The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-08-18
Martha retraced her steps down stairs,
Now, Mr.-a-a-
Meredith, sir, at your service.


''Mr. Meredith, then, as you seem to be
a reasonable fellow, perhaps, all things con-
sidered, it will be as well to waive my first
intention of pitching you headlong out of
the window, and try to accommodate you
during your brief stay as we'll as our hum
BILE and limited means will permit" He
said this with an air of chagrin and sarcasm
that told plainly how much he was irritated
at being overmatched. 'Meanwhile, you
shall, as you request, lodge we'll and be fed
well until you take your august departure. "
Some further conversation, relative to
the matter in hand, followed; and after a
short time he rang again for Martha, who
after brief colloquy received instructions
to conduct me to the apartment | was for
the nonce to occupy.
'Mr. Meredith" he said as [ was bow
ing myself out of the room, 'there is one
thing [ should wish you to understand.
We are very quiet people, and dislike be-
ing disturbed at night. The dog has usu-
ally the range of the house after ten o clock.
1t would be well to keep your room after
that hour till the servants are about in the
morning. He is an extremely savage beast,
and some accident might occur
Indeed, Mr.. Wintock? Then would
it not be advisable, to avoid all risk, to
keep him constantly chained up?'' l laid
my hand carelessly on my breast-pocket as
[ spoke.
He understood the hint, and replied
good d-humoredly: "Well, well; perhaps it
would. Martha, tell Benefit to see to it. "
He meditates a moonlight departure,
thought I, as [ left the drawing-room.
ave shall see;" and resolved to be more
than ordinarily vigilant.
The room allotted for my temporary ac-
commodation was in an upper story, in an
angle of the building overlooking the most
pleasant part of the park; and on the oppo-
site side to that more immediately ly tenanted
by the family 1t was comfortably fur
nished, and my meals were regularl y and
literally served. [ did not, however, get
much repose. My chiefs caution, Ito
sleep with one eye open; MIR. WintOck's s
behavior at our first meeting, and espe-
cialIy his hint about the dog, together with
the jealous suspicion with which Benefit
evidently watched my every movement
whenever | left my apartment, determined
me to keep on the alert. 1t was my Gus
tom to remain the greater part of the night
in my room, sometimes with a light, Oftener
without one, and, as the weather was tol-
erably warm, not unfrequently with the
window open. What sleep [ had was
chiefly by snatches in the day time.
1t was on the fifth night after establish
ing myself in the quarters at the Hall, and
the great clock had struck the solemn hour
of twelve. The house was wrapped in 81
lence; not sound seemed to break the
stiffness of the night. [ had been reading,
and overcome either by the lassitude con-
sequent upon being shut up for several
days, or the drowsiness attendant upon a
protracted period of watchfulness, or per-
haps by both, had dropped off into dreamy
doze. On the other side of the room-a
capacious one-and opposite the centre
table at which was sitting, hung large
mirror; behind me was door, shielded by
very handsome sceen covered with richly
ornamental oriental designs Something
partially reused me, and [ looked up in
that half-conscious, half-somniferous state
subsequent to what is denominated as forty
winks" My candle was Pickering in the
socket. By its varying and fast decreasing
light stood dimly revealed in the reflection
of the mirror before me the vision of a
haggard female face, peering at me intently
round the extreme fold of the screen, which
reached to within yard of my chair.
Such an expression | had never before
seen on mortal physiognomy, nor ever wish
to see again. Long raven-black hair hung
disheveled over face pale and haggard;
the bloodless ips closed over the clenched
teeth with desperate resolution; the bril-
liant flashing eyes glittered with an almost
maniacal light; yet, distorted as were the
features, they still bore traces of singular
beauty For the first time since entering
the Hall the strange story Of the "white
face" which [ had heard at the Three
Nags, flashed across my memory. For a
moment sense and reason seemed to reel,
and l had well-nigh fallen from my chair
Suddenly the lips parted in an attempt to
speak, and the figure extended its attenu-
ated arm, as if to touch me- At the same
moment brawny hand was placed over
it's mouth, and it was forcibly dragged, or
rather lifted, back behind the screen just
as my expiring candle rallied for an instant
and shot up its last bright gleam of fame
Then all was darkness.
Springing to my feet, L rushed to the
door, overturning both chair and screen in
my haste. There was neither trace nor
sound Of any one near my chamber. The
lofty staircase, the long passages, were 81
lent and deserted 1t was with sensations
not to be described that [ returned to my
room, lighted a fresh candle, and sat watch
ing and listening eagerly the remaining
part of the night; but nothing further oc-
Cured Nor was there the next day, on
the part of the inmates, the most trifing
indication that anything unusual had oc-
Cured. [ forbore to ask any questions,
and kept my own counsel, determining,
however, as far as possible, to unravel the
mystery.
With this purpose in mind, I resolved
not to confne myself so closely to my room
as heretofore. OF the supernatural [ did
not for moment dream; but it did strike
me that the face said to be occasionally seen
at the windows, and which had certainly
appeared to me, might possibly be clever
device, in one case to frighten unwelcome
visitors from the premises, in the other to
bring about my own speedy departure. Yet
that dark sinewy hand-unless the whole
thing were a delusion on my part-evi-
IDENTIFY coerced and prevented the intention
of the figure. Then, again, it occurred to
me that possibly it might be some insane
member of the family, whom it was desira-
BILE to keep secluded, and yet not necessary
to send away to an asylum, and who had
during the night broken away from re-
straint. IF SO, what right had l to inter-
fere, or to intrude myself upon Mr.. Win
tock's private affairs? 1 could not satisfy
myself, and waited in fever of excitement
r. .o...o H. - r.,,;Jo mo c. ;ntoncalu