San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-30
The Haunted Chamber.
BY "THE DUCHESS. 4"



complete in every sense. Not in any
way does she seek to shield herself, or
palliate her own share in the deception
praCticed upon the unconscious girl
now regarding her with looks of amaze
I ment and deep sorrow, but in bitter
silence.
When the wretched story is at an
end. and Dora. rising to her feet, de-
clares her intention of leaving England
forever. Miss Delmaine stands like one
turned into stone. and says no word
either of censure or regret.
Dora, weeping violently, goes to the
door, but. as her hand is raised to open
it. the pressure upon the gentle heart
of Florence is suddenly removed, and
in little gasping voice she bids her
stay.
Dora remains quite still. her eyes
bent upon the floor waiting to hear
her cousins words of Just condemna-
ton; expecting only to hear the SCath
ing words of scOrn with which her cOu-
sin will bid her BECOME from her sight
for evermOre. But suddenly she feels
two soft arms close around her, and
Florence, bursting into tears. lays her
head upon her shoulder.
"Oh, Dora. how could you do it," she
falters, and that is all. Never. either
then or afterward. does another SEN
tence of reprOach pass her lips; and
Dora, forgiven and taken back to her
cousins friendship, endcavOrS earnest
ly for the future to avoid such umtruth-
full paths as had so nearly led her to
her ruin.
Sir Adrian. from the hour in which
his dearest hopes were realized, recOv-
erS rapidly both his health and spirits;
and soon IA double wedding takes place,
that makes pretty Ethel NillierS Ethel
RingwOOd and beautiful Florence Lady
DynecOurt.
"A winter spent abroad with his
charming bride completely restores Sir
Adrian to his former vigorous state,
and, when spring is browning all the
land with her fair flowers. he returns
to the castle with the intention of re-
manning there until the coming season
demands his presence i'll town.
And now once again there is almost
the same party brought together at
Dynecourt. Old Lady FitzAlmOnt and
Lady Gertrude are here again. and so
are Captain and Mrs. RingwOOd, both
the gayest of the gay. Dora Talbot is
here too, somewhat chaStened and sub
dued both in manner and expression. a
change so much for the better that she
finds her list of lovers to be longer now
than in the days of yOre.
1t is an exquisite. balmy day in April.
The sun is shining hOtly without,
drinking up greedily the gentle shower
that fell half an hour ago. The guests,
been wandering idly through the
grounds. decide to go indoors.
at was on a day like this. though in
autumn, that we first missed Sir Ad-
rian," remarks some one in half tone
cOnfidentially to some one else, but not
so low that the barOnet could not hear
yes" he says quickly, land it was
Just over there"-pOinting to clump
of shrubs near the hall dOOr-'that l
parted with that unfortunate cousin of
mine"
Lady DynecOurt shudders. and draws
closer to her husband.
1T was a marvellous story" observes
a pretty woman who was not at the
castle last autumn. when what 50 near
ly proved to be a tragedy was being en-
acted; quite like legend or mediG-
val romance. Dear Lady DynecOuTt
finding HIM was such happy finish to
it. | must say | have always had the
greatest veneratiOn for those haunted
chambers, so seldom to be found now
in any house. Perhaps my regard for
them is the stronger because | never
saw one"
NO" questiOningly. will you come
and see ours now" says Sir Adrian
readily.
His wife clasps his arm. and pang
contracts her brow.
you are not frightened now, sure
Typ" says Adrian, smiling at her very
tenderly.
yes, | am" she responds promptly.
"The very name of that awful room un-
nerves me. There is something evil in
it, | belieye. Do not 90 there"
"I'll block it up forever if you wish
it." declares Sir Adrian; but. Cor the
last time let me 90 and show its ghost
ly beauty to Lady LaughtOn. | confess,
even after all that has happened, it
possesses no terror for me; it only re-
minds me of my unpleasant kinSman."
81 wonder what became Of him." re-
marks RingwOOd. Hes at the other
side of the world, | should imagine"
"Out of the world, at all events" says
Ethel, indifferently.
well, let us CO." agrees Florence re-
signedly.
So together they all start once more
for the old tower. AS they reach the
stone steps Sir Adrian says laughingly
to Lady LaughtOn:
Now, what do you expect to seep A
ghOst-a phantom? And in what shape,
what guise?"
"A skeleton" answers Lady Laugh
ton, returning his laugh; and with
the words the door is pushed open, and
they enter the room en- mdSSe.
The sunlight is stealing in through
the narrow window holes and family
lighting up the dismal room.
What is that in yOnder corner, the
very corner where Sir ABRAMS almost
lifeless body had been found? Is this
trick. delusion of the brain? What
is this thing huddled together, lying in
heap-a CHASTITY, ragged, filthy heap,
before their terrified eyes? And why
does this charnel-hOuse smell infect
their nostrils? They stagger. Even
the strong men grow pale and faint,
for there, before them, gaunt, awful,
unmistakable. lies a skeleton!
Lady LaughtOn's testing words have
come true-a fleshless corpse indeed
meets their stricken gael
Sir Adrian, having hurriedly asked
one of the men of the party to remove
Lady Dynecourt and her friends, he
and Captain RingwoOd proceed to ex-
anime the grewsOme body that lies up
on the floor; yet, though they profess
to each other total ignorance Of what
it can be, there is in their hearts a
miserable certainty that appalls them.
Is this to be the end of the mysteryP
Truly had spoken Ethel Ringwood
when she had alluded to Arthur Dyne-
court as being "out of the world" for
il is his remains they are bendinp over