Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-06

long as write," she answered carelessly. ssH you have got subject in your head give 1t to me. answer for the characters and the dialogue.n
 ou answer for the characters and the dialogue" Francis repeated. "That's bold way or speaking for beginnerl Iwondel' II could shake your sublime confidence ill yourself if suggested the most ticklish sub Ject to handle which is known to the stagoa W nat do you say, countess. to entering the lists with Shakespeare and trying drama with ghost in it? A true story, mind! founded on events ill this very city, in which you and I are interested"
 She caught him by the arm and drew him away from the colonnade into the solitary middle space of the square. aNow tell me-" sine said, eagerly. Here, where nobody is near us. How am interested in its Howl howw
 Still holding his arm, she shook him in her impatience to hear the coming disclosure. For moment he hesitated. Thus far, amused by her ignorant belief in herself, he had merely spoken in jest. Now, for the first time, impressed by her irresistible earnest ness, he began to consider what he was about from more serious point of view. With her knowledge of all that had passed ill the old palace, before its transformation into hotel,
 
 some explanation of what had happened to his brother and sister and himself Or, fail ing to do that, she might accidentally reveal some event ill her own experience, which, acting as a hint to competent dramatist might prove to be the making of play The prosperity of his theatre was his one serious object in life "I may be on the track of another 'Corsican Brothers" he thought "A new piece of tha sort would be e10,0 900 in my pocket at least"
 With these motives (worthy of the single hearted devotion to dramatic business which made Francis successful manager) he re- lated without further hesitation, what his own experience had been, and what the ex- perience of his relatives had been, ill the haunted hotel He even described the out break of superstitious terror which had es- capped Mrs Norbury's ignorant maid. "Sad stuff, if you look at it reasonably" he re- marked. "But there is something dramatic ill the notion of the ghostly influence making itself felt by the relations ill succession, as they one after another enter the fatal room until the one chosen relative comes who will see the unearthly creature and know the ter rible truth. Material for play, countess first rate material for play"
 There he paused. She neither moved nor spoke. He stopped and looked closer at her.
 What impression had he produced? It was an impression which his utmost ingenuity had failed to anticipate. Sh., stood by his side just as she stood before Agnes when her ques- tion about Ferrari was plainly answered at last-lile woman turnel to stone. Her eyes were vacant and rigid; all the life in her face had faded out of it. Francis took her by the hand. Her hand was as cold as the pavement they were standing on. He asked her if she was ill.
 Not a muscle ill her moved. He might as well have spoken to the dead.
 ''Surely," he said, ''you are not foolish enough to take what have been telling you seriously?'
 Her lips moved slowly. As it seemed, she was making an effort to speak to him.
 Louder" he said, II can't hear you"
 She struggled to recover possession of her self. A faint light began to soften the dull, cold stare of her eyes. In moment more she spoke so that he could hear her,
 ''I never thought of tine other world" /" she murmured, ill low, dull tones like woman talking in her sleep.
 Her mind lad gone back to the day of her last memorable interview with Agnes; she was slowly recalling the confession that had escaped her, tGe warning words which she had spoken at that past time. Necessarily incapable of understanding this, Francis looked at her ill poi'plexity. She went on in the saIne dull vacant tone, steadily following out her own train of thought with her heed- less eyes on his face, and her wandering mind far away from him.
 "l said somo triding event would bring us together the next time. I was wrong. No trfliuss event will bring us tog ether. said I might be tlo person who told her what had fao0poa of cho fo f. Shall I feel some other influence than hers! Will he force me to it2 When she sees him, shall sec him too!"
 Her head sunk little, her heavy eyelids dropped slowly, she heaved a long, low, weary sigh. Francis put her arm in his, and made an attempt to rouse her.
 "Come, countess, you arc weary and over- wrought. We have had enough talking to- night. Let me see you safe back to your ho- tel. Is it far from here?"
 She started when he moved and obliged her to move with him, as if he had suddenly awakened her out of deep sleep.
 "Not far,'' she said, faintly. ''The old ho- tel on the quay. My minds ill strange state; have forgotten the aame."
 ssDanieli's2"
 "Yesr'
 He led her on slowly. She accompanied him in silence as far as the end of tIe Piazet- ta There when the full view of the moonlit Lagoon revealed itself, she stopped him as he turned toward the Riva degi Schiavoni. q have something to ask you. I want to wal, and think"
 She recovered her lost idea after long pause.
 ''Are you going to sleep in the room to night?" she asked.
 He told her that another traveller was II possession of the room that night. "But the manager has reserved it for me tomorrow, he added, Eff I wish to have it."
 'sNo," she said; "you must give it up."
 t'To whom!''
 ''To me-"
 He started. "After what have told you do you really wish to sleep ill that room to morrow night?"
 ''I must sleep in it." ...s
 "Are you not afraid?"
 s'I am horribly afraid"
 ''So I should have thought after what have observed in you to night. Why shoul' you take the rooma You are not obliged t occupy it unless you like"
 ''I was not obliged to go to Venice when left America" she answered. 'And yet came here. l must take the room and kee tho room untiT'- She broke off at thos words. ''Never mind the rest," she said. "I doesn't interest you"
 It was useless to dispute with her. Fran cis changed the subject. ''We can do nothin to-night,n he said. ss[ will call on you te