Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-03
The Haunted Chamber.
BY THE DUCHESS"
Author Of Monica" Mona Scislly,"
Phyllis" ETC, etc.

in an emphatic lDiiS. oIdt ~ .7s;,.
at the fdbleag presented to their we"
lover down. They hesitate, and, even
as iEey do SO. they can see AFttl!I
nvnecoart seize Florence Dcimhnes
hand, and, apparently unrebukel, kiss
it passionatcly.
dThen / shall hope STILL" he says in
low but impressive voice, at which the
two who have iust entered turn and
beat a precipitate retreat, fearing that
they may be seen. One IS Sir Adrian,
the other Mrs. Talbot.
Dear me" stammcrs Dora, IN pretty
confusion, who would have thought
it? / was never so amazed III my life"
Sir Adrian, who has turned very
pale. and is looking greatly distressed,
makes no reply. lie is repeating over
and over again to himself the words he
has just heard. as though unable and
unwilling to comprehend them. I care
nothing for Sir Adrian" They strike
like 4 knell upon his carS-a death
knell to all his dearest hopes. And that
fellow OH his knees before her, kissing
her hand, and telling her he will still
hopei Hope for what? Alas. he tells
himself, he knows only too Well-her
loyel
Il am 50 glad they have made it up"
Dora goes on, looking up sympathetic
cally at Sir Adrian.
Made it up? | had no idea they
were more than ordinary and Vc-y new
acquaintance"
Ut is quite year since we first met
Arthur in Switzerland" responds Dora
dcmurely, calling DynecOurt by his
Christian name, thing she has never
done before, because she knows it will
give Sir Adrian the impression that
they are on very intimate terms with
his cousin lie has been our shadow
ever since. | wonder you did net notice
his devotion in town"
Il noticed nothing" saws Sir Adrian,
miscrably; "or, if did, it was only to
form wrong impressions. | firmly be-
icve, seeing Miss Dclmainc and Ar
thur together here, that she betrayed
nothing but rooted dislike to him"
"'Fhcy had not been good friends Of
late" explains Dora hastily: that we
all could see And Florence is very
peculiar. you know; she is quite the
dearest girl III the world, and | adore
her; but ! will confess TO yOu'-With
another upward and beWitching glance
from the charming blue eyes that she
has her little tCmpCrs. Not very IIaUgh-
ty ones, y0u know shaking her head
archIy but Elst enough to make one
yentured to ask hCr why She treated
poor Arthur, who really is her s!aVe, so
cruelty
And YOU think now that" Sir Adj
rian breaks off without finishing the
sentence
THAT she has forgiven him whatever
ofTcnsc he committed? YES, after what
we have just sccn-quitc Il sentimental
little episode, was it mott can not
help chcrishing the hope that al IS
again right between them. 1t could
not have been very grave quarrel, IT'S
Arthur is incapable OF Il rudcneS5; but
then dearest Florence is 50 caprIclOus."
'lll-tempercd and capricious" Can
the girl he loves SO ardcntly be guilty
Of these faults2 1t seems Incredible to
Sir Adrian, as he remembers her sunny
smile and gentle manner. But then, IS
it not her dearest friend who is speak
ing Of her -tendrr-hearted little Dora
Talbot, who seems to think well OF
every one, and who murmmS such
pretty speeches even about Arthur,
who, if the truth he told, is not exactly
dear" in the sight of Sir Adrian.
You think there is, or WIS. az en-
gagcment between Arthur and Miss
DclmaineY" he begins, with Ms owes
fixed upon the ground
lt1ftk IltJtllIlEr Nol NlI'N III IL
says the widow playfully, until am
once moro friendly with poor Arthur;
he is positively wrapped up in her.
Now, has that intercslingtdbiedu we so
nearly interrupted given you 1t diSta5to
for all other pictures? Shall we try tho
smaller gallery
Just rs You Will"
"Of course with 4 girlish laugl-."it
would he imprudont to venture again
into the ono we have just quilted. BY
this time, doubtless they are quite re-
conclod and
"Yos yes" interrupts Sir Adrian
hastily, trying III vain to blot out the
picture sho has raised before his eyes
of Florence III her lovers arms. What
you have just told me has quite taken
mo by surprise he goes on ucryouSly.
Il should mover have guessed it from
Miss Delmalnc's manner; it quite mis-
led mo"
well, between YOU and me-" says
Dora, raising herself on tiptoc, as
though to whisper in his ear, and 50
coming very close to him, Il am afraid
my dearest Florence is little slyl
Yes, really; you wouldn't think it,
would You? The dear girl has such u
sweet ingenious tacc-quite the lowell
est face ON earth, | think, though some
pronounce it too cold But She is very
self-contamcd; and to-day, you see, she
has given you an insight into this slight
fault in her character"
She has indeed" agrees Sir Adrian,
with smothercd groan.
Well - trlumphantly - and vet,
here we find her granting him private
audience, when she believed we were
all safely out of the way; and i'll the
north gallery toe, which, Us - rule, is
deserted"
She didn't know we were thinking
of driving to the hills says Sir Ad-
rian, making feeble effort to find a
flaw in his companions statement.
ooh, yes, she did" declares the wild
ow lightly. Il told her myself, about
two hours ago, that | intended asking
You to make party 10 60 there, as |
dote OH lovely scenery; and | dare say"
-~coquettishly 49, she knew i mean
thought You would not refuse So small
4 request of mine. But for poor Lady
FitZAlmont's headache We should he
there now"
1T Is true" admits Sir Adrian, feel
ing that the last straw has descended.
And new that | think at it." the
widow goes ON. even more NlVaciuUSly,
tho reason sine assigned Tor not coming
with uS must have been teigucd one.
All, slyhootS that she isl laughs Mrs.
Talbot mCrrtly. "Ot course, she wanted
the course clear to have IN explanation
with Arthur. Wei, after NIL. that was
only natural. But she might have
trusted me. whom she knows to be her
true friend
lll-tempcred-cap ririaus sly And
NIL these faults are attributed to Flor
cnee Ivy her true friend" \ quotation
assigned to Marcchal NillarS when tax
ing leave " Louis NV. occurs To him
-"Defcnl nae from my friends" The
W,sls return to him perSiStcnt,N; but
then hr looks down ON Dora Talbot
and starrs straight into her liquid blue
eyes, So apparently guileless and pure,
ana tells himself that he wrongs hrr.
YES, it is Il pity Florence has net put
greater faith in this kind little Wo"I0.
4 pity for all Of them, rs then mAuy
hcut-hreaks might have been prevent
ed.
CHAPTER. ~.
1t is the evening of the thcatricalS;
and i'll one Of the larger drawing-roonlS
at the castle, where the stage has been
erected, and also in another room be-
hind connected with it 10y folding
doors, everybody Of note in the county
is already assembled. Fans are llutter-
ing-so are many hearts behind the
scenes-and a low buzz of conyerSa-
Y;ar, IL haiptv parriai ~, ap,lD,r F,,s ANN,