Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-31
The Haunted Chamber.
BY 1.-THE DUCHESS"

H.
color sketch of part of the ground
round the castle-which have, alas,
grown only too dear to her!-Dora en-
tiers her room. 1t is an embarrassed
and significantly smiling Dora that
trips up to her, and says with pretty
hesitation in her tone
Dearest Florence, | want your adj
vice about something.
"Mine?" exclaims Florence, laying
down her brush, and looking, as she
feels. astonished As rule, the gentle
Dora does not seek for wisdom from
her friends.
Yes, dear, if you can spare me the
time. Just five minutes VIII do, ana
then YOU can return to your charming
sketch. Oh"-glancing at it-"how eX-
actly like it $50 perfect; what sun
set, and what frs, One could imagine
ones self in the Fairies Glen by just
looking at it" :,
is that bit down by Coughs farm" says
Florence coldly. OF late she has not
been so blind TO Dora's artihcIalneSS as
she used to be.
"Ah, so it Isl" agrees Dora airily, not
in the least discomposed at her mis-
take. "And so like it too. You are a
genius, dearest, you are really, and
might make your fortune, only that
YOU have one made already Tor you,
fortunate girl.'
you want my advice" suggests
Florence quietly.
"Ah. true: and about something i'm
portant tool" She throws into her
whole air SO much cOquetry mingled
with assumed bashfulneSs that Flor
ence knows by instinct that the some
thing" has Sir Adrian for Its theme,
and she grows pale and miserable ac-
cordingly.
'Let me hear it then" she urges,
leaning back with a weary sigh,
81 have Just received this letter" says
Mrs. Talbot, taking from her pocket
the letter Arthur had given her, and
holding it out to Florence, Il want to
know how | shall answer it. Would
yOu-wOuld you honestly advise me,
Flo, TO 90 and meet him as he desires"
AS who desires"
"Ah, true; you do not know, of
course! am 50 sellishly full Of myself
and my own concerns, that | seem to
think every one else must be full Of
them too. Forgive me, dearest, and
read his sweet little letter, will your"
"Of whom are You speaking - to
whose letter do You refer?' asks Flor
ence, a little $xarsly, in the agony of
her heart.
Florence! Whose letter would | call
sweet except Sir Adrian's?' answers
her cousin, with gentle reproach.
But it is meant for You, not me-"
says Miss Dclmainc, holding the letter
IN her hand. and glancing at it with
great distastr. lie probably intended
no other eyes but yours to look upon
it."
But must obtain advice from some
one, and who so natural to expect it
from ~ YOU my nearest relative? If,
however putting her handkerchief to
her eycs-"you object to help me, Flor
ence, or il it distresscs you to read"
"DistresscS mr?' interrupts Florence
haughiily. why should it distress me?
If you have no objection to my reading
yolr-lovcr SETTER, why should hes
itate about doing 50? Pray sit down
while run through it."
Dora having seated herself, Florence
hastily reads the false note from be-
ginning to end. Her heart beats fu-
riously rs She does SO, and her color
comes and goes; but her voice is quite
steady when she speaks again.
Well" she says, putting the paper
from her Us though glad to get rid of
1t, 1T seems that Sir Adrian wishes to
speak to you on some subject interest
ing to you and him alone, and that
walk rs the spot in which to hold your
tcte-a-teie. 1t is quite Il simple affair, is
1t not? Though really, why he could
not arrange to talk privately to you in
some room in the castle, which is sure
ly large enough for the purpose, l can
not understand"
Dear Sir Adrian is SO romantic"
saws Dora COyly.
as hep responds her cousin dryly.
ha,, -,
est Of men. Well, on what matter do
you wish 70 consult mcP'
Dear Florence, how terribly prosaic
and unsympathetiC you are to-day"
says Dora reproachfully; land | came
to You so sure Of offers of love and
friendship! | want you to tell me if
you think | ought to meet him OF not"
why not?'
81 don't knOw"-wth little shipper.
as it perhaps humoring him too much?
| have always dreaded letting a man
imagine | cared for him, unless fully,
utterly, assured of his affection for
me-"
Florence Colors again, and then grows
deadly pale, as this poisoned barb pier
ces her bosom.
a should think" she saws slowly.
"after reading the letter you have Just
shown me, you ought to feel assured"
ION believe | ought, rcally2"-with
q fine show of eagernesS. Nov, you
are not saying this to please me-to
CRAFTY met'
Il should not please or crafty any
one ut the expense of truth"
No, Of course not. You are such
high-princlpled girl, SO different from
many others. Then you think | might
go and meet him this evening without
sacrificing my dignity III amy way"
Certainly
oh, I'm SO glad exclaimed little
Mrs. Talbot rapturously, nodding her
honorable head with a bcaming
smile, because do So want to meet
him, dear fellow! And | value Your
opinion, Flo, moro highly than that of
any friend possess. You are so solid.
SO thoughtful-such 4 dear thing alto
gethor."
Florence takes no heed of this rodorl-
ontade, but sits quite still, with down
cast eyes, tapping the small table near
her with the tips ut her slender fingers
in a mcditatiye fashion.
The fact is continues Dora, who is
watching her closely. Il NAV rs we'll let
you into 4 little secret. Yesterday Sir
Adrian and | had tiny, Oh, sIch a
tiny little dispute, all abtut nothing. |
assure you'-with a gay laugh-"but to
us 1t seemed quite important. He said
he was jealous of me. Now Just fancy
that, Flo; jealous of poor little mel"
1T is quite possible; you are pretty
most men admire you,' Florence re-
marks coldly, still without raising her
eyes.
All, you latter me, naughty grill
Well, silly us il sounds. he actually was
jealous, and really gave me quite a
scolding. 1t brought tears 10 my ewes,
1t upset me So. So to tell the truth. we
parted rather bad friends; and. to be
revenged ON me, suppose, he rather
neglected me for the remainder of the
day"
Again Florence is silent, though her
tormentor plainly waits for lead from
her before going on.
" on must have remarked she con-
tinues presently, how cold and re-
served he was towards me when we
were all together in that dreadful
haunted chamber" Here she really
shudders, in spite of herself. The cruel
eyes of Arthur Dyneeourt seem to be
on her again, rs they were in that
ghostly room.
4 remarked nothing" responds Flor
ence Jelly.
"No-really? Well, he was. WHY, nv
HA1T ElnrnnRn l.