Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-12-24
The Haunted Chamber.
III THE pUTCHKss. =
IGnhnued.1

rian. They won't believe it is verita-
bly, haunted unless you call up ghost
to frighten them"
But they all protest in body that
that they do not wish to hear any ghost
| stories, so Sir Adrian laughingly refu-
ses to comply with Ringwood'S request.
Are we far from the other parts of
| the house?" asks Florence at length,
| who has been examining some writing
! on the walls.
so far that, if you were immured
here, no cry, however loud, could pene-
| trate the distance" replies Sir Adrian.
You are as thoroughly removed from
! the habitable parts Of-ti.e castle as if
| you were in the next county"
How interesting!" observes Dora,
with little simper.
The servants are so afraid of this
| room that they would not venture here
| even by daylight" Sir Adrian goes on.
You can see how the dust of years is
| on it. One might be slowly starved to
| death here without ones friends being
| bit the wiser"
! He laughs as he says this, but, long
! afterwards, his words come back to his
! listeners memories. filling their breasts
with terror and despair.
| Il wonder you don't have this dam
! gerous lock removed" says Capt. Ring
wood. ut is regular trap. Some day
| you'll be sorry for it"
Prophetic words!
Yes; | wish it were removed" re-
| spends Florence, with strange quick
shiver.
Sir Adrian laughs.
why, that is one of the old towers
greatest charms" he says. 1T belongs
to the dark ages, and suggests all sorts
| of horrible possibilities. This room
would be nothing without its myster-
ious lock"
At this moment Dora's eyes turn
slowly toward Arthur Dynec0urt She
herself hardly knows why, at this par
ticular time, she should look at him,
| yet she feels that some unaccountable
| fascination is compelling her gaze to
encounter his. Their eyes meet. AS
they do so, Dora shudders and turns
deadly pale. There is that in Arthur
DynecOurt's dark and sullen eyes that
strikes her cold with terror and vague
forebodings of evil. 1t is a wicked look
that overspreads the mans face-a
cruel, implacable look that seems to
freeze her as she gaZes at him spell
bound. Slowly, even while she watches
him, she sees him turn his glance from
her to Sir Adrian i'll a meaning man
ner, as though to let her know that the
vile thought that is working in his
brain and is betraying itself on his face
IS intended for him, not her. And yet,
with this too, he gives her silently to
understand that, if she shows any
treachery toward him, he will not leave
it unrewarded.
Cowed, frightened, trembling at
what she knows not, DOrG staggers
backward, and, laying hand upon
tho ,ro1l haSila har tria tn Golf
possession. The others ar all talking
together, she is therefore UnobServed.
She stands, still painting and pallid,
trying to collect her thoughts.
Only one thing comes clearly TO her,
filling her with lOathing of herself and
an unnamed dread-it il Il. ut, by her
own dOuble-dealing and f. ,jeness to-
ward Florence, she has seemed I , enter
into a compact with this man to be a
companion i'll whatever crime he may
decide upon. His very look seems to
implicate her, to drag her down with
him to his level. She feels herself
conspiracy. And what further adds to
the horror of the situation is the knowl-
edge that she knows herself to be blind
| ly ignorant of whatever plans he may
| be forming.
After a few seconds she rOuseS her
| self, and wins back some degree of
| cOmpOsure. 1t is of course a mere
weakness to believe herself in the pow
| er of Arthur Dynecourt, she tries to
convince herself. He is no more than
any other ordinary acquaintance. If
| indeed she has helped him in his little
| efforts to secure the love of Florence,
there was no great harm in that,
though Of course it served her own pur-
| pose also.
| How pale you are, Mrs. Talbot" re-
| marks Sir Adrian suddenly, wheeling
| round to look at her more closely.
Has this damp old place really affected
your nerves? Come. let us go down
| again, and forget III the sunshine that
bloody deeds were ever committed here
! or elsewhere"
81 am nervous, confess" responds
| Dora. in a low tone. Yes. veS-let us
leave this terrible room forever"
so be it." says Sir Adrian gayly.
For my part, feel no desire to re-en-
at is very high art, I suppose" OBJ
serves Ethel Villiers, glancing round
the walls. Uncomfortable places al
ways are. 1t would be quite treasure
| to Lady Betty Trefeld. who raves over
! the early Britons. 1t seems rather
|
wood. YOU look as if you had been sud-
| denly turned into stone. Let me pass,
| please"
1T was mcOmmOnly friendly of
Ringwood not to have let the door
| slam. and so imprisoned US for life"
says Sir Adrian. with laugh. Il am
sure we owe him a debt of gratitude"
Il hope you'll all pay it," laughs
Ringwo0d. 1t will be nice new ex-
perjence for you to give creditor
| Something for once. [ never pay my
| own debts; but that doesn't count. L
| feel sure you are all going to give me
something for my services as door
keeper"
What shall 1 give you?' asks Ethel
coquettishly.
"Pll tell you by and by" he replies,
| with such an expressive look that for
| once the saucy girl has no answer
! ready, but, bluShing crimson, hurries
past him down the stone stairs, where
she waits at the bottom for the others.
As Florence reaches the door she
| pauseS and stoops to examine the lock.
| q wish" she says to Sir Adrian, a
| strange subdued excitement in her
tone, you would remove this lock.
| DO.n
But whY?7 he asks, impressed in
spite of himself, by her manner.
4 hardly know myself; it Is fancy
an unaccountable one. perhapS-bUt
still a powerful one. Do be guided by
me and have it removed"
~What-the fancy" he asks laugh
ing.
~No-the lock. HumOr me in this,
she pleads earnestly, far more earnest
" than the occasion seems to warrant.
Call it silly preSentiment. II you Ike,
but l honestly think that lock viii work
you evil some day. Therefore it is that
I ask Won 10 do away with it."
You ask me-" he queries.
Yes, if only to please me-for my
sake"
She has evidently forgotten her late
distrust in him, for she speaks now IN
the old sweet tone, and with tears IN
her ewes. Sir Adrian flushes warmly.
For your sake he whispers What
is there / would not do, If thus re-
quested?7
4 bitter sneer contracts Arthur
Dynecourt bps as he listens TO the
first part of this conversation and guess
es at the latter half. He notes cor
rectlv the kindling of their eyes, the
quick breath that comes and goes like
happy signs from the breast Of Flor
ence. He hears the whisper, sees the
warm blush. and glances expresslvely
at Dora Meeting her eyes he lays his
finger on his lips TO caution her silence
and then. when passing BY her wins