The Sunday herald., 1886-08-22

We must Ue Oh tn6 DT1nk Oi Tue WateI,
thought, and shivered. Then put ont my
other hand and clutched al sydney's arm.
"In Gods maine, where are you going
ssid, In, a terrified whisper.
The bby did hot answet. lie stopped
dead. The dsrkress was thick about us.
We we're standing In a mist, sNd even the
blurred stars had faded out. Suddetlt
felt wave break over my feet. And at that
moment, hissing out and echoing across The
darkness, there grated in my ears the sound
OF a harsh and hollow laugh--the very laugh
| had heard In my dream
The gloom was so dense that could only
see the outline OF Sidney's body, though
was gtasping him with ny two hands.
There was a perfect silence. Still | stood
there motioilesS rooted 10 the tocks. Then
felt the boy start of again, toward the
house. Another wave washed up against
my feet as turned with him and began TO
ascend to the gardens again. The fog was
growing thinner Presently IL parted, aud
a strong wind seemed to have risen sud.
denly out Of the sea. Now could distinctly
see Sydney's eyes still fixed on the invisible
thing before him. could see, too, that we
were mounting the pale avenue of fr.trees,
and from the distant windows Of the library
dim light was casting shadows down upon
our faces: but we did not make for those
windows. NY gttide tuffied on to the left,
and we entered tile deserted part Of the
house. felt utterly spell bound. seemed
to have lost all power Of voluliUn. believe
should blindly have followed that boy to
my death.
We had plunged into a labyrinth Of
shadowy rooms, leaving the outer air. How
we got into that part of the house l cannot
tell. had not been there f6r yeats. sgd
nay could never have been In II, and Vet he
led me on rapidly and never faltsred or
hesitated once, think that the moon must
have come out, for there was a faint light
shining through the windows as We passed,
and by that light he guided me. We crossed
several empty rooms and passages, aud at
last came out into long corridor. That,
too. we traversed. AT the farther end door
opened before us. stepped through Il into
lamplight, gazing stupidity into Sydney g
face.
He too had paused. But he never spoke
a word, nor looked at me. His eyes were
fixed on q tall bookcase in corner Of the
room. Presently he began TO move slowly
toward II, and I, still holding him, followed.
Then as we approached IL, to my utter
amszement, the whole boodcase swung back
upon its hinges, revealing a small closet,
which had never seen before, with some
dusty rolls Of paper lying on shelf within
II. With wild cry Sydney sprapg forw ard /,
wrenching himself from my grasp. He
seized the papers, and turning, thrust them
into my hand. Then with his face as white
as show and eyes distended he raised one
arm and pointed to the window. In abother r
moment he had tottered lack and fallen on
the floor.
nstt Al - AZ IL
frenzy l dashed my shoulders against IT,
ing down about me. was outside, stand.
ing in the chill, blue night. Round me the
wind was whining and clustering. The fog
had melted away. Overhead the stars were
burning golden. The banished clouds had
gone. But no sign Of any human figure,
man or ghost, was there. Only the desOlate
avenue, with its fir trees brOoding over IL,
and at the far end, in the dimness the high
moon over the whitened seal.
When went back in o the library found
Sydney in dead faint on the floor. rush
ed to the bell and rang 1t Till its tones went
pealing and clashing through the house.
Then raised the boy in my arms and carried
him easily into the lighted hall. The blood
from the cuts Of the broken glass was run
nluH ireoiy uOWn my lace auu nanuS. But
did not min ii, for felt as If life had sud.
denly come back to me. And when my
mother aud the servants came out and gath.
cred, startled and lamentipg, around us,
fell down on my knees beside the boy aud
wept as never l wept. think, before that
day or since.
have no more TO tell. The closet in the
library opened, found, by secret spring,
but what hand opened 1t that terrible night
never knew. Among the papers that sgd.
ney thrust into my hand was the long lost
document which confirmed my title to the es. /.
tate. Sydney was for long very ill; but at
last, with careful lnursing-Iknow my mother
and did all We could for him, and some-
body else, who shall be nameless, did more
than we-he recovered, and has ever since
remained with me. Neither of US ever spoke
much Of the things We had seen that winter
day. The mystery of my inheritance is q
mystery still, and men will bury it with us
in our graves. Only this I know and will
tell you, that from that hour to this, Sydney
has never seen ghost.
So am Grant of Tully bardane, and the
heirsss of Glen Levannoch is my wifs.-C.
Z. Mdllet in B.lqrapia.