Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-08

turn crimson. Ii has never STRUCK
me that perhaps they would like to bt
alone; it Is such a new idea that IN,
sister can prefer any other persons com
pany TO mine. resent being dismissed
like this.
You are quite right" | answer
S:ifily. There is no reason at all why
my actions should be Influenced b,
yours - and then L sweep angrily from
the room.
"She is cross; let me go to her."
I hear May saying anxiously as / mount
the stairs but her lover only laughs
and detains her.
On my way down | pass, in dignified
silence, not meaning to say goodbye,
the door of the room where thev are
sitting; but, just as am getting into
the carriage, L look up and see May on
the terrace.
Don't be long, little mother !" she
cries out gaily, nodding and smiling
until Russell interfereS, drawing her
back into the room, and closing the
window with what seems to me u very
vicious snap. Then | am driven off.
1t is six-mile drive to Esher. and
the carriage is a closed one. The glasses
get dull and frosted with my breath,
aud presently can see out no longer,
and soon grow SO warm and drowsy
that L fall fast aSleep-and dream.
My dream IS a strange one, and evil
IDENTIFY suggested by the event of the
morning. | am all alone in a large
room, the dulueSS and dreariness of
which remind me of the room l entered
fifteen years ago at Netherleld. As at
that time too, L am not alone. A wo-
man Is advancing towards me all draped
III black, waving her arms wildly III the
air, as if she were under the influence
of some strong dram or opiate. By
and-by she half turns away, and then |
see that tresS of golden hair has es-
capped from its confinement, and is ly-
ing lightly on her sable germents. In
sensibly attracted, | draw near and
touch it softly in color aud texture it
is very like my little sisters. The next
moment she glides away from me, and
l have no strength TO follow. A large
white hand appears from between some
heavy damaSk curtains at the far end
of the room, and draws her behind,
while l can only stare stupidity after
her and wonder whittier she has gone.
y whole hour, it seems, do | spend
watching for her to re-emerge- My
eyes are nearly starting out of my
head, so earnestly do l gaze. | think
| cannot be quite sound asleep, my
thoughts are 50 clear and collected.
Then comes low moaning cry, and in
Stantly | recover myself and have
power to move. With supernatural
strength tear down the curtains and
penetrate into the space beyond. a man
IS standing with his back 10 me, bend
ing over PROSTATE form, a cleaning
knife upraised telling of the crime that
has been committed. The victim is the
woman in black but now the veil is
thrown back, and | can see-what z |
stagger back and press my hands tn my
eyes to shut out the appalling sight.
Everything seems growing dim, fading
away in a crimson mist.
Thank Heaven, it was only a
dream! !" l exclalm aloud, as l wake
up and find myself safe in the carriage
and. though | cannot shake off an i'm
preston of i'll, L am glad when the rat
ting of the wheels over the stones tells
me that We are in Esher. Then at last
We pull up, and the door is opened for
me TO alight.
The question whether Miss Haseldine
is at home is never asked. 1t is known
to be a pointleSs one, as she never
moves from her room so | only inquire
of the servant who stands in the hall
whether my aunt is better.
Miss Haseldine is about the same
rambling little the last few days, and
not gaining much strength" IS the re-
ply receive and then | am ushered
INTO her presence.
''HOw are you to-day, aunt Jane 7"
ask cheerfully, making my way to her
side.
She raises her withered cheek for me
TO kiss, and whispers something about
there not being much change. Then,
looking round, she adds curiously-
There used to be two of you,
thought. Where Is the other2 Is she
dead ?''
Although know she is not response
bic for what she says, | cannot refrain
from a startled cry.
Heaven forbid ~ l exclaim. "Why
should you think that ?''
81 didn't know, my dear. Don't be
cross L didn't know. So many have
died and left Inc. You two are the last
relatives have in the world" she an
swers, with apolOgetic sadness.
StOop down and arrange her cush-
ions, feeling sorry for the poor old wO-
man who has nothing left but life.
"Where is May ?" says my aunt
again, breaking into my train of
thought.
"At home. Her lover is spending
the day with US, and she stayed with
him."
"What Baby May got lover !"
'Gou forget, aunt; she was engaged
to Mr. Russell Browne six months ago.
She III to be married next MONTH"
"You never told me- is the queru.
lous retort.
"YOu forget" repeat patiently.
''RusSel Brownel Mr.. Russell Browne!
Doctor Russell Browne !"
She is muttering one name after an
other, III low excited tones, as though
trying 10 recollect something In cOnnec-
tion with him. But presently she
changes the subject, and begins telling
me about herself. l listen politely,
though my thoughts are often wander
ing, | fear, and my replies are not al
ways applicable.
At last she lapses into silence, which
is not broken for several minutes. Then
she says something which makes my
blood run cold.
''And 80 little May is going to marry
Doctor Browne of Nethertield HOllowl"
she observes cOntemplatively.
For moment L am stunned. Has
she by strange effort of memory re-
called the real name of the man who
was suspected of having killed his wife
by mesmerism SO many years ago, or is
she only rambling still ?
Her next words tell me all.
"A widower too They say he mur-
dered his wife but | don't know. 1t
was never proved, and he went away
almost directly. Dear, dear, how
strangely things come about ~
"Aunt are Won SIRE that the name