Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-01-17

my KlDu uOSL anu HpSbbSo VI INC Vel
egram. and OF my determination to
start for England on the morrow.
Lady c. looked grave when she
read the message.
"You might have saved few
hours. dear" she said
"Only a very few. And then /
should have missed the most delight
full experience of all my life, | an
swered fervently.
But it was a case Of life and death,
my child" she added gently. Ana
/ felt she had given me a reproof
My trunks were soon packed by
Justin, who accompanied me to Eng
land. Sir Charles c., as my legal
guardian, also insisted on going with
me. and late on the following night
we were driving through the moon
less darkness of countr. roads to
Crowsnest. A stately housekeeper
met us in the hall
Miss Northcote, you came too late, .
she said, and there was more austeri-
ty than sadness in her tone My
dear mistress died three hours ago. II
you had left Paris last night you
would have been in time, Ny lady
had communication she desired to
make to you. "
What was it2" l asked in much
distress.
"That no one viii ever know in
this world" was the answer. And
| felt from that moment as though
Mrs. Stevens was my enemy.
N of
Crowsnest until after the funeral.
Then, in vain, he urged me to return
with him to Paris. | was bent on re-
naming a few weeks longer in the
quaint old fashioned house, which
now to all intents and purposes was
mine With the exception of one
bed room in it, a description of Crows
nest is not necessary TO the develop
ment OF my tale, but TO describe that
is imperative The room had taken
my fancy from the first. 1t was
long and large and low; the walls
paneled with cedarwood. On the
panels hung framed tapestry pictures,
the work of past generations of North
cotss. The ceiling of cedar-wood,
with curiously carved rafters, made the
walls l.OlS much very lower than they
were A time mellowed square of In
dian cas- pet covered the center Of the
cedar floor on which stood the bed
of the same wood, and richly carved
raised on a dais. There were two
windows; that nearest the bed, bay
with diamond panes, the hangings,
similar to those of the bed, of old
fashioned rich brocade with faded
pink satin Innings. On the side of
the bay window nearest the bed was
fixed a modern gasbracket, which
struck me as a strange anomaly and
the only mcongruity amid the an
tique surroundings. 1t was in this
chamber my stepmother died, but ut
terly devoid of all superstitious weak
ness | decided to occupy it myself.
No sooner had my kind guardian left
Crowsnest than | told Mrs. Stevens
of my intention, whereon she looked
troubled, urging various reasons why
| should not do SO, none Of which APP
peared TO me Of any weight. AT last
she said 1T was Mrs. Northcote's
wish that the room should not be
used. She died ia it,. D."
"And do you suppose / am so fool
ish as to be afraid to sleep there on
that accounts" l asked.
1T is not my province to suppose
anything, Miss Northcote. My late
mistress entertained the fancy, aud if
you had seen her before she died it is
my belief she would have given you
her reasons herself. AS it is
CAS- it is, Mrs Stevens, answered,
seeing that she paused irresolutely,
Il am now mistress here, and have
set my heart on that particular bed
room. Have it prepared, please, for
| wish to occupy it at once d"
"As you will, y she said, Indifferent
ly. But as she turned away / caught
a peculiar look on herface, which per
picked as much as it annoyed me.
My belongings were promptly remov-
ed into the coveted room, my maid,
Justine, occupying a small dressing
room adjoining, but to which there
was no through communication. The
first night of my taking possession of
my new quarters was close and oppres
sive, and | remember waking to find
the scent of the cedar-wood slightly
empowering. About midnight |
rose; threading my way across the
floor with difficulty, for the room was
almost in total darkness, l opened the
nearest window. The next night, be-
fore Justine left me, | desired her not
to turn the gas quite out. Three
nights later | agaih woke with a sense
Of languor aud oppression ! did not
want TO be mt the trouble of rising TO
open the window, but | looked up
sleepily. The gas beside the window
gave oat dim light; beyond it faint
moonbeam slanting across the room
in which lay the shadow of a pear
tree that grew outside close to the
house. could trace the shadows of
the branches and the leaves, and
watched them as they Aickered, stir
red by the night wind Keeping my
eyes open in halfsleepy manner, as
| nave said, all at once | became con