The Penn's Grove record., 1882-05-13
ed in the round room, Dick Gage
stepped forward and remarked

have not seen the ghost of his depar
ing form and the necessity of speakin
the literal truth compels me to ado
: nor any ghost. Let us"-
"Hsrk !" said Miss Vernon.
We listened and from the furthe
end of the long hall we heard ~footstep
approaching and the sweep ola silkel
robe. Our faces grew white, but "
stood spell bound. The ladies were to
frightened to scream-all but Mis-
Vernon, who seemed more excite'
and interested than frightened. Tn
steps came nearer-the door swuni
open, and a woman dressed in heav.
black silk and raven hair which al
most swept the floor, paused on tn
threshold, she locked at US, standing
in a breathless group before her. Sud
denly her eye fell upon Miss Vernon
who stood next to me. With q SHREK
she bounded forward, and before one
could think, much less act, her right
hand, which had hung by her side
buried ia the folds Of her dress, was
lifted and then we saw q cleaning
knife descending toward Clara Yer
mons heart.
flung myself before her in time to
receive the blow in my side. The gen.
tlemen sprang forward and disarmed
the maniac. And just then the New
Year chimes pealed out from the
neighboring churches.
They carried me out to the library
stopped the blood and bound up the
wound as well a possible.
"Why did you try to kill me?"
asked Miss Vernon of the mad woman,
who had become quieter.
~ thought you were she-the
woman with the red gold hair; the
WON IN he loved. But her eyes were
black. If / could kill her he would
love me a. ain"
We knew she must have escaped
from the not far distantinsane asylum,
and some of the gentlemen volunteered
to take her there. She went quietly.
They me- men looking for her shortly
after leaving the castle, and gladly
gave her into her care.
/ was almost exhausted from the
loss of blood. / hardly knew how they
carried me home. The excitement,
the cold and the wound proved too
much for me, and the next morning
found me delirious.
It.was a month before 1 could leave
my room, but / had the best of care.
Once / lay apparently unconscious,
and hot tears fell on my face. When
it was safe to do so l opened my eyes
and saw Miss Vernon pass out Of the
door.
When / did get up the guests had
departed-all but Miss Vernon. Dick
had gone up to the city for aday or two
to look after our mutual business inter
este. But / was a first class hero with
those that remained-I never knew
why. Any man would have done
what l did If he hal stood in my
place, no one could have done less.
Miss Vernon would thank me for
saving her life, though | begged her
not to do so.
1t was in the middle of February,
and 1 was to go home. Dick had
come down to accompany me.
1t was my last night with Clara.
MI. and Mrs. Ainslie, understanding
the situation, kindly vacated the par.
lor. Dick had gone to see his be-
trothed, Alica Logan.
1 do not know when / first discov
cred that l was hopelessly in love, but
such was the fact. When we were
alone M iss Vernon became more icy
than l had eve known her. "By the
way" she said, II had a letter from
Lucille Davenport last week. Am l
to congratulate you?"
"For what, pray ?" l asked. "Be
cause | had such q lucky escape In re-
gard to her?"
Escape she repested, wonder
inely. Are you not engaged"
swell. no; / have not that honor"
I answered. ibid she say so ?' con-
tinued, suddenly understanding the
GOODNESS which had so baffied me.
"Wby she certainly said something
that led me to think so" she returned,
| with anembarrassed blush.
After an i~nstant's hesitation she
rose and went after it. 1 went to my
room and produced a letter received
| from my friend, Ralph Durant, q few
days Def re. We met again in the
parIor. Lucille Dsvenport's letter
| said
II hear that Earl Douglass is visit
ing at your cousins. Don't get your
heart entaneled. / have a small
claim the e."
"Three years ago, Miss Vernon
I said, II offered my heart and hand
to Miss Davenport, l thought loved
her !: she had led me on until L could
not do otherwise than make the offer,
believing that she loved me. She
declined the alliance with thanks,
however, aud / have since found ouI
that 1t was wounded vanity instead o
a broken heart that sent nae tc
Europe"
Ralph Durant's letter said: II an
to be married on the l4.h to Lucille
Davenport"
1.-The 14th 2" said Miss Vernon
"Why that was the day before yes.er
day"
"Yes," I replied, placing their wed
ding cards ia her hands.
looked at the fair, downcast fac
which was slowly flushing beneath
my gaze, and at length 1 became bolt
and told her my story. She listened
quietly, and when with all the pas
sion of my great love in my voice,
asked her for a word of hope, sh'