Wichita eagle., 1889-08-25

That hewas there FOR no good was sufli-
GENTLY Demonstrated but how could | have
seen hima l experienced curious sensation
as it broke upon me that the man l had be-
held was not included in the census OF this
planet felt tingling in my limbs and a
buzzing in my ears. The sensation was
physical only-mentally, ! may say there
was complete and instant blank.
As the shock passed over pulled myself to-
gether and retraced my steps down the pas
sage and into the drawing room 1t seemed
strange, that lighted room and the common
place occupants.
My step had been almost noiseless on the
thick carpet Of the corridor, and no one had
noticed my approach. l stood, perhaps, for
FIVE minutes in the doorway, Swallowed by a
portiere, and gradually the perfectly natural
and human expression of the room and the
people, chatting pleasantly, with the clear
lamplight full upon their familiar faces, So
bered my excited senses, and began to feel
that / had come very near making myself
supremely ridiculous. What SAVIOR rather
what now believed l had fancied saw
was one Of those strange optical illusions,
born Of mental exalt2tion, and taking, as is
usually the case, most unexpected and I'M
the music-by the presence and close SYM
pathy Of the girl deeply loved and l had
seen-no heaven born vision-but something
directly opposed to every image which, just
then, should have possessed my mental vision.
had seen stealthy, creeping, lurking, muir
derous-yesl murderous-that is what was
written in every line of The evil face and
crouching form-murder.
l shuddered from head to foot.
Then pulled myself together again, and
thankful that my return to the drawing room
had been unobserved determined to depart
as quietly as | had come. This | managed
successfully, and Lighting a candle this time
at the head Of the staircase, | entered the
passage leading TO my room and reached it in
my usual prosaic manner Although now
thoroughly convinced that l had been the
victim of temporary hallucination felt by
20 means comfortable Ny new accomplish
a.ent was not an agreeable one, and my
nerves were badly shaken
"Fooll" 1 apostrophized myself politely,
and glad, after all, that had not absolutely
appeared one in the eyes Of Mavis and her
$amily, began to undress. First, however,
! searched my sleeping and dressing rooms
thoroughly and found them quite free from
the presence Of my i'll looking friend Of the
passage. The dressing room was queer
little place-one of the few rooms Of the
tower that had stood the ravages of time and
the only one in the house that had not been,
from laird to laird, added to and improved
upon. 1t was curious enough, and some Of its
old worm eaten oak had stood since the ear
hest days of Ghairlee
| went to bed and very soon, it seemed to
me, fell asleep. Very soon, too, it seemed
to me, 1 was awakened BY know not
what
| sat up in bed and listened intently, thor
oughly awake.
For several minutes I heard nothing.
Then the dismal bowling Of a dog came to
me, as if from the adjoining room-and yet
it had u smothered sound as if, although near
me, its bowls were being stifed. Suddenly
this sound ceased, and then came q stealthy,
creeping sound, and l saw a crouching figure
against my wall-tEe same Egure the same
evil face now turned straight toward me, the
same murderous expression-all, as it had,
just as suddenly, appeared in the hall
And my room was in perfect darkness.
But though the man continued to gaze
straight into my eyes be moved from, not
toward, me slowly and stealthily until he
reached the door leading into the dressing
room, and through this he disappeared.
With one bound followed him. | forgot
the deadly fear that had seized upon me at
sight of this monster, as | believed him, OF
my imagination. | rushed after him and
would have thrown myself upon him in
another instant, had not something rooted
ne TO the threshold powerless. IN vain |
endeavorad to move hand or limb, in vain
attempted to cry aloud wien | found myself
incapable of notion stood as if chained
gagged-helpless-s And before
me crept the man, al ways skpIking along the
wall
Now my eyes Travelled beyond him to divine
his destination, and there-before the mirror
Of the Old dressing table, with her bonny
brown hair all unbound and her little, white
bare feet, showing beneath her loose night
robe and in her hands the old lutte with a
pale ribbon wound about it, thereof, my
Godl stood Mavisl Eneeling beside her was
an old waiting woman. Even in my speech
less agony knew paused, trying to place
her, but she was some one | could not remenl-
Der to have seen about Ghairlee Shestroked
and kissed her lady's hand-Tny ladys hand
and seemed to say some soothing word, but
though | saw her lips moved, try Us I would
l could hear no sounds
struggled frantically for the power to cry
aloud, but my tongue was held by some ter
rlble force ] could neither save nor warn my
darling of that CHASTITY shadow that is creep
ing nearer, ever nearer!
Merciful Godl
Without a sound-noiseleSs as fate-mcrci-
IesS-death giying-the figure rose from l..
crouching posture and stood behind the tive
women. With some hideoUs cleaning weap-
on uplifted to strike, with his evil face ais
torted by the passion and intent 10 kill re-
fected in al its CHASTITY horror Ia the long,
dim glass, into which my poor, lost Mavis
stared as If already stricken, tie man stood
for an misunderstanding in anticipation this
dark and bloody deed Then there was sud
den flash as the thing no carried descended
a dull, crushing blow, and at last-too late
my voice came to me,
One shrek that should have rallied long
forgotten la,rds TO the defense and then-un-
Consciousness
When l opened ms eyes, Mavis, my own
Mavis, stood beside me- Then | saw the
kindly face of the laird
After a while, told my story Then he
told his.
Many years ago there was Laird Of
Ghairlee who had a cruel, wicked brother
This brother plotted TO overthrow all who
stood in bis way, but the laird was too
strong for him and found him out for a
wicked, murderous dog; 50 the gates OF
Ghairlee were closed upon him. But though
he said nothing he waited until the laird was
away, and then he stole into the little passage
leading ID the tower rooms and MD there,
and that night be murdered the laird's young
bride Mhan rnua Mas Within call hut Tia