Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-09-21
the very day on which the great work
of her life had been completed.


of her life had been completed.
1t does not matter to this story
what became of the proud and fair
dame, but it was her ghost which was
said to haunt the wing, and the Tap
estry chamber in particular. Ward
en-, my maid, as she helped me to un
dress, looked pale with terror.
"They do say, ma'am, as Dame
Clare Clifford appears with her head
tucked under her arm, and threads
from the old tapestry hanging to her
skeleton fingers. She's dressed in
grey silk, that don't rustic never a
bit, though tbs so thick it might
stand all alone, they do say. 'Tis
awful lonesome for you. madam, to
sleep here alone, and I'll stay with
you with pleasure if it comes to that,
though my nerves ar'n't none of the
strongest. =
I thanked Warden, however, and
assured her that | was not in the
least afraid and she, with we'll
relieved face, left me alone. [ heard
her footsteps echoing down the cor
rider-they died away. | was now
out of reach of all human help, for in
this distant room, in this distant
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 depres-
sion of my early widowhood, | had
never known physical fear; never
theless, when the last of Warden's
footsteps echoed out and died, and
that profound stiffness followed which
can be oppressive, | had a curious
sensation.
I did not call it fear, | did not
know it for that grim, and pale faced
tyrant, but it made me uncomforta-
BILE, and caused my heart to beat IL
regularly.
The ssensation was this-I felt that
| aUds not alone.
Of course it was fancy-and what
had | to do with fancy?
I determined to Danish this uncom-
Portable feeling from my mind, and
stirring the fire to cheerful blaze, L
drew one of the black oak chairs near
it and sat down.
Warden had looked so pale and
frightened before she left me, that
out of consideration for her feelings
l had allowed her to leave the jewels
which / had worn that evening on
the dressing-table.
There they lay, set of very valu-
able brilliants. There was an old
fashioned mirror over the mantel-
piece, and as | sat by the fire l saw
the reflection of my diamonds in the
glass. AS / noticed their sparkle
again that strange sensation return
ed this time with cold shiver.
aCds not alone.
Who was in the Tapestry chamber
Was it the ghost? Was that story
true, after all? Of course did not
believe it. | laughed aloud as the
idea came to me. / felt that | was
getting quite silly and nervous. There
was nothing for me but to get into
bed as quickly as possible.
l was about to rise from my easy
chair and 60 over to the old-fashion-
ed four-poster, when again my atten-
ton was attracted to the glass over
my head. 1t was hung in such a
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. l looked again there
was no mistaking tit was all eye,
a human eye, looking fixedly at me
through hole in the canvas. Now
I knew why I felt that | was not
alone.
There was some one hidden be-
tween the tapestry hangings and the
wall of the chamber. Some one-not
ghost. That eye was human, or
| had never looked ON human eye be-
fore. / was alone with thief, per-
haps with worse, and gems of i'm
mense value lay within his reach.
was absolutely alone, not a soul
could hear the most agonizing cry
for help in this distant room.
Now / knew-if / had ever doubt
ed it before-that was very brave
woman.
The imminence of the peril stead
led my nerves which few minutes
before were beginning strangely to
quiver. / neither started nor ex-
claimed. / felt that I had in no way
betrayed my knowledge of my terri
| BILE guest. | sat perfectly still,
thinking out the situation and my
chances of escape.
Nothing but consummate GOODNESS
could win the victory. / resolved to
be very cool. With fervent and
passionate cry to One above for suc-
cor, rose from my chair, and going
to nv dressing-table slipped sever
al costly rings off my fingers. / left
them scattered carelessly about. |
denuded myself of all but my we'd
ding ring.
Then | put the extinguishers on
candles-they were wax, and stood
in massive silver candleStickS The