The Red Cloud chief., 1889-11-22

With this energetic prelude she stepped
cautiously out in the hall for the purpose OF
lighting the neglected lamps. Cropping
Ter way 20 the nearest lamp she was about
TO light Il when slight movement or the
stairs arrested her attention; slow. shut
fling movement came TO her ear. rather in
definite. but SIZE was sure some one else
was in the hall besides herself. The motion
continued, though seemingly mufaed.
She WAS about ready to scream from
sheer desperation when something ike
a h~alt--roan and ha.f-sigh snote on her
acute ear. In Al agony Of fear she few
bacx TO the library, and with very wild.
frightened eyes and white face she rushed
into the midst Of the gossipins servants
As she did so q gave vent to q half
suppressed scream They all sprang to
their feet in alarm. asked in q breath:
'W b q is il, Ciarksonr"
An shure as I'm a born childer." she
exclaimed. q Light breaking in on her fright
eued mind, that snUre the uasthUr'sc COON
in down the stairway all alone il the DARK
nessov the night
They al looked i~ncreduious and seemed
about 10 accUse the ho~usekeeper of insan-
ity. when her husband came forward and
placing his hand on the door-hanGle. said.
half derlsively:
Hist. ye. Peggy; an he cudna COON
doom the stheps Alone IA more than St.
Pathrick cud sin"
He opened the door slowly. and they all
cane 10 listen for any unusual sound In
the hall. BresthlessIy huddied together in
the cark doorway they listened.
And Peggy was right in her affirmation.
She had neither gone insane nor heard a
! spirit tranping about, for SIR Rupert was
coming down the dark staircase Unaiced
and alone. Step By step. painfully, slowly,
YEARLY. but surely coming.
-B.issid Varginr' g-oaned Ancll, scagger-
ing back gaius the door An its roight
! We are. me lass, the Uasthur is coomin'
down the sthairs.- Then N a suppressed
UNDERGONE he terrified them by saying: An
phwat ef ne shud miss his footing, or make
tie Taste misstnepf'
And instead II going to their master TO
assist his uncertain steps, or lighting the
lamps in the dark hall. they stood shudder-
ing involuntarily. Stricken with q par
alvzing fright, not one Of them thought Of
going TO their masters assistance, or even
essaying 10 move. They stood rooted TO the
floor Ike so many useless statues, listening
70 Sir Rupert's slow and painful descent,
ard waiting for something they could Tot
define.
Down. down. the dragging. uufied steps
amt with long intervals for rest: and
sometimes a labored breathing. sometimes
q sigh
But suddenly there was a frantic clutch
ing Of the polished balUs,rsde, a reeliug to
and fro, a smothered groau. then IN un-
earthly. hopeless cry for assistance, and the
master Of Heather,eigh fell down the few
remaining steps and lay struggling in a
violent corvu.s;on on the floor OF the hall.
HIS fall seemed TO unlock the beuuubed
senses Of the household, and adrighted and
bew.Itered they rushed 10 and fro, some to
Sir Rupert's assisc8be. and some for
lights.
James brought the lamp from the library
hUrriedly, while Peggy made vain ~endeavors
20 fnd the na,l burners He shrank back
in abject terror from the writing form Ct
his master. and held the lamp high over his
head with a wall 10 one could ever forget.
But Ancil and John, who had in these last
DAYS Of the Hall become faithful and most
VIKING nurses. lifted Sir Rupert from the
docr and bore him into the great drawing
room at the left. laying him down gently on
the deep, luxurious sofa bv the great double
windows.
Then John ran for the physician, while
Peggy and her husband did all in their pow
er TO restore the dying nan to conscious
ness. iuterlardIns their work with all the
e~xtravagant and useless Irish explosives
Known. But their efforts were not success
FIJI. Sir Rupert never gained conscious
ness. and expired IN their arms before DR..
Whitelake arrived
When they all gathered about the wasted.
riGd form Of their master as the instance