Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-14


II was almost stunned, but heard scream
from Marie. storm of angry words from kald
| helm, and l felt sure he was about to inflic
further injury. He was much stronger mar
than was and probably was armed. With {
sudden instinct OF self preservation l ROLLED
down little declivity on the edge OF which
had fallen, and, staggering to my feet, plunged
| into thicket and fled. Even had been i'll tht
| full possession of my senses l knew that under
the circumstances l would have been of no ben
eft to Marie had 1 remained upon the scene
The last thing | heard was q shout from kGId
helm, in which he declared that he would xii
me yet. For somo days did not go out of II!
| castle. My face was bruised, my soul was de
| jected. 1 knew there no possible chance
that should meet Marie. and that there was q
chance that / might meet the angry colonel. Al
alteration at this time would be very annoy.
| ing and painful to the lady, no matter what the
| result; and considered ltIy duty to do every
| thing that was possible to avoid q meeting with
| kaldhein. Therefore, | have said, shut my
/ self up within the walls of old Wulrick and
| gave strict orders to my servant to admit nc
| one.
1T was at this time that the strangest events
| OF my life occurred Sitting i'll an upper room
| gazing ont of the window. over the fields
through which l had walked so happily but
| two days before to meet the lady whom l had
begun to think of as my Marie, l felt the head
OF dog laid gently in my Jap. Without turn
| Ing my head l caressed the animal and strokel
the long hair on his neck
My hound Ajax was n dear companion &c
: me III this old castle although L never tooi
| INN IN my walks. as he was apt to get into mis-
| chief, and when / turned my head to look al
| MN he was gone, but strange TO say the hand
| which had been strOking the dog felt as if il
were still resting on his neck.
Quickly drawing my hand toward me II
struck the head of the dog, and, moving II
backward and forward, felt the ears and nose
OF the animal. and then became conscious tina,
| It's head was still resting upon my knee.
Il started back. Had l been stricken with
bhndnessE Bat no; turning my head, could
plainly see everything in the room. The scene
| from the window was as distinct as it ever had
been. l sprang to my feet. and, as l stood
wondering what this strange thing could mean,
| the dog brushed up against me and licked my
hand. Then the idea suddenly flashed into my
mind that by some occult influence Ajax had
| been rendered invisible.
| Il dashed down stairs and, although 1couid
neither see nor hear it, felt that the dog was
| following me. Rushing into the open air, |
| s-w one of my men, Where is Ajax?' 1 cried.
| "A very strange thing has happened, sir, he
| said, and should have come to tell you OF it,
had not been unwilling to disturb your studies.
About two hours ago Ajar was lying here in the
court yard; suddenly he sprang to his feet with
| savage growl. His hair stood straight upon
| his back, his tail was stiff and his lips were
| drawn back, showing his great teeth. l turned
absolutely nothing, sir, nothing in the world.
And never did l see Ajax SO angry. But this
lasted only for an instant Ajax suddenly
backed, his tail dropped between his legs, his
head hung down, and with a dreadful howl he
turned and leaping the wall of the courtyard.
he disappeared. l have since been watching
for his return. The gate is open, and as soon
as he enters l shall chain him, for feal the
dog is mad.
Il did not dare to utter the thoughts that
| were in my mind, but, bidding the man inform
me the moment Ajax should return, 1 re-
entered the castle and sat down in the great
hall.
The dog was beside me; his head again lay
| upon my knees. With feeling of awe, yet,
strangely enough, without fear, l carefully
passed my hand over the animals head. l felt
his ears, his nose, his jaws and his neck. 1t was
not the head. the ears, the nose, the jaws nor
the neck OF Ajax!'
ITO be continued