Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-11-19
The Haunted Chamber.
BY THE DUCHESS"
Auttor Of Monica" Mona ScuIly,"
"Phyllis,' etc, etc.
CHAPTER /

thing. The shadOwy twilight lies soft
~ on sleeping flowers and swaying
boughs, on quiet fountains-the marble
basins of which CLEAN snCw-whlte III
the uncertain light-On the glimpse of
the distant ocean seen through the
giant elms. A floating mist hangs in
the still warm air, making heaven and
earth mingle in one sweet confusion.
The ivy creeping up the ancient walls
of the castle is ruStling and whispering
as the evening breeze sweeps over 1t.
High up the tendrils climb, past null
Iioned windows and quaint devices,
until they reach even to the old tower,
and Irvine lovingly round 1t, and push
through the long apertures III the ma
sonry of the walls Of the haunted cham
Der.
1t is here that the shadows cast their
heaviest gloom. All this corner of the
old tower is wrapped in darkness. as
though to obscure the scene of terrible
crimes Of past centuries.
Ghosts of dead-and-gOne lords and
ladies seem TO peer out mySterlOuSly
from the openings of this quaint cham
Der, wherein no servant, male or fe-
male, Of the castle has ever yet been
known to set foot. 1t is full of dire
horrors to them, and repletc with le-
gcndS of by-gOnc days and grew some
stOutest heart quail.
In the days Of the Stuarts an old earl
had hanged himself in that room, rath-
er than face the world with dishOnOr
attached to his name: and earlier still Il
beautcous dame. fair but frail, had
been incarccrated there, and slowly
starved TO death by her relentless lord.
There was even in the last century Il
barOnct-the cardOm has been lost to
,,.tl Il 'nTn an
wcalth-whO having qtIlrreled with his
friend over 4 rcigning belle, had Smit-
ten him across the cheek with his
glove, and then challenged him to NOR
tai combat. The duel had been fought
in the luckless chamber, and had only
ended with the death of both combat
ants; the blood stains upon the flooring
were large and deep, and to this day
the boards bear silent witness to the
sanguinary character of that secret
fight.
just now, standing outside the castle
in the warmth and SOitneSs of the dy-
ing daylight. one can hardly think of
hy-gOnc horrors, or aught that IS sad
and sinful.
There is an air of hustle and expect
ancY Withn-dO0rS that bctOkcnS com
ing guests; the servants are moving to
and fro noiSclcssIy but buSily, and now
and then the stately hOuSckccper pass
es from room to room uttcrlng COM
mand5 and injUnctiOns to the maids as
she goes. No less occupied and anX-
ious is the butler, rs he surveys the
work of the fOOtmCn. 1t is SO long
since the old place has had Il resident
master, and SO much longer still since
guests have been invited to 1t, that the
household are more than ordinarily CX-
cited at the change now about To take
place.
Sir Adrian DynccOurt, after pro-
longcd tour on the Continent and lin
gcring visits To the East, has at last
come home with the ayowcd intention
Of becoming Il Staid country gentleman,
aud Of settling down to the cultivation
of turnips, the breeding OF prize oxen,
and the determination to be the NJ. +.
H. when old Lord Dartrcc shall have
fulfilled his declared intention of rctir-
ing i'm his favor. He is Il tall young
man, 1.-THE and active His skin, though
naturally fair, is bron2cd by foreign
travel. His hair is II light brown, cut
very CLOSE to his head. His eyes are
large clear, and honest. and of Il pccU-
liar dark violet; they are beautiful eyes,
winning and sweet, and steady III their
glance Ills mouth, shaded 10y a droop-
ing fair mustachc, is large and firm,
yet very prone to laughter.
II Is quite the end of the London sea-
son, and sir Adrian has hurried down
from town to give directions for the
reception of some people whom he had
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