Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-20
''What is the light, Gervase9 What is It

| ike!
ri den't know; never saw anything
the least like it, - he answered with hesita-
ton. Come away, come away, Kate.'
he went on in an altered tone. sFor
heavens sake don't look up therey'
/ did look; | was already looking.
| The two figures stood there with their
dead faces.
''Come away3' repeated Gervase, throw
ing his arm around my waist.
The candle dropped from my trembling
hand, and was extinguished in the fall; the
terror, suppressed before, was shaking me
now.
In an agony clung to him and hid my
eyes upon his arm.
'.Bear up, Katie; don't faint; 1 can find
the doorp he said, bravely.
But l could hear the beating of his
heart, as he felt his way through the black
darkness OF the room.
sKatel = Gervaseg', cried Hiida's voice
outside, as he laid his hand upon the door.
''Why do you not answer me? You must
know l am frightened, knocking for you
here in the dark"
1--WE are here, all right; the candid is
out" said Gervase, uniastening the door
to be frightened at, Hilda. Don't look
up"
In his agitation he spoke the warning
unthinkingly, as Hilda pushed past us into
the room.
"Don't look upn' she repeated in puz-
zled tone; and naturally, womanlike, the
very Injunction caused her to look. The
next instant she screamed, and fell faint
ing into Gervase's arms.
The scream brought forward Mrs. King.
Her voice was heard energetically asking
if anything was amiss.
"No,' shouted Gervase. ''Keep the
door open. We are coming
But Mrs. King, Influenced by her ruling
passion, could only come to one conclusion
that some of her husbands new admirers
had gained entrance to the closed apart
ments.
Nothing would have kept her back.
As she came rushing through the long
drawing room with her candle, and we
walked forward, cold wind seemed to
pass US from the door of the banqueting
hall. And between us and our irrate
housekeeper appeared the two dark,
shrouded forms.
''Why, there they are, ma'aml There
they are, sir, just as | saw 'em, the two
together, strolling afore our window on
the grassplat. Well, if this don't beat all
Kate
The dark figures turned to her, no longer
dark.
The CHASTITY light was shining around
them, Illuminating the steel of the armor,
the robes of the nun, and the two dead
faces.
With more terrible scream than Hilda
had given, Mrs. King backed step; fas-
cinated by the step she was unable to turn
and flee
Her rubicund face became deadly white,
then changed to dull yellow.
"Whai does it mean?" she gasped.
The taller of the figures stretched forth
his mailed arm. his skeleton hand, towards
the door with commanding gesture.
'Departr' it said, as plainly as silent
motion can speak. depart, and trouble
US no more"
Any way, Gervase so understood it.
eyes, and without delay" he said, as
we got back, oil in heap, to the parlor.
| Nobody thought Of sleep that night.
| By eight o'clock the next morning all
things were packed, and Mrs. King, look
ing very pale and subdued, made coffee for
US in the house for the last time.
Her husband had gone betimes to bring
a cart and fly to carry us away.
hhCW yOu u liOO quay uhClO
observed the station-master to Gervase,
when he was taking the tickets to return
| to town. "Lots of people have tired it,
but they all fly away again.
I was with Gervase when he went to
deliver up the key to the solicitor who had
let him the house.
That gentleman listened to our report in
silence.
SWELL" said he at last, 81 am glad you
are safely out of it,"
,"Why do you let it to anybody" asked
Gervase.
''By direction of Sir Rufus Saxon. He
has an idea-it is tradition, | believe
that stranger can, and. some time will,
break the spell that lies over it. am
told also, 1 expect with truth, that for
months together nothing wrong will be
heard or seen; and then the-the figures
just as you describe them-appear for
time again."
'What was the crime-if it Was a crime
that doomed them to walk in this way
sir?'' put in.
The lawyer shook his head.
Il do not rightly know, young lady.
Rumors have certainly reached me; in fact,
Sir Rufus has said word or two il conf
dence; but the honor of noble knightly
family, otherwise irreproachable, seals my
lips.