The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-05-02
concealed behind"
No. go.

iue2 Icgatus 1t with interest.
"Shall move itand explores"
lie asks.
She hesitates. "Ne," reluc-
tantly, II must CO."
"But think" says this willy
youth, "if we actually did flnd
the cause of all this snpers ti.ion
regarding the place."
\ moments pause, and then
her spirit of adventure wins the
day. "Well, | do no, suppose II |
will take more than afew min |
utes," she says, putting down |
her candle.
They approach the old ward |
rode and he endeavors 10 move
1t. alt is going to be n harder |
task than | imagined" he says. |
He exerts his utmost strength,
and at last ii rolls slowly aside |
and discloses a life-s:ze oil
painting. Simply a portrait OF
beautiful young girl in a quaint, |
fashioned, black velvet
dress. She is seated in a big
armchair, her head resting
against the back, and looking
sadly, seriously, into space.
"Was ever anything so lovely
seen Unreal iIfe ?' exclaims Inez
at last, with a sigh. "She is the |
girl whose spirit haunts the
house," she adds hastily, as che
catches the young mans express
sion, which, though respectful,
is answer enough. al am quite
certain of that. Poor thing
she does not look happy. l sup
pose she was in love with some
one aud he did not have enough
money, so she took a richer
man"
Her companion is decidedly
amused. "Do you suppose, lie
asks, "that lovely, ethereal crea-
ture ever thought Of money I? |
More probably her lover was
killed, or her pa and his pa were
enemies-er-Capulet, you
know, whats in a name and
all that"
"Well, | am sure she was not |
such a forward young damsel
as Juliet, who made all the ar
rangements for her wedding and
only stopped short of asking
Ron 60 how much he would set
tie on her."
Sensible girl! She was up
to snuff"
Eyes; but think of Juliet be-
ing up to snuff! But come
she adds brisklv. "let's move
the picture and find that hidden
staircase"
"Well, really! you seem rath-
er certain Of it," he rejoins, as
he pushes the picture along a
little way, thereby disclosing a
portiere of heavy, dark tapestry.
"By Joyep he exclaims; and
Inez looks rather startled as she
stoutly asserts she is sure there
nothing further to dicover.
"Have you ever received hor-
rid big packa &c wrapped up in
innumerable papers, and got all
excited undoing it, aud then
come to the thinest article that
ever was seen? That's the way
it will be now, probably. We
will move the portierie, and see
nothing" But she does not look
all confident of seeing "noth-
ing" although she starts for
ward and quickly dashes the
portiere aside. A closed door
confronts them.
"Well, this is that 'horrid big
package with inpumerable wrap
njDgs.' and no mistaken says
the young man.
"And now for the door,"
"Oh, wait a minute I" uegs
1nez. "No, don'tw she adds
quickly; "the less time we have
we have to think, the better"
He turns the knob, opens the
door, and a steep, narrow flight
Of stairs is disclosed.
ga secret case, as Pm a sin
nerw he calculates excitedly,
and somewhat like a gleeful
school
"One would think you we: :e
glad" reproachfully says Inez,
who has recoiled with q fright
ened exclamation at this last
surprise.
"Not if you are sorry" he an
swers earnestly. "And indeed
you look pale again. Let us give
up the search"
"No, mop answers Inez, who
has quite recovered. 81 am de-
|, lighted" she continues. rs she
takes up her candle. "Take this
!, and llgnt the way, and don't
dare to malign my well-known
courageous character"
Nothing loath, he descends a
few steps, IN obedience to her
wish, and then, turning, gives
, her his hand and helps her
down. They are obliged to go
very slowly, for, besides being
steep, there are many turns, and
one is in constant danger of fall
ing.
care We never coming to the
Z endw asks Inez at last.
at does not look much like
! it," he answers with a laugh. A
, minute or two more of steady
descending, and then Inez turns