Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-15
the gloom and the boy. strange looks had

nv own part an uncomfortable chill SEEMED
To be creeping through my limits
"There, sir, thcre-dont you see hims-at
the top Of the stairs. He's beCkoning us &c
fOlluw-cume.'
strained my eyes in the direction where
he pointed, but could discern nothing How
ever. | caught hold Of Sydncy's arm and
followed him silently, like a sheep. Why
did so cannot at this moment conceive.
The boy led the way down sta =. appar-
entity keeping his eyes fixed on something he
could see in front. held him blimdly. We
went down and across the hall, and then out
of the front door into the cold air 1t was
quite dark outside, though one or two blurred
stars were Pickering palely, and the moon,
| thought. was struggling behind cloud.
Round the house we went, faster and faster,
into the gardens at the back, and down the
slopes toward the sca- Sydney seemed to be
dragging me along. Once caught IA glimpse
of his face, and | saw 1t 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 | could hear the surf beating
against the rocks and dimly sne the white
crests of the waves hanging IN the foggy
night Now we were nn the beach. | felt
the seaweed under my feet and stumbled.
Still the boy dragged me along. Now We
must be on the brink of the water, l thought,
and shivcred Then put out my other hand
and clutched at Sydneys arm
In Gods name, where are you goingT
said in terrified whisper.
The hoy did not answer. He stopped dead.
The darkness was thick about us. We were
standing in a mist, and even the blurred
stars had faded out. Suddenly feis wave
break over my feet. And at that moment,
Kissing out and echoing across the darkness,
there grated in my ears the sound OF a harsh
and hollow laugh-the very laugh ! had
heard in my dream!
The gloom was SO dense that l could only
see the outline Of Sydney's body, though ]
was grasp;ng him with my two hands There
was a Ierfect silence. Still | stood there
motiouless, rooted to the rocks. Then felt
the boy start of again, toward the house
Another wave washed up against NY feet a,
! turned with him and began to ascend tc
the gardens again. The fog was growing
thinner. Presently it parted, and a strong
wind seemed 20 have risen suddenly out of
the sea Now could distinctly see Sydmey's
ewes still fixed on the invisible thing before
| I'm | could see, too, that We were mount
distant windows of the library a dim light
was casting shadows down upon our faces,
But we did not make for those windows. My
guide turned oil TO the left, and We entered
the deserted part Of the house | felt utterly
| spellbound | seemed to have lost all power
! Of volition believe should blindly have
! followed that boy to my death.
We had plunged into a labyrinth OF
shadowy rooms, leaving the outer air. How
We got into that part of the house | cannot
tell had not been there for years. Sydney
could never have been i'll it, and he led me on
| rapidly, and never faltered or hesitated once.
| | think that the moon must have come out,
for there was a faint light shining through
the windows as we passed, and by that light
| he guided ME. We crossed several empty
rooms and passages, and at last came out int
a long corridor That too, we truversed
At the further end door opened before us
stepped through it into my own library
and stood there in the lamplght, gazing
stupidity into Sydney's face.
He too. had paused But he never spoke q
word. nor looked at me. His eyes were tixe'I
| on tall bookcase in corner of the room
| Presently he began 10 move slowly toward it
and |, still holding him, followed. Then, IA
we approached 1t, to my utter amazenent
| the whole bookcase swung back upon IL
hinges, revealing a small closet, which had
never seen before, with some dusty rolls oi
paper lying on a shelf within IT, With q
weird cry Sydney sprung forward, wrench
ing himself from my grasp. He seized tn,
papers, and, turning, thrust them into my
hand Then, with his face white as snow
and eyes diStended, he raised one arm am
pointed TO the window. In another moment
he had tottered back and fallen on the floor
But was already at the window. In my
frenzy dashed my shoulder against il. Tn,
fastening gave way. The glass came crash
ing down about me. | was outside, standing
in the chill, blue night. Round ME the winC
was whining and clustering. The fog ha'
melted away Overhead the stars wer,
burning golden. The banished clouds hac
gone. But no sign of any human figure
man or ghost was there. Only the desolat,
avenue, with its fir trees, bending over it
and at the far end, in the dimness, the higl
moon over the whitened seal
When / went back into the library found
Sydney in a dead faint on the floor / rusheC
to the bell and rang it till its tones went peal
ing and clashing through the house Then
raised the boy in my arms and carried hin
easily into the lighted hall The blood from
the cuts of the broken glass was running
freely down my face and hands. But did
not mind it, for felt Us if life had suddenly
come back TO me And when my mother s-rt
the servants came out and gathered, startled
and lamenting, round us, fell on my knee
beside the boy and wept as l never wept,
think, before that day or since.
l have no more 10 tell The closet in th'