likely TO be crawling in this den. bu'
no recollectcd that il was small and
hard. perhaps it was curious stone
which woald prove his nights excursion
If the trapsers he was with should be
,o,n,ed 10 doubt it. After a htue
gropipg he found It again; 1t fell Ike d
stone covered with slimy moisture ana
uniting il into his pocket he made his
way out Ct The ruins as he could
W,eu lie returned TO the house bis
,r,end was alone waiting for him, and
sleepy. as Homer could see, const-
ouenrly lr.he annoyed at being ksp'
m TOO lalc. The gucs. SAID nothing
that night OF where he h'd been
In h, room he toot Oh, Ia done'
Twas pebble CT a piece Of tie pave.
men,, as lie had supposed, bat an oV''
of grazing lava tlat ad once been d
brooch or a par, OF a lr'celei' As nc
cleaned it with lis pen-kuiie and pocke''
baudkclclef lie saw hat thC
the work upon ii vas beautiful; II "a'
q Goure OF Miaelva. the yery folds il
her tunic carefully cut, and, As lie sa"
by bis maguii, iog-glass, with a lisb'
trocery Of carving On her helmet arc
shield. On the opposite tide' Just IN
der the shield, was the word Violet
Il was evidently tie owners name
hpt who was she: Where did sic I'VE
and uhen ? The pin, !; il were pm
had not lain in is list hidingplace
long. he thought. It was not enou-'
stained by the dlmpDess. yet lie wa'
not sure about that. 'VloleV mlgh
belong to a former generation or misn
have been sic ping the sleep oil tie Jns
for a century. But suppose not sup
nose she ncre a young LADY beautiful a
her name, wealthy and high born
Well, what then!
Homer put ont Immediately TO sleep
1,be a0lr seemed to promise an ad
venture az such il would have beef
interesting to any young person. BH
Ashton in addition 10 being barrel,
twenty-five, had been obliged to max
his was way for the last ten years; tor
tbou.h he was ol good family, Dam
Fortune had started him IN life VIII
no more than one Of her pennies, when
however. every time a man turns it, a
IN the legend, leaves a gold piece IN HI
hand. h - -,
The next morning but one a tai
Young man with dark har and eyes an
an expression amused, yet resolute
handed in his card at GrAntham HaI
and asked TO see its owner, Sir Gresham
Land.
DIR. Homer Ashton, cried Sir Ores
| ham looking up from his letters dis
nleased ct the interruption. WHO
lbe? | don't know any snch person.
Beryl,' 10 the servant, what docs b
look likeY
"A swell, Sir Gresham, on sprycr.
On, 'spryer,' is he? In bis head o
his heels. | wonder Well, | suppose
must see what the fellow wants; one 9