Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-06-08

and spray among the rocks. The wine
walled pitifully; the rain beat agains
tho window -panes--it was dreary
( night.
| Suddenly she became aware of I
draught of colder air, and the next mo
ment of an influence altogether strange
and unfamilior. The child opened widei
her great dark eyes, and slightly nodded
at Margaret. In few moments hel
lips parted, and she said, slowly, "Lool
up"
Margaret obeyed her mechanically,
and saw-yes, she was sure she saw
wild white face peering in at them, at
lost spirit might gaze longingly into
some paradise he never could enter.
From this time forward Margaret was
kept in a constant and restless uncer.
tainty. The strangest things were con-
tinually happening. II she left book
that she had been reading open at one
place, the mark would be removed to
some other part that generally in some
way or other referred to conversations
which she had believed to have only
been heard by Julia. The ohild's cloth
ing was changed and removed, her cur.
tains parted, and in tho halls and cor
ridors ouside their usual sitting.rooms
fitting footsteps were often distinctly
audible.
Nor was Margaret personally free
from annoyance. During her walks
with Lady Julia che was often certain
that the materials of her work basket
had been rearranged, and on one occa.
sion letter which she was writing TO
her brother was taken away, and dur
ing her absence the following day mys
teriously restored.
She began now to strongly suspect
human agency in all theso annoyances,
and dreadful fear entered her heart;
perhaps, for some wicked reason or
other, the people around the little
Julia were DESTROYS of utterly unnorv.
ing and destroying tho child's mental
powers. 1t was possible that such a
wicked design accomplished might
place the inheritance in other hands.
"lf there is any conspincy against
this innocent child shall discover 1t,
she said, almost angrily. And forth
with dismissing all idea OF supernatural
influence or interference, she set her.
self, with patient will, the task Of
meeting this disturbing ghost, whoever
or whatever 1t might be.
Early in the spring Julia had dan
gerous fever, and Margaret drew very
near the child in this crisis. As soon as
it was possible TO move her the cast
wing was deserted for q time, and
rooms in the center Of tho castle were
appropriated TO the invalid and Mar.
garet.
Blu; though she moved cautiously
and kept constantly on the alert, she
could not sec anything tangible enough
to accosL Frequently she heard rapid
stealthy footsteps along the corridors,
and one night when the sick child had
suffered dangerous relapse slow, heavy
footballs were distinctly to be heard in
the room above them all through the
long hours of that anxious night.
It might be a week after this JuliA
was recovering again, and Mrs. Sslby
had watched her until after midnight
in order that Margaret might res,
awhile. Then she resigned her place
to the governess. But a singular feel.
ing OF unrest possessed Margaret. She
could not sit still; she glided mp and
down the room, and frequently looked
out Of the window and into the long
corridor that went by the room.
There Was large oriel-window at the
ond OF this corridor, and in it's curtained
recess q cushioned chair or two.
AS the waning moon began to rise
above the horizon this recess became
perfectly distinct in all its details, and
Margaret noticed particularly that over
one OF the chairs was . shawl or gar
ment that looked in the wan cold light
rs il made of some soft and snowy white
texture and color.
When she looked again the shawl had
been removed. She sat calmly down
md reasoned about this event, and in
about half an hcur again examined the
window recess. The moon shone full
into it now, and reclining motionlesy in
one Of the chairs vas the figure Of q
man. Without daring to think she
advanced cautiously toward It. The
ligure never moved. She stood a. its
side; ; she examined the wan handsome
face; bat the man was evidently in n
1ant, alaox1