The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-12-24

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gently to lead her away. She resisted
with passive strength should not
have believed she possessed. Whatever
was the dimly conceived object in my
poor wife's brain, it was plain to me
1t could only be attained by passing
through that door.
/ was quite willing to humor her.
Having come so far, I feared to retreat.
To cross her wishes in the present state
of things / felt might be fatal. But
how could we gain entrancep
There was no gleam Of light up
stairs or downstairs. As you looked at
the house you knew intuitively it was
uninhabited. The agent whose name
appeared on the bill carried on business
a mile away, and, evenif had ventured
to leave Pauline and go in search OF
him, at this time of night, my expedi-
ton would be fruitless.
AS cast around, wondering what
was the best thing to do--whether to
fetch the cab and carry the poor girl
into it, lor whether to let her wait
here until she recognized the impossi-
bility of entering the house, and, at last
growing weary, choose to return home
OF her own accord-as l debated these
alternates a sudden thought struck me.
Once before my latch-key had opened a
a strange door, it was within the bounds
OF possibility 1t might do so again /
knew that uninhabited houses are often
from carelessness or convenience left
with doors only latched. 1t was an alb
surd idea, but, after all, there was no
harm in trying. l drew out my key, a
duplicate OF that used on another occa-
sion. 1 placed it in the keyhole with
out hope of success, and, as | felt the
lock turn and saw the door yield, a
thrill of something like horror ran
through me, for now that 1t had come
to pass knew this thing could be no
mere coincidence.
As the door opened, Pauline, without
word, without gesture of surprise,
without anything that showed she was
more aware OF my presence than before,
passed me and entered first. ] followed
hsr, and, closing the door behind me,
found myself in perfect darkness.
heard her light quick step in front o.
me; / heard her ascending tho stairs;
heard door open, and then, and only
then, summoned up presence Of mine
enough to force my limbs to bear me il
pursuit-and my blood seemed to b,
iced water, my flesh was creeping, my
hair was bristling up, as, still in dark
ness, crossed the hall and found thu
staircase without difficulty.
: Why should | not find it, dark, pitch
dark as 1t WASP / knew the road to !
well! Once before l had reached it II
darkness, and many times besides, II
dreams, had crossed that space! Lik
7 a sudden revelation the truth came I,
7 me. 1t came TO me as the key turne'
in the lock. Twas in that very hous
r into which had strsyed three year
ago. ! was crossing the very hall, as
4 cending the same stairs, and shoul
r stand in the identical room which ha
S been the scene OF that terrible une,
g plated crime. l should see with n
. stored sight the spot where, blind an
!; helpless, had nearly fallen a victim
. my rashness. But Pauline, what brough
: her herep
Yes, as expected as, in fact, l fel
certainl The stairs tho same and tn
! Intel of the door in the exact place
I should be. ! might be reacting th
t events OF that fearful night, complet
G even to the darkness. For moment
r wondered whether the last three year
were not the dream; whether Twas nc
!; blind now; whether there was such
0 being as my wife? But / threw tn
q fancy aside.
|, Where was Pauline2 Recalled to my
: self, | realized the necessity Of light
d Drawing my matchbox from my pOck
Q ct struck vesta, and by its light
0 entered the room which once before
had entered with little hope Of eve
!, leaving.
!; My first thought, my first glance, wa
Q for Pauline. She was there, standin
d erect In the apartment, with both hand
e pressed to her brow. The expressio
n Of her face and eyes was little changed
!: ii was easy to see she comprehende
d nothing as yet. But l felt that som,
thing was struggling within her, and
}, dreaded the moment when 1t shoul
n take conference and form. l dreaded
o for her and / dreaded II for mysel
r What awful passages would 1t reveal
Q me!
The wax light burned down TO m
: fingers, and was compelled TO drop i
struck another, then looked about fC
!. some means ofmaking the illuminatio
sustained. To my great joy | found
3 half-burned candle In a candlestick o
: the mantel-piece. blew the thick du'
y out of the cup formed by the melte
= wax at the bottom of tho wick, an
> after little spluttering and resistance
J managed 10 induce IL to remain lighteC
, Pauline stood always in the same a
}, titude, but l fancied her breath VIZ
q quickening. Her fingers were playin
. convulsively round her temples, iidge
II ing and pushing her thick hair bacl
striving 1t seemed to me, TO conjul
Y thought TO return TO that empty shrin,
d | could do nothing but wait; and Will
Q | waited glanced around me.
q We were in good sized room, sui
!, stantially but not fashionably furnished
y the style altogether was that Of a
d ordinary lodging-house. 1t was clei
1t had not been occupied for some tim
o as dust lay thick on every article.
8 could throw my mind back and reca