San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-07

WAS 700 dDSufu 10 take the lamp 10 lne
window-there was no board there to
creak. waited some minutes, and there
being no repetition Of the sound, l re-
opened my book, but | paused with my
finger ON the page TO listen once more.
A shuddering sigh, like that Of child
who is crying itself to sleep, reached my
ear.
Invent to the window, drew up the
blind softly, and looked out; for the
sound had seemed to come from dis
lance, and thought it might be the
fiutter Of leaves in a breeze. But the
night was unchanged-heavy and still,
the moon obscured, and thin gray veil
of mist hanging over the lawn, as Edith
had seen it the night before. l opened
could see only the mullion of the bay
standing out vaguely against the gray
ness. listened. At night heavy cur
tains were drawn across the head Of the
corridor, shutting it off from the passage
upon which it abutted at right angles;
nevertheless, could hear the stertorous
breathing of the Judge or Van Hoeck
from the rooms beyond. Twas sure that
the sound l had heard was not imagin-
airy, and determined, if possible, to dis
Il
BILE and fetched the lamp.
had returned to where stood by the
door, when my eyes fell upon something
lying at the threshold. Another step,
and should have put my foot upon it.
In steadying the shade, my left hand
screened the light; as l withdrew it
saw that the object at my feet was Lola!
She had curled herself upon the mat
wifi in ha nhrac Of "a
face was toward me and pillowed upon
her folded hands. She was asleep, yet
her long black lashes were wet, and
chung to her cheek with an undried tear.
Even Van Hoeck, if he could see you
now; poor child, said to myself, could
not think i'll of you"
Iwould not awake her; | withdrew
the light until she was in shadow, placed
it on the table, fetched my book, and
seated myself where l could read and yet
watch the sleeper. AS l did this the
clock in the belfry chimed the half-hour;
I looked at my watch, and saw that it
was half-past twelve.
/ could not fix my attention upon the
book for some time, my mind being &C.
cupied with conjectures to account for
Lola's presence. 1t fitted in with Van
Hoeck's theory and warning in some re-
spects, yet-possibly because my judg-
ment was biased by sentiment-I could
not believe she had come there with any
sinister intention. l was rather disposed
to think that she had found solitude no
longer bearable, and had sought this
resting-place to be near the only friend
she knew.
As pondered, my eyes grew accus-
toned to the gloom, and l could see
dimly the girls face. her arms scarcely
distinguishable against her dusky cami-
sole, and the darker mass of her red pet
ticoat She did not move. If she had
evaded her father, it is possible that she
had fatigued herself as well as him. My
heart was stirred with pity, and l re-
solved that when she awoke | would try,
if she would listen to me, to reason her
out of her savage isolation, and induce
her to accept the kindness that Edith
longed to bestow upon her. would not
purposely awake her, for in sleep there
was the relative happiness of forgetful-
ness.
1t was past one when again began to
read. From time to time looked away
from the page and assured myself that
she was still sleeping. And SO l sat
watching and reading until past four
o'clock, when the light began to fail, my
eyes grew heavy, and unconsciOusly
fell asleep. was awoke by my book
falling from my hands to the floor, The
lamp was yet alight, but burning SO dim
ly that, looking toward the door, could
see nothing. l carried the lamp that
way: Lola was gone!
When we met at breakfast, Edith was
in her customary bright and cheerful
mood. Reassured by her appearance,
Sir Edmund said. smiling:
"Well, my dear, has there been any re-
currence of strange sounds and spectral
sights during the night!'
Yes" she answered; "but they did
not brighten me, for l knew it was only
poor Lola"
"Lola!' l exclaimed.
81 had left light burning" she said;
"the blinds were turned downward, and
the light shone upon them; the tapping
woke me. 1t was Just the same sound
that heard before. While | was look
ing at the blind before the open window
the tapping stopped, and saw finger
come down between the third and fourth
lath from the bottom, and turn the third;
after that the finger slid in between the
next two, and turned the second. Then
/ saw her two lustrous black eyes look
ing through. Almost Immediately af-
terward they disappeared. Don't be
afraid, Lola l said, in a low voice, for
feared if she were frightened she might
slip from that terribly narrow ledge. l
waited few minutes, to give her time
to get back to the bay, if she intended to,
and then l drew up the blind and looked
out. There was no one there, and the
window in the bay was as we left it last
night-closed."
"Are you sure it was Lolay' asked.
Eyes, they were her eyes"
"Do you know what time it was when
you saw herr" / asked
II can be sure of that, for in taking
my watch from the stand, it fell, break
ing the glass and stopping the hands,
and very soon after that l heard the
clock strike"
She showed me the watch, the minute
hand was so bent that it could not pass
the hour-hand; when lifted it, the move
ment commenced, proving that the spring
had not run down.
The hour marked by the hands was
five minutes to one.
at fire minutes to one Lola lcds sleep
ing at mig door, l said.
CHAPTER VIII.
Edith could not say whether the laths
she had seen turned were open when she
went to the window, and there were no
Of ha Of arI