San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-21
CHAPTER VI.


chair, and forsaking the game of ten
mis- then proceeding to 90 forward and
greet her host, where have you been?
We have missed you so much. Flor
ence"-tuTning to her cousin - will
you take my bat. dearest? am quite
tired of trying to defeat Lord Isle"
Lord Isle, middle-aged gentleman
of sunburned appearance, looks unmis-
takably delighted at the prospect of a
change in the game. He is married;
has a large family of promising young
Lisles, and fervent passion for ten
mis-. Mrs. Talbot having proved very
contemplate adversary, he is charmed
at his chance of getting rid of her.
So Florence, rice Dora retired, Joins
the game, and the play continues with
undated VigOr. When however Lord
LiSle has scored grand victory, and
all the players declare themselves
thoroughly exhausted and in need of
refreshments, Sir Adrian comes for
ward, and walks straight up to Miss
Delmaine, to Dora's intense chagrin
and the secret rage of Arthur Dyne-
court.
"YOu have often asked to see the
haunted chamber. he says; why not
come and visit it now? II isn't much to
see, you know; but still, in a ghostly
sense, it is, l suppose, interesting"
Let us make party and go to-
gether," suggests Dora, enthuSiaStical-
ly clasping her handS-her favorite
method of showing false emotion of
any kind. She is determined to have
her part in the programme, and is
equally determined that Florence shall
go nowhere alone with Sir Adrian.
nil oil &c IN, A.
thur DynecOurt. coming up to Miss
DelmaiRe, and specially addressing her
with all the air of rightful owner.
Charming" mutters young lady
standing by; and so the question is
settled.
1T will be rather fatiguing journey,
you know" says Captain Ringwood,
confidentially, to Ethel NilierS. It's
an awful lot of stairs; I've been there,
so | know all about tits worse than
the treadmill."
Have you been there tOop demands
Miss Ethel saucily. CHANGING at him
from under her long lashes.
Not yet" answers the captain, with
a little grin. But, | say, don't go
will your"
Il must; am dying to see it," replies
Ethel. you needn't come, you know;
l dare say l shall be able to get on
without you for half an hour or So"
81 dare say you could get on uncOm-
monty well without me forever" re-
tOrts the captain rather glOOmily. To
himself he cOnfeSscS mOOdily that this
girl with the auburn hair and the blue
eyes has the power of taking the curl
out of him" whatsoever she wishes.
Il believe you are afraid of the bOgies
hidden in this secret chamber, and so
don't care to come" SAYS Miss Nilliers
tauntingly.
81 know something else I'm a great
deal more afraid Of" responds the gal
liant captain meaningly.
"Me" she asks innOcently, but GER
tainly cOquettishly. "Oh, Captain Ring
wOOd"-in a tone of mock injury
what an unkind speech! Now know
you look upon me i'll the light of an
OgreSS, or witch, or something equal
ly dreadful. Well, as have the name
of it, may as well have the gain of it,
and SOL command you to attend me
to the haunted chamber"
you order-I obey" says the cap
tain. "'Call and / follOw-I follow,
though l diel'" After which quotation
he accompanies her toward the house
in the wake of Dora and Sir Adrian,
who has been pressed by the clever
widow into her service.
Florence and Arthur DynecOurt fol-
low them, Arthur talking gayly, as
though determined to ignore the fact
that he Is thoroughly unwelcOme to his
companion; Florence, with head erect
and naughty footsteps and eyes care
paOt tho boll +bro,,r,b tl,o oo,.r;Jor
up the staircase, through the galleries,
along more corridors they go, laughing
and talking eagerly, until they come at
last to an old and apparently much dis
used part of the house.
Traversing more corridors, upon
which dust lies thickly, they come at
last to a small irOn-bound door that
blocks the end of one passage.
Now we really begin to get near it."
says Sir Adrian encOuragingly, turning
as he always does, when opportunity
offers, to address himself solely to Flor
ence.
Don't you feel creepy-creepy?" asks
Ethel Villiers, with smothered laugh,
looking up at Captain Ringwood.
Then Sir Adrian pushes open the
door, revealing steep flight of stone
steps that leads upward to another
door above. This door, like the lower
one, is bound with iron.
This is the tower" explains Sir Ad-
rian, still acting as cicerone to the
small party, who look with interest
around them. Mrs. Talbot, affecting
nervousness, clings closely to Sir Adj
rian's arm. Indeed she is debating in
her own mind whether it would be eff
fective or otherwise to subside into a
graceful swoon within his arms. "Yon-
der is the door of the chamber" con-
tinues Sir Adrian. Come let us go up
to it."
They all ascend the last fight Of
stone stairs; and presently their host
opens the door, and reveals to them
whatever mystery may lie beyond. He
enters first, and they all follow him,
but as if suddenly reeollecting some
important point, he turns, and calls
loudly to Captain RingwOod not to let
the door shut behind him.
There is a peculiar spring in the
lock-" he explains a moment later;
and, if the door slammed to, we should
find it impossible to open it from the
inside, and might remain here prison.
eTs forever unless the household came
to the rescue"
"Oh, Captain RingwOod, pray be
CAREFUL" cries Dora falteringfy. sour
very lives depend upon your atten-
toni"
Miss Villiers, do come here and help
me to remember my duty" says Capt.
RingwoOd, planting his back against
the open door lest by any means it
should shut.
The chamber is round, and has, in
stead of windows, three narrow aper-
lures in the walls, through which can
be obtained a glimpse of the sky, but of
nothing else. These apertures are lust
large enough to admit a mans hand.