The Penn's Grove record., 1884-10-04

have any dTeary associations with the
village where we lived 50 many years,
and where, strange to say, Russell
Browne contemplates taking another
house when they are married.
81 was only ten yeaIs old when it hap
pened, 'sI begin ''you were "A little
child, and our father was still alive. 1t
was he that took me to the farm II
wintry afternoon, and left me outside
while he went to speak with the man
who lived thare-his tenant. He said
he should be only a few moments but
he was away so long that became rest
less, and wandered round the house,
looking into the windows to see If |
could find him, l was about to turn
back discouraged, when a wide-Open
window caught my eye, and | made
towards 1t at once. The room belong
| ing to it looked so dismal and dark that
my first thought vas that [ would
rather be outside than IN there then
[ saw a small fire burning in a low old
fashioned crate, and, although it was
nearly out, I could not resist stepping
| In to warm nay hands. Not till | had
crossed the threshold did | observe
that l was not alone. A woman was
| seated on a high-backed chair, between
a door that stood ajar and the window.
Her eyes were closed, and the hair was
blown back from her thin white face
by the draught, while now and then
| her lips moved, and she began talking
to herself in a low mOurnful key
| stop a moment for breath, and am
half startled by the rapt attention May
is giving to my story. Her eyes are
fixed Oh my mouth, as though she
would hear the words before they are
spoken.
"Are YOU frightened Shall | stOpf''
1 ask, a little %anxiously.
mo, no-go on she ns"er inpa-
tlently. L want to hear it all.
And half unWlllingly / continue
AT first l thought she was asleep, but,
after a few minutes scrutiny, | saw she
was in pain, such fearful contortions
passed over her face, while her eyelids
twitched continually. Presently
summoned up courage to pluck her by
the sleeve, when suddenly she caught
my arm and cried out
"Child, have you come 10 save me :
He is mesmerlsing me to death, 1 tell
you he is -mesmerislng me to death ?
Before I could answer, L heard
another voice behind me which com
manded silence and, turning round,
| saw glaring i'll at the door a dark
wicked-loobing face, close shaven and
with short black hair. Only IA word
the man spoke, and that in low, almost
soothing tones, but my arm was re-
leased at once, and the woman shrank
back in mortal terror on her chair. As
for me. a scare came over me and,
with a piercing shrek, | { dashed through
the window, leaving the miserable wo-
man alone with the man. | did not
stop TIL | reached home, and there my
story was received with a little laugh
ter and more discredit. They said
had been dreaming but knew | was
| awake, and felt sure the wOman was in
real need of help. | have never forgot
ten her face, and | think | should re-
member his"
call alone in the freight 2n
1t is Russell Browne who has entered,
and now stands beside us, laughing at
our fright. May Is soonest treasured,
and hides an April face of smiles and
tears on his shoulder.
Never before have | noticed how
dark Rnssel is, and what a sinister look
comes into his eyes at times and now
/ taken in conjunction with the story l
have told and the fact that he too is a
mesmerist, l can only shudder and bury
my face in my hands.
"Why Magdalen, you are more
frightened at your W story than l
was 70 laughs May lightly.
HAS Magdalen been telling ghost
stories ?" asks Russell, twirling his long
black whiskers and looking up with
faintest interest.
1t was a true story l was telling" l
remark graYely.
And we have not heard the end yet.
Magdalen, did the woman really die ?"
Yes, she died a fortnight later"
"And you believe -"
81 believe size was murdered, foully,
cruelty murdered, l answer, with an
impressiveness that surprises myself.
"And some day / feel sure that the nan
who did it will be found and brought
to justice.
''Your sister is getting quite blood
thirsty" says Russell, with a sneer,
turning his face from me and addressing
May. What Is it all about ?"
DO not tell him, May /" 1 implore
excItedly, somehow feeling a strange
reluctance that he should hear the story.
do not tell him. 1t was all my fancy;
/ dare say"
May smiles, and says no more on the
subject but Russell Brownies eyes
meet mine scowlingly and for the first
time I feel as if l had a reason for my
instructive dislike"
We are all in church together as the
first rays pierce through the clouds and
enter the large stained windows; but,
when | turn round contentedly to ad-
mire the scattered colOred lights, | see
they have produced a weird effect,
On Russell Browns face they lie like
a pale blue shadow, giving him so hag
gard and evil an appearance that / turn
away in disgust, only TO meet a still
more uncanny sight, My sisters head
is bent over her book as she is joining
in the responses, serenely UNCONSCIOUS
that she is bathed in such a sea Of red
| lubf that for a maulanf | fancy il muSr