The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-03-12

IiE luhSl nave : piililS iIOHl an WI
scure stock. for e. erythnG about him
! is base and low. And arm-in-arm
! they sought the ballroom, and in the
waltz forgot their annoyance.
( On the way home it was agreed to
4 spend month at Harley Bay and pre-
| parations We're begun on the following
| day.
The third day after tile reception at
/ Tell Cottage. the party, consisting of
! Ida, Belle. and May. Jesse, Bert, and
I Arnold, found themselves domciled ut
/ Harley Bay. determined on an enjoy
! able time.
Having discovered that an old house
upon the Cliff was haunted, they re-
! solved to pay il visit. and on that
evening, when the moon hung low, and
| everything was prOpitiouS, the party
| set forth.
Ida had taken 4 good position upon
| rock high above the ruins. and made
! sport of those who were more slow in
| ascending.
But suddenly her voice was hushed.
and, with a frightened look. she pointed
| to the extreme end of the building.
/ All eyes We're instantly fixed thereon,
| and they saw Il light moving to and
iro. and Il ohostly figure came in sight
There is the ghost" ut last stam-
mercd Ida. recovering her voice. ''lIow
| kind of him not to keep Us waiting
This Jest. coming al such crave mo-
mcnt. produced its effect, and peal aft
! or peal of laughter followed il.
Bert. struggling to climb higher. lost
| his hold, tumblcd, and landed with =
| bruised head among the party.
This is really alarming said Belle.
! I'VE had better remained at home"
/ ''Gh, ii ; nothing. answered Bert.
Il was trying to elevate myself. and
| had Il fall in consequence. Why. where :
| your ghost
| Sure enough. the spirit had departed,
and darkness rcigncd "Tprcmc.
''Who will follow me to yon ruins
and explore lis hidden mysteries ?''
traTically cried Ida.
! Lead on, fair maid, follow" cried
! Arnold in the same tone.
They descended, and shortly found
themselves in the ruins.
| But their courage failed when the
| moon veiled its light beneath q cloud.
! and the hoot of an owl emanated from
/ the darkness.
! Il think we had better defer our en-
| ploratiOnS till tomorrow. We have
/ not provided for any emergency. and |
! am getting tired "a this rambling.
And Belle proclaimed herself ex-
haustcd by the scrambiing over the
bnHiders.
Iui- WAS agreed upon. ana entering
| their carriage. the party drove away.
| The next morning Ida was up bright
and early. and indul@ch i'll Il row ali
| hN herself rpfuSiuC escort
They had to lumor her. and gave
Themselves mp to various pursuits dur
! ing her absence.
When the hour for dinner arrived.
| and She had not returned, they began
| To grow uneasy.
The gentlemen entered separate
boats and departed in opposite direc-
! tions. each hoping to be the fortunate
one in finding the truant.
! As hour after hour passed, and none
Of the searchers returned, the ladies
were really alarmed; and, adj to all,
a severe storm arose. dashing the
/ waters of the bay into large waves,
which beat the shore with dull sound.
On the following morning a letter
reached the hotel, throwing some light
upon the matter. Ii was anonymous,
! of jesse, could he accounted for only
in one way--that of an elopement.
'.Ihis was written by Eugene Har-
/ grave said Belle. "lIe has stri1en to
! disguise his hand somewhat
Bert sought the landlord of the hotel
! and questioned him.
"Why, yes stammercd the host,
such person as YOU describe came
! here shortly before Your arrival, and
made rather pointed enquiries about
! my expected visitors. He was very
! particular, too. about obtaining a close
| description of the haunted house.
Thanking him, Bert sought the party
and impaired his new idea to them.
In the afternoon of the same day the
party found themselves in the shadow
of the ruins. Bidding Arnold and a
few others keep 4 lookout on the out
side. Bert entered the building and
! picked his way among the winding
and obstructed passages.
Having reached a dead wall. he dis
covered a huge iron door that ObStruct-
| ed his further progress. 1t was the
! work of but Il moment to Shatter the
lock with a stone near by, and. wiring
inc open the door. he entered and
found himself in large empty apart
mcnt, from which several doors led in
different directions. Ere he could pre-
vent it, he received blow on the head,
land some one rushed past him.
f. Recovering himself. he pursued the
person, only TO nave Il door smut in MS
face.
On hearing shouts from without. and
going to the door by which he had cn-
tered, he saw q man. bearing the figure
of a woman in his arms, running at full
speed through the hail.
/. Ike followed in pursuit. aud emerged
into daylight only To find the man with
his burden climbing the stcrp cliiI
against which the ruined building had
been constructed.
One glance at the woman convinced
Bert that it was Ida. and that the man
was no other than Hargravc.
He put down his burden, and still
holding Ida by the arm, Hargravt
glarcd upon his purSuer with malignant
hatred, and the fire of insanity gleam
ing in his eyes.
Save me, Bertr' cried Ida piteouS
ly. stretching forth her arms in suppl
cation.
Bert made step forward. but the
VOC" OF Hargraye arrested hm.
Not a step farther. unless you wiSl
to 50. her hurled down this abyss!
told her my time would come, and il
has. Adv ancr at Neur p, ril,
His voice was hoarse with passion
: and he pushed Ida to the edge OF thu
, precipice, and held her there.
, 1t was an awful predicament, anC
the sight well-nigh drove Ida's anxious
friend crazy. But who was that steal
i ing from rock to rock, a1d every mo
ment creeping nearer and nearer to
t ward Har@rave and Lis vIctim9 Yes
1t was Jesse.
Cat-lke he moved towards the de