West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-01-11

lhey 90 say, ma m, as Dame Clare
Clifford appears with her head tucked
Inder her arm, and threads from the
old tapestry hanging 20 her skeleton
fingers. She's dressed i'm gray silk.
that doesn : rustic never bit. though
lis so thick il might stand all alone,
they do say. lis awful lonesome for
you madam. TO sleep here alone. and
II stay with YOU with pleasure IL it
comes to that, though my nerves arn't
none of the strongest.
thanked Warden, however. and as
surcd her that was not in the least
afraid; and she, with a well-relieved
face, left me alone. | heard her foot
steps echoiug 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
Aspcn's Vale.
think have implied that was
brave. In my girlhood. in my short
married life, even in the sad depression
OF my early wdowhood, | 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 curious sensation.
did not call it fear, did not know
1t for that grim and pale-faccd tyrant;
but 1T made me uncomfortable and
caused my heart to beat irrcgularly.
The sensation was this-l felt that I
was not alone.
Of course it was fancy, and what had
to do with fancy?
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
slderation for her feelings. | had al
lowed her to leave the Jewels which |
mad worn that evening on the dressing
table.
There they lay, a set of very valuable
brllliantS. There was an old-fasnioned
mirror over the mautel-piecc. and as |
sat by the fire | saw the reflection of
my diamonds in the glass. As | no.
tccd their sparkle, again that strange
sensation returned; this time more
strongly, this time with cold SILVER.
| was not alone.
Who was in the tapestry chamber?
was 1T the ghost? Was that story true,
after ALP OF course / did not believe
II. L laughed aloud as the idea came
10 me. felt that | was getting quite
SILLY and nervous. There was nothing
Tor me but to get into bed rs quickly as
possible.
was about TO rise from my easv
chaIr and go over TO the old-faShioned
iour-poster, when again my attention
was attracted to the glass over my head
IL was hung in such Il way as to reveal
large portion OF the room, and now |
saw, not the diamonds, but-something
else .
In the folds of the dim and old-world
tapestry l saw something move and
glitter. looked again; there was no
hlistaklnS lit was AN Eye, n human
eye, looking iixcdly at me through a
mole IN the canvas. Now | knew why
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. | was
alone with n thief, perhaps with worse.
and gems of immense value Law within
his reach. | was absolutely alone. not
soul could hear the most apouized cry
for help in this distant room.
Now ] knew--if / had ever doubted IL
betore-that was very brave woman.
The imminence of the peril steadied
the nerves which a few minutes before
were beginning strangely TO culver. |
neither started nor exclaimed. | felt
that | had in no way BETRAYED INV
knowledge 20 my terrible guest. sat
perfectly still. thinking out the situa-
ton and my chances OF escape.
Nothing but consummate GOODNESS
could win the victory. / resolved to be
very cool. With n feryent and passion
ate cry TO One above for succor, rose
from my chair, and going to the dress
ing-table, | slipped several costly rings
off my fingers. l left them scattered
carelessly about. ! denuded myself of
all but my wedding ring.
Then | put the extinguishers on the
candies they were wax and stood i'm
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 minutcs-it
seemed more like an hour TO my strained
0enses-before | heard the faintest
movement. Then / discovered n little
rustic behind the tapestry, and man
got out. When he did so opened nv
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. III, had a black
beard and a quantity Of thick black
hair. ! noticed his features. which
were tolerably regular.
! also noticed another peculiarly.
among his raven locks was one perfect
~ white. One rather thick white loci,
was flung back of his forehead so
White was il that the freight instantly
revealed it To me.
The man did not glance toward the
bed; he went stra ght, with no particu-
larly quiet step, 10 the dressing-table. I
closed my eye, now. hut / heard him
taking mp my trinkcts and dropping
them again. Then he approached the
bed SIDE. felt him come close: / felt
hi- breath as be bent over me. wa.
lying ON my side; my eyes were shut. I
was breathing gently
Tie wen, away again, he returned 10
The dressing table. heard him rather
nDi-iiy strike a match; then with a
izIiaJ candle in his hand me once
more approached The bed This time
Boo bent very low indeed, and 7 felt The
.eat OF the lame as he passed it softly