Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-08-26

had fancied that he must be some yer,
intimate friend, or some one eonnectes
with the establishment. He bad never
heard him speak. certainly. He had
not as yet questioned any Of the other
servants about him. But then he had
himself oaly been a few days in the
house, aud as yet did not know all the
people about the place. When I told
him that no one else in the house had
ever heard of such person, Sydney
was completely staggered. In fact.
the only result of our conversation
was TO leave on the mind Of each OF
US grave doubts as 10 the others san.
ity. ii not as to bis own. But before
we parted / made the boy premise me
soimeniy that The very next time he
saw this mysterious figure he would
summon lne at once.
Next day nothing happened, and |
meditated dismissing Sydney. The
day after an event occurred which
changed the current of my thoughts,
which, thank God, altered my whole
lille since, and which made SYDNEY
Loeb the most faithful friend | have.
1t was late in the afternoon-a
Winter dusk. l was up stairs in my
bedroom, writing letter to Nellie.
vowing that would never give her
up, and yet seeing no prospect of ever
being able to claim her for INV wife.
1t was that hour when the day begins
to pass into the night. aud shadows
have grown gigantic, aud mems
thoughts are turning toward dinner.
Suddenly | was reused by quick
step aud knock at my door. Icalled
out Come in, and Sydney appeared
On the threshold. lie looked very
l'ale ani excited. as far as could see
him by the dim light of my candles,
and he spoke in a strange voice.
He Is here. Sir, the old gentleman
IN gray-iu the passage.
| jumped up, and was following him
IN moment. 1t must have been
we'll past six o'clock, and vet the
lights in the corridor were still un.
lighted. | looked all round, but
coulu see no one.
Where? said in whisper; for
| think the gloom and the boy i strange
looks had frightened my common
sense out OF me.
Sydney took me by the arm and
pointed. felt he was trembling all
over. And for my part, an uncom.
Portable chill seemed to be creepinp
through my limbs.
There, Sir. there--dout YOU see
him at the top of the stairs. He's
beckoning us to follow-come.'
l strained my eyes in the direction
where he pointed, but could discern
nothing. However, caught hold of
Sydneys arm and followed him silent.
ly like sheep. Why did so l can
not at this moment conceive.
The boy led the way down stairs,
apparently keeping his eyes fixed on
something he could see in front. /
held him blindly. We went down
and across the hall, and then out of
the front door in the cold air. Itwss
quite dark outside, though one or two
blurred stars were hickering palely,
and the moon, thought. was strug.
Cling behind a cloud. Round the
house We went, faster and faster, into
the gardens at the back and down the
slopes toward the sea. Sydney seemed
to be dragging me along. Once
caught glimpse of his face, aud |
saw it was deadly white, though his
eyes were straining wildly after the
phantom he was following. Still he
went on and on. We were nearing
the beach now, and I could hear the
surf beating against the rocks and
dimly see the white crests Of the
waves hanging in the foggy night
Now We were on the beach. / felt
the seaweed under my feet aud STUN
bled. Still the boy dragged Inc along.
Now We must he on the brink Of the
water | thought, and shivered. Then
| put out my other hand and clutched
at Sydney's arm.
In Gods name where are YOU
going? asked in a terrified whis.
per.
The boy did not answer. He stop
ped dead The darkness was thick
about us. We were standing in ?
mist, and even the blurred stars had
faded out. Suddenly l felt a wave
break over my feet. And at that
moment, Kissing out and echoing
across the darkness, there grated in
my ears the sound of harsh ard hol-
low laugh-the very laugh | had
heard in my dreaml
The gloom was so dense that could
only see the outline Of Sydney's body
though | was grasping him with my
two hands. There was a perfect
silence. Still stood motionl-,ss, root
ell TO the rocks. Then | felt the boy
start off again, toward the house.
Another wave dashed up against INV
feet, ~ ! srned with him, anu began
to ascend to the gardens again. The
fog was growing thinner. Presently
1t parted, aud a strong wind seemed
TO have risen suddenly out of the sea.
Now | could distinctly see Sydney's
eyes still liked on the invisible thing
before him. | could see, too, that We
were mounting the pale. avenue of III
trees, aud from the distant windows
Of the library dim light was casting
shadows down upon our faces. But
We dill not make for those windows.
My guide turned of 10 the left, aal
We entesed the deserted part Of the
house. felt utterly sleIlbonnd.
a.. m