The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-30
PART III.-CHAPTER III.


! Mrs. Willis was drOwsily conscious
that the clock was striking twelve.
Her sleep was not sound for the next
hour; the intelligence of her husbands
safety and the perplexing events of the
afternoon and evening would not per-
NIT the unbroken slumber that she
craved and needed.
But the soundest sleeper would have
been aroused by the frightful disturb
ance that rung through the house be-
fore the clock struck again. Even her
daughter, sunk in the profound rest of
youth, health, and innocence, by her
side, was instantly startled to wakeful-
ness by it.
A long-drawn cry, pealing out as
though voicing the lowest depths OF
agony and remorse! 1t rose and fell
and died away, leaving the very
silence that succeeded horrible.
1t was surely from somewhere in the
house, and surely not near by. Loud
as it was, distinct as it was, there was
something about it that suggested that
walls and shut doors were between.
The two women sat up, but said
nothing. Their arms were about eacE
other; terror kept them silent. They
listened in almost breathless suspense.
The door between their chamber and
the sitting-room was wide open; that
leading into the hall was ajar. From
this hall as well as from that above, all
doors of communication with the old
part of the house had been closed and
barred. This Mrs. Willis remembered
in the hours of terror that followed,
and she derived some little courage
from the thought.
Again that cry-or rather, this time,
a hooking yell, ending with loud and
discOrdant cha! har'
1t was unquestionably nearer than
the other; it sounded as though it
might have come from one of the near
est rooms of the old part on the sec.
ond floor.
These two women were as brave as
their sex is ever expected to be; but
these demoniac noises, coming in the
dead silence Of the night, filled their
very souls with terror. The man who
at the place and time could have heard
them without fear and trembling is
stronger tfIn the most of his sex.
II Iolo
whispered. 1--WE can't stay here. o
hear that--hear itr'
1t was great clanking of chains, in
termingled with ye!ls and oaths, wind
ing up with two pistol-shots in rapid
succession.
Mrs. Willis sprang up and bolted the
door leading into the hall. Helen lit a
candle with trembling fingers: and
both, hastily dressed, sat holding
hands, and shivering in silence.
Until tardy daylight came they sat
thus: except that once, when the weird
noises swelled and waved in deeper
volume of imprecations and blasphem-
les, Mrs. Willis opened the great Bible
on the stand, the precious family heir
loom that was on the Mayflower when
she anchored off the coast where
Provincetown stands-and placed he,
her hands upon it pages, as if invok
ing its protection against the fends
that were raging through the house.
Once Helen raised the curtain and
looked out of the window. The night
had grown foggy and dark.
''Let us slip out at the back door.
MOTHER" she whispered. 1--WE can
run over to Mrs. Tryon's, and get
away from this awful place.
Mrs. Willis half rose from her chair.
A heavy step sounded on the stair.
Tramp, tramp. tramp, came the foot
falls down to the hall-tramp, tramp,