Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-08-19

IN tine extreme. but l must confes
that | have. said Mr.. Lewis. 'Ihav,
very little doubt that il will open tn,
door. il Graham wishes ID done.
The key was applied 10 the lock
and after a few false efforts, the Dol,
turned. IL was stiff and rusty, a.
were also the hinges, aud Mr.. Levi.
had to pull hard several times before
is-stirred. Now, however, the hinge.
creaked, the jams wss loOsened with
a sudden bound. and the door flew
open wide.
Conssance Was standing nearest,
holding her candle aloii, and waiting
with eager expectation. but at the
krst slinpss a lAs. iasesisr of lAe
closet her candle dropped to the floor
aud went out, aud she uttered a wild
shrek. AT the same time, horri6ed
cries arose from the others. lights were
dropped and extingnished, one lady
fell to the floor insensible, and the
others fled from the room. The un-
conscious lady was taken up and
borne away by some of the men, loud
exclamations were heard on all sides,
and the widest confusion prevailed.
But after that first sharp cry, Con.
stance stood as if spell.bOund, her
hands clasped close together and her
gaze riveted on the object in front of
her. What she looked at, by the dim
light of the one remaining candle, was
a yellow-skinned, sunken-eyed, dust
covered, revolving object, which yet
bore unmistakable traces of having
been once human form divine.
Strange, uncanny garments hung
around it, covered with heavy mold
and festooned with cob-webs, aud
emitting a horrible, sitting smell.
The upper part of the body was ell
cased in a furry garment, and there
was hat of the same material on the
head. The hands were thrust into
a muff, and streaming over the coat
We're wisps of muddy hairs, which
showed here and there a CLEAN OF dull
yellow.
As these points were borne in upon
the minds of Miss We're aud the gen.
tlemen that were left of the party,
the horrible truth flashed upon them.
vOuSs.."~<,- -sa-~- -a.-~-.-rl-
1t is the beautiful girl, she said. in
an awed half-whisper. Look at the
dress, the coat, the muif, the hat, the
long hair! 1t is Celine. He must
have killed her and put her in here.
1t must be so, said Mr.. Graham.
with bloodless face, and dreadful
look of fear and adherence in his
eyes. He managed to control his agi-
tatiou, but any one looking closely 1T
him now, us Doctor Lloyd was doing,
must have seen that the effort was
gigantic.
He was quite mad. poor fellow,
Mr.. Graham went on. Every one
knew that by his strange conduct
from the time of his return home.
But it is this young lady he has to
thank for it, and not his innocent an
cestors, as ! dare say some Of you would
be ready to maintain
Doctor Lloyd was taking a moIs
deliberate took at the repulsive figure
by the light OF the candle. held close.
i want to see how it is held in this
position. he said. 1t is a very care
ful piece OF embalming, and was doue
by a man who understood what he
was about. He has the figure sup
ported by strong bands Of leather,
but they are all concealed by the
clothing. There is even band around
the forehead under the hat. and he
drew back, wiping his hands on his
handkerchief, and turning TO get a
Whit Of the purer air Of the room.
This is dark story, Graham. he
said. My advice to you is to keep it
quiet. 1t will be painful to you to
hear references to it in the future,
and there need be none
Painful said Mr.. Graham, with
an effort at laugh. MY dear fel.
low, am not superstitious. OF
course. the thing is painful in itself,
but it all happened great while ago
and does not concern me. Because
this girls coquetries drove my uncle
crazy there is no reason why | should
follow suit. unless indeed. l happened
to fall into the hands of Miss Con.
stance here, who. between ourselves
is much such another
oh, Mr.. Graham, don I say so 7 ex'
claimed Miss We're. implorinelY. In
deed, indeed, you are mistaken
She had pushed to the closed dooI
and Shnt IN fha lr.alfnl raal c,,ra