Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-12-04

married life, even in the sad depression
Of my trly widlHhood, had never
known physIca fear nevertheless
when the last or Warden'J footsteps
echoed ont and died, and that pro-
found stiffness followed which can
be op Jsess:Ye, had IA curious sensa-
ton.
did not call it fear, did not know
it for that grim and pale.fa tyrant
but it made me uncomfortable, and
caused my heart 10 beat iaregulirly.
The sensation was this felt that
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- u cheerful blaze, |
drew one of the black oak chairs near
it and sat down.
Warden had looked so pale and
fright sned before she left me, that out
of consideration for her feeling / had
allowed her to leave the jewels which
| had worn that evening on tie dress.
ing table.
There they lay, set of very valua-
ble lriants. There was an old-fash
ioned mirror over the mantle piece, and
as sat by the fire l saw the reflection
of my diamonds in the glass. AS l
noticed their sparkle, again that
strange sensation returned this time
more strongly, this time with cold
shiver. | was not alone.
Who was in the Tapestry chamber 2
Was it the ghost Was that story
true, after all 4? OF course | did not
believe it. laughed aloud rs the idea
came to me. felt that l WAS getting
quite silly and nervous. There was
nothing for me but 10 get into bed as
quickly AS possible.
was about to rise from my easy
chair and go over to the old.sashiOned
four poster, when again my attention
was attracted 10 the glass oyer my
head. 1t was hung H. such way as
to reveal large portion Of the room,
and now saw, not the diamonds, but
something else.
In the folds Of the diIii and old world
tapestry | saw something moYe and
glitter. l locked again there WAS
no mlstakng tit was an eye, hu-
man eye, looking Hxedly at mN through
a hole in the canvas. Now l knew
why felt that was not alone.
There was some one hidden between
the tapestry hangings and the wall II
the chamber. Some one-not ghost.
That eye was human, or | had never
looked on human eye before. was
alone with IA thief, perhaps with worse
and gems of immense value lay within
his reach. was absolutely alone, not
a soul cnul6 hear the most agoniZed cIy
for help in this distant room.
Now | knew-if had ever doubted
it before-that was very brave wo-
man.
Tie imminence of the peril stead
led the nerves which Few minutes be.
fore were beginning strangely To quiv-
er, | never started nor exclaimed.
felt that had in no way betrayed my
knowledge to my terrible guest. / sat
perfectly still, thinking out the situ4-
tion and my chances Of escape.
Nothing but perfect GOODNESS could
win the victory. l resolved to be very
cool. With fervent and passionate
cry to One above for succor,I rose from
my chair, and going to the dressing
table. ! slipped several costly rings off
my fingers. I left the ~ scatter care
lessly about. ienuded my self of all
but my wedding-ring.
Then put the extinguishers on the
candles - they were wax, and stood in
massive silver candlesticks.
The room, however, was still bril-
liant with the light Of the de on the
hearth.
got into bed, laid my head on the
p illow and closed my eyes.
1t may have been tec minutes-it
seemed more like an hour to nov
strained senses-before I heard the
faintest movement. Then l discovered
little rustic behind the tapestry, and a
man got out. When he did so l open
ed my eyes wide at that distance 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 a quantity of
thick black hair. noticed his feat.
ures, which we're tolerably regular.
l 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 fire instantly re-
vealed 1t to me.
This man did not glance toward the
bed, he went straight, with no partic-
ular quiet step, to the dressing table.