The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-28

under her arm. and threads from the
old tapestry hanging to her skeleton
fingers She's dressed in gray silk,
that dOesn rustic never n bit, though
It's so thick it might stand all alone,
they do say. IT'S awful lonesome fol-
you, madam, to sleep here alone, and
I'll stay with you with pleasure if ii
comes to that, though my nerves arn't
none of the strongest. -
| thanked Warden, however, and as
sured her that | was not in the least
afraid; and she, with a well-relieved
face, left me alone. l heard her foot
steps echoing down the corridor they
died away. | was now out of reach OF
all human help, for in this distant
room, in this wing, no possible sounds
could reach any other inhabitants OF
Aspen's Vale.
think | have implied that | was
brave. In my girlhood, in my short
married life, even in the sad depression
of my early widowhood, l had never
known physical fear; nevertheless, when
the last of Warden's footsteps echoed
out and died, and that profound still
ness followed which can be oppressive,
/ had a curious sensation.
l did not call it fear, did not know
it for that grim and pale-faced tyrant;
| but it made me uncomfortable and
caused my heart to beat irregularly.
The sensation was this-I felt that |
was not alone.
Of course it was fancy, and what had
| to do with fancy?
l determined to Danish this uncom-
Portable feeling from my mind, and
stirring the fire to a cheerful blaze, |
drew one of the black oak chairs near
/ it and sat down.
Warden had looked so pale and fright
ened before she left me that, out of con-
sideratiOn for her feelings, L had al
lowed her 10 leave the Jewels which [
had worn that evening on the dressing
/ table.
There they lay, set of very valuable
brilliants. There was an old-fasnioned
mirror over the mautel-piece, and as |
sat by the fire | saw the reflection of
my diamonds in the glass. As l no.
ticed their sparkle, again that strange
sensation returned; this time more
strongly, this time with a cold SILVER.
l was not alone.
Who was in the tapestry chamber?
Was it the ghost? Was that story true,
after all? Of course l did not believe
it. l laughed aloud as the idea came
to me. Ifelt that | was getting quite
silly and nervous There was nothing
for me but to get into bed as quickly as
possible.
was about to rise from my easy
chair and 90 over to the Old-fashioned
four-pOster, when again my attention
was attracted to the glass over my head.
1t was hung in such a way as to reveal
a large portion of the room, and now [
saw, not the diamonds, but-something
else.
In the folds of the dim and old-world
tapestry | saw something move and
glitter looked again; there was no
installing tit was an Eye, human
eye, looking tiXedly at me through
hole in the canvas. Now knew why
L felt that | was not alone.
There was some one hidden between
the tapestry hangings and the wall of
the chamber. Some one-not a ghost.
That eye was human, or | had never
looked on human eye before. l was
alone with thief. perhaps with worse,
and gems of immense value lay within
his reach. l was absolutely alone, not
soul could hear the most agOniZed cry
for help in this distant room.
Now | knew--if had ever doubted it
before-that was very brave woman
The imminence of the peril steadied
the nerves which few minutes before
were beginning strangely to CULVER. l
neither started nor exclaimed. | felt
that | had in no way betrayed my
knowledge to my terrible guest. / sat
perfectly still. thinking out the situa-
ton and my chances of escape.
Nothing but cOnsummate GOODNESS
could win the victory. l resolved to be
very cool. With fervent and passion
ate cry to One above for succor, 1 rose
from my chair, and going to the dress
ing-table, L slipped several costly rings
off my fingers. | left them scattered
carelessly about l denuded myself OF
all but my wedding ring.
Then l put the extinguishers on the
candles-they were wax and stood in
massive silver candlesticks. The room,
however, was still brilliant with the
light of the fire on the hearth
got into bed, laid my head on the
pillow, and closed my ewes
1t may have been ten minutes-it
seemed more like an hour to my styained
senseS-before l heard the faintest
movement. Then discovered little
rustic behind the tapestry, and a man
got out. When he did so / opened my
eyes wide; at that instant he could not
possibly see whether they were open or
shut. He was powerful man of great
height and breadth. He had black
beard and quantity of thick black
hair. | noticed his features. which
were tolerably regular.
I also noticed another popularity:
among his raven locks was one perfect
ly white One rather thick white lock
was flung back off his forehead so
white was it that the freight instantly
revealed it to me.
The man did not glance toward the
bed; he went straight, with no particu-
larry quiet step, to the dressing-table.
closed my eyes now, but / heard him
taking up my trinkets and dropping
them again. Then he approached the
bed SIDE l felt him come close | felt
his breath as he bent over me. was
lying on my side; my eyes were shut;
was breathing gently.
He went away again: he returned to
the dressing table. | heard him rather
noisily strike a match; then with
lighted candle in his hand he once
more approached the bed. This time
he bent very low indeed, and | felt the
heat of the flame rs he passed it softly
before my closed eyes. l lay still.
however; not movement, not a hur-
rieh breath hetraYed me-