The Red Cloud chief., 1889-11-29

- W 4
I STRAINED EvERT TO CATca rUs
soCN
va a The burthen OF my thoughts
seemed to be such . sad. hopeless lues-
cioning. Why for NE was there no rest,
10 repose, wnen I needed it so much.
There was such q restraint on ue, invis-
ibie, but .ucn . CALLING restraint as would
drive a mortal man mad 10 endure. And
nv situation was plainly mapped ont be-
fore NE. and I knew the replies to every
question I might ask before / could ask
them.
On! what an existence. There was no
uu6oing what l had done, no getting OUT OK
his wretched groove OK useless regret. Pic-
.oned By al unseen power, felt that l was
doomed 70 wander forever back and forth
the Iengtho Of uy enslacing, invisible chains.
Always gong and so weary, but never ex-
hausted.
/ felt that this was nv terrible, endless
punishment Of soul agony for something
which I had done and for wnich there was
row 10 repentance, AID il ny deep despair
I uttered q low. piteous CRY.
The sound Of my voice had broken the
awful spell which the appari.ion had thrown
over ne, and l found myself standing before
the door Of the :s.etUl Grawing-room- How
I managed TO get there car not say. as I
was not conscious Of having made a single
step in any direction while IN ny strange
state Of sympathetic SORROW, and finally NJ
own SOU WEAKNESS.
Although I cid not remember OF having
made a move, I had been drawn the half
length Of the grea: central hal by the power
Of the weird, fascinating object, which faded
instantly al ny Unearthly cry. leaving me
NY individuality once more.
At this iunccure all WEAKNESS lad left
re also. as well Is fear. and / was con-
scious OF the fact that the object had gone
into the d~rawinc-roou, and l felt inpeleG
TO follow Il. The morbid curiosity was
again seizing ne undetermined toopenthe
great door. I had forgotten Peggy under
tie strange influence Of this midnight expe-
renee, and boldly reached for the key in It's
brass ring on the wall
But as I touched the key a cold. Icy. shiv-
erlng sensation went over NE, aud ! stayed
uye a hand. The larp % burned brighter
cow and-and-well. where was II
= noise behind me caused NE 10 turn
quickly and. half alarmed. I noticed that
Peggy and Ancu were standing n the pas
sage-way. How very long they have been
standing there. 1 thought: then came the
haif-awake sensation. and l realized that
they were waiting for re.
When they saw NE looking a. them they
| called TO NE to ''coou away from there"
At sign. Of their familiar faces I started
and awoke, shaking OF the iechal ccaru. TO
| realize where I really was. As the knowl-
! edge caue 70 me, instantly I became terri
! fed. and rushing across the bali fell faint
ing in Peggy's arms
| When I cane 70 nv senses once more
was living On the low sercee in the servants
quarters, and the ~housekeeper was mop
| ping nv forehead alternately with carphor
| and water, and meaning as If her heart
were broken.
Iopened ny eyes languidly, and looked
up al the dear Old soul bending over me. A
| hAIf-frIghcenei exclamation OF JOY burst
from her lips.
An. me Leddy, an it's yer Own swate
self that isn't ced yet Dim glad Oh got
ye away from that awful place atore thin
spirits kilt ye-"
bow long was I in there aloner' asked,
| the whole Of the sensational experience
flashing wildly across my mind.
"Oh, iisc q minit. Oh thought yer was
coming away cnce from the divIlish whus-
perin's. but ye wen roisht along a gropin'
about like sunth,n' stark chrazy, an not a
Eoin6in' a wurrud Oi said TO yez-r
1t was evident they had seer nothing. @
kept my uncanny vision to myself. Only q
minute. Peggy SAID. and il seemed TO me
years. Remembered the awful feeling OF
helpless despair that had possession Of me
IN that minute. and could not help but think
what must be the punishment in the next
world il one Is allowed such an experience
as culy an insight l was sure / had ex'
perienced q part Of Sir Rupert's punish
mens somehow.
Iclosed my eyes YEARLY and thought Of
perienced! The depths Of despair, with
just strength enough to endure and never
become entirely exhausted. coupled with
the desperate knowledge that il was toe
late! too iateI lam fully satisfied with my
adventure, and shall hereafter be slow &c
condemn any plausible ghoss-ssory coming
70 my ken.
Hay 50 long with closed eyes and motion.
less form that the old h~ousekeeper CAM
and bent over me until I felt her breath on
my cheek.
AN she's worried out and gone to slape
she isl murmured she, turning away but
I could not have slept for love nor money
II my repose satisfied Peggy. I felt willing
70 keep up the feigned sleeping process in
order that I might think Ioould do TIA,
with wonderful ~6istinctness, but - toz
sleep it was far from me-
SJt's near morpj0,n heard Pe1U 81