The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-09-23


drawing deep breath. You heard II, did
you nOt?'
shook my head. My dear Ethel, there
was nothing to hear"
She opened her blue eyes to their widest.
"Papa-am i not to believe the evidence
of my own senses?'
Not when they are affected by nervous
excitement. If you give way to this fancy
you will certainly make yourself i'll. See
how you tremblel Come, lie down again
and try to Sleep"
Not here" She returned, glancing round
with shudder. II shall go to the spare
chamber Nothing would induce me to
spend another night in this roon."
j said no more, but j felt perplexed and
uneasy. 1t was so unlike Ethel TO indulge
in superstitiOus fancies that | began to fear
she must be seriously out of health, and l
resolved for my own satisfaction 10 have a
doctors opinion regarding her.
1t happened that our nearest neighbor was
a physician whom / knew by repute, though
not personally acquainted with him. After
breakfast, without mentioning my intention
to my daughter, j sent a note TO DR.. Came
ron, requesting him to call at his earliest
convenience.
He came without delay-a tall, gray
bearded man of middle age, with a'grave in
telligent face, Observant eyes and sympa-
thetic manner.
His patient received him with undisguised
astOnishment, and on learning that he had
called at my request she gave me look of
mute reprOach.
Il am sorry that papa troubled you, DIR.
Cameron. There is really nothing whatever
the matter with me-, +" she said.
And indeed at that moment, with flushed
cheeks and eyes even brighter than usual,
she looked as little like an invalid as could
well be imagined.
MY dear Ethel, " interposed, "when peo-
pie take to dreaming startling dreams and
hearing supernatural sounds ii is a sign of
something wrong with either mind or body,
as ] am sure DIR. Cameron Will tell you
The doctor started perceptibly. "Ah-is
that Miss Dysart's case?" he inquired, turn
ing to her with a sudden look of interest.
She cOlored and hesitated. Il have had a
strange-experience, which papa considers a
delusion. dare say you will be OF the same
opinion"
suppose you tell me what it was?" he
She was silent, trihing with one of her sill
yer bangles.
Please excuse me" she said hurriedly at
length Il don't care TO speak of IL, but
papa will tell you And before l could de-
tain her she had hurriedly left the room.
When we were alone he turned to me in
quiringly, and in a few words ] related to
him what the reader already knows. He
listened without interruption, and when /
had finished sat for some moments without
speaking, thoughtfully stroking his beard.
He was evidently impressed by what he
had heard, aud waited anxiously for his
opinion. At length he looked up.
Mr., Dysart, he said gravely, you will be
surprised to learn that your daughter is not
the first who has had this strange expert
ence.' Previous tenants of The Cedars have
heard exactly the same sounds which she
describes"
pushed my chair back half yard in as
constituent.
impossible"
He nodded emphatically.
1T is fact, though l dom pretend to ex-
plain it. These strange manifestations have
been noticed at intervals for the last three or
four years; ever since the house was occupied
by a Captain Vandeleur, whose orphan
nephew ="
''Vandeleur?" / interrupted; ''why he was
n client of ours. He insured his nephew s
life in our Office for a large amount, and ="
And few months afterward the child
suddenly and mysteriously died." my COM
paniOn put in. "A singular coincident to
say the least of it,"
$50 singular" l acquiesced, that we
thought it a case for inquiry, particularly as
the ex-Captain did not bear the best of char
acters, and was known to be over head and
ears in debt. But l am bound to say that af-
ter the closest investigation nothing was
discovered to suggest a suspicion of foul
play"
Nevertheless, there had been foul play"
was the Doctors reply.
SYou don't mean that he murdered the
boy that pretty, fragile-looking little fell
low"
NO, he did not murder him, but he let
HIM die Dr. Cameron rejoined. Perhaps
you are not aware" he continued that the
little lad was somewhat feeble in mind as
well as body. | attended him more than
once at Nandeleur's request, and found that
among other strange fears and antipathies he
had a morbid dread of darkness. To be left
alone in dark room for only few minutes
was enough TO throw him into ParoXysm
of nervous excitement. His uncle who, by
the way, professed more affection for him
than could quite believe in, when noticed
how the child shrank from him-cOnsulted
me as to the best means of overcoming this
weakness. / strongly advised him to humor
il for the present, warning him that any
mental shock might endanger the boys rea-
son. or even his life. | little thought those
words of mine would prove his death-war-
rant"
What do you mean?'
'Only few days afterward, Nandeleur
locked him up all night in dark closet,
where he was found the next morning,
crouching against the wall; his hands
clinched, his eyes fixed and staring-dead.'
Good Heavens, how hOrrible But no
word of this was mentioned at the inquest?
No; and did not hear OF 1T myself till
long afterward, from woman who had
been Nandeleur's hOusekeeper, but was toe
much afraid of him to betray him at the
time. From her, too, ] learned by what re-
fined cruelty the poor little lads nerves had
been shaken and his health undermined. II
the intention makes the deed James Van
deleur was a murderer"
] was silent a moment, thinking, with an
uncomfortable thrill, of EthePs dream. 81
wish | had never entered this ill-omened
housew / exclaimed at length. ~ dread
the effect of this revelation on my daughter
mind
why need you tell herr" he questioned
MY advice is to say nothing more about it
The sooner she forgets the subject the better
Send her TO the seaside; change of scene vii
soon efface it from her memory"
He rose as ne spoke and took up his hat.
What has become of Vandeleur?" ] in
quired II have heard nothing of him sine,
we paid the policy.
"He has been living abroad, believe
going to the dogs, no doubt. But he is il
England, now" the doctor added: .'or els'
il was his fetch which ] saw at your gat'
the other night"
"At our gate" / echoed in establishment
-.