Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-04


early TO bed, and seems uneasy, q
though she suspected something was
going on which ought not to take place
without her cognizancs."
"And you dare not ask her con-
sent?"
"No," faltered Miss Mabel. "She
is so strictly conscientious, and so prim
and old.fashioned in her ideas, that sm
sure she would consider herself bound
to inform your father Of everything. I
know it is not quite right, my meeting
you like this every evening, but-but-
1t would break my heart If were for
hidden to see you and have word with
you. Hush!''
Miss White started, trembled, and
laid her finger on her lip. She and
Charles stood breathless, for they heard
step on the landing near the door.
my mother is prowling about"
whispered Mabel. " Oh, Charles, dear
Charles do please hide. She will be
coming in here to see that all is right.
There, slip through this little concealed
door in the correr. You will find steps
descend to the State dining-room below;
20 in there and await me. will come
down to you when 1 may. l can step
back now unobserved into my ROOM"
She thrust her lover through an OPEN
ing in the panel, which was not notice
able to q cursory eye, and he found
himself on q newell staircase Of stone in
the thickness of the wall. A slit in the
side allowed streak Of moonlight to
enter, and he was able TO descend with
out a stumble. Charles was in his
stocking soles, and his football was as
noiseless as that Of cat.
AT the bottom was the door in the
dinipg.room, which was exactly under
the drawing-room. The door was ajar,
and Charles thrust it open with his
fingers. and lightly, absolutely noise
lessly, stepped into the grand apart
ment, into which, as into the room
above, the moon poured its silvery
effulgence. Charles stood petrifed
with terror. lie had softly closed the
door behind him, or he would have re-
coiled through it, when he saw-sitting
in the moonlight, on the marble fender,
with his back to the Fireplace, in pen
siye attitude, head in hand--the sweep.
Charles uttered an exclamation of
horror. The sweep sprang to his feet,
took step forward, saw Charles-au-
other sweep-and recoiled.
Facing each other, both in moon
light, both casting inky shadows on the
polished floor, sooty in garment, in face.
in hand, each armed with sweeps
brush, stood these two for full min
ute silent, observant, as two duellists
waiting the signal to fight.
Each was black in hand, with black
feet, black suits, black-faced, black
capped, each as spectral as the other,
and each, for all that, casting a shadow
of consistency as substantial as the
other. In only one point did they
differ. The second Deadleigh sweep
was stouter In build than the first.
This was not reassuring to Charles. He
had heard that the sweep who had
fallen in the chimney was man ad-
vanced in life, the father Of seven
children. lie considered moment;
was it possible that solicitude for his
family, left destitute, caused him to
walk? Charles resolved to inquire,
and took step forward. Thereupon,
abruptly, the other sweep took a step
backward, and raised his brush as
though to protect himself from blow.
The raising of the brush startled
Charles, and he stepped back.
Thereupon the other, as though
gaining confidence, stepped forward.
1t really seemed as though each was
afraid Of the other, as though each
heartily wished himself to be phan-
tom, so as to evaporate and escape the
other. How long the two sweeps would
have stood confronting each other
speeches. it is impossible to say, had
not door opened and female figure
entered, with the words, al am late,
but Mabel would not go to bed"
Charles Corder looked round and re-
cognized Mrs. White. She did not at
first observe him her eyes were d.
rected toward the sweep by the fire.
place.
~ am sure we have both been indis-
Greet" said She in telling you Of
the way into this part of the bouse
through the chimney, and you in taking
advantage of the superstitious fears OF
the servants to disguise your visits
to me. | can quite understand
that you are shy Of Charles,
knowing that you intend change
Of condition but still, sooner
or later, he must know-and Mabel is
becoming suspicious can see. How
ever, now | am ready, Hobgoblin. Let
US practice the aspirates again, for am
resolved not to give you my hand till |
you can ask for it with an ii, nor to |
become mistress of your house without
an aspirate to it," Then she seemed to |
observe the frozen, terrified aspect Of |
the sweep, and she turned her eyes
saw the second, screamed. and stag
gered against the wall.
At that moment, also, second door
opened, and flash of candlelight filled
the room. Mabel appeared, holding
bedroom candlestick, with an express
sion of well-afiected surprise in her face.
At that moment, also, simultaneously |
both sweeps disappeared-one up the
chimney, the other up the newell stair.
"Oh, mamma how came you here:"
asked Mabel.
"I-I-I thought | heard sounds"
answered Mrs. White, land, timorous
though | be constitutionally, yet moral
ly / am strong. knew it was my duty |
10 see that no one was breaking into the
house, so made my rounds"
"Did you see anything, mamma"
Nothing, my dear, nothing"
"But you screamed"
eyes, at your entering so unex-
Did you see anything, Ma
bell"
Nothing, mamma, nothing"
~ think, my DEAR" said Mrs.
White, "that after all did see some
thing, but it was only my shadow pro-
iected by the moonlight against the fire.
nIace -