The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-06

care of aunt. / am glad you did not see
Constantia first; she is like me, people
say, the same size and figure"
II can imagine she is charming" said
Herbert, with an adoring smile.
"Ah but she is more so"
Just then a clock on bracket hard by
gave warning note, and Louise glanced
hastily at her watch.
ut is midnight, BERTHE. and / must be
gone. Will you see if anybody has come
for me-"
Don't your spells work after midnight,
you little WITCH" said BERTHE. laughing.
mo, indeed, you shall not go vet.
But Col. Shepstone himself appeared
upon the scene.
"Miss Cornely, your people have come
for YOU. | am sorry we are to lose you so
soon; but l know how anxious you are"
And the colonel, taking Louise under
his wing, conducted her TO the hall, where
her faithful attendants, Luigi and Nurse
Blake, were waiting to convey her home.
BERTHE could only wave silent farewell;
for the colonel angrily ordered him off to
look after his other guests, and the
cOlonePs word was law in his own house
hold.
1t was only stones throw from Bed
ford square to the Russell mansions, where
floor. Everything was handsomely APP
pointed about the place. Cornely's pro-
fession might be risky one; but appar-
emily it was lucrative enough, for the
whole household bore the appearance OF
comfort, if not of opulence. Turkey car
pets deadened the footsteps. Indian rugs
and richly-carved objects in black wood
and sandal wood were scattered about. A
musky, oriental perfume hung about
everything.
As Louise entered the portals of her
own home, a Young woman-it was Con-
stantia-glided to meet her.
GAIL is well. DEAR she said, kissing her.
Your aunt is enjoying peaceful sleep;
andnow / will help you to undress and put
you to bed"
Indeed, you will not" said Nurse
Blake, who had closely followed her young
mistress. Nobody touches my young
lady's things while | am here to do 1t.
"Really, you must humor old nurse"
whispered Louise, land get some rest
yourself; you want ii more than | do"
COnstantia sent an evil look toward
Nurse Blake and swept gracefully away.
ION, We serpent, We viper, muttered
nurse as she followed her young lady into
her room. But Blake was by no means
active as tire-wOman, and Louise soon
sent her off to bed and seating herself by
the fire, for the evening was chilly, fell
into pleasant reverie upon the new and
indefinite but brightly tinted future that
imagination opened to her. Then sud
denly she was disturbed by what felt like
the touch of a cold finger on her neck. 1t
was her amulet, which she must have
pressed uncOnsciously. And then she re-
membered what her father had told her,
Iu1f -, ,,I fln.N - fol1
would warn her of coming danger, if she
paid heed to its indications. 1t was
strange, too, how much importance her
father attached to that precious amulet
She was TO wear il night and day; on no
account remove it from her neck. The
silken cord by which it hung covered
chain of steel, thin, but very strong. The
amulet itself was of steel, damascened with
gold, with an inscription in Arabic letters
on the front of it. This little casket might
not be opened. Her father had shown
her the secret of it; but he had forbidden
her to open it unless in dire distress, or in
the event of certain knowledge of his
death. As check upon a natural femi-
nine curiosity, he told her that, if once
opened, no human power could close 1t
again, and that she would incur by her
thoughtlessness the anger OF the guardians
The house was now perfectly still, and
even the distant roar OF London streets
had ceased, while the church clocks all
around-unheard and unthought-of in the
hustle of daily liie--could now be heard,
one taking the note from another, as they
tolled out the mystic hour of three.
How quickly the time had flown. Then.
in the stiffness of the night. she heard
the handle OF her door gently tried. The
door was not locked, and it opened softly.
The hangings of the bed were between
Louise and the door and she could not
see who entered. But some one had en-
tered. had parted the bed curtains, and
finding the couch untenanted, was com
ing, with quick and stealthy tread, across
the room. Louise caught n glimpse, in
the pier glass, OF strained, white face,
and of hand that bore aloft some glitter
ing instrument. And then the spell that
bound her 10 her chair was overcome by
the force OF her terror. She sprang 10 her
feet and confronted Constantia.
There was no mistaking the momentary
CLEAN Of anger and disappointment in
Constantia's eyes, but IL was only mo-
mentary.
'You wicked girl" she cried gayly, 81
knew you were asleep in your chair.
Come, get TO bed or you will look like a
ghost tomorrow, or, rather to-day"
"But you look like one now" said
Louise, shuddering "Constantia, |
thought you had come 10 murder ME"
What, with these nail.scissors?" said
Constantia, showing for moment pair
of bright steel pliers. "a formidable
weapon, is it not2 But, dearest, what a
curious thing that is about your neck
May | examine it2" stretching out her
strong, white arms toward the amulet
which, Just at that moment, seemed to
Louise TO give n throb in answer to the
throbbing within her own bosom.
But just then Aunt Irene's bell rang.
Nurse Blake and Luigi were stirring at
once at the sound. CoDstantia glides of
in the same direction, followed by Louise,
who, throwinga wrap about her shoulders,
fastened 10 see what was the matter.
Aunt Irene seemed 10 have suffered
some kind of a seizure. She was slightly
delirious, and did not recognize those
about her, and she talked quickly and in
coherently, while her mind seemed TO be
occupied with scenes long since past 1t
is terrible not TO be recognized by those
whom we love; to meet the vacant regard
of eyes that are accustomed to rest upon
us with affectionate glances.
Louise was full OF grief and distress, but
Constantia moved about with an easy, con-
fdent air.
There is no danger" she said calmly,