The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-16
A HAND IN THE DARK.
BY MRS. ETA F. MARTIN.

ENk Inc WOruS lDVOluntaTiIy passeu NY Ups
EssS as 1 threw myself into the luxurious easy
Guar drawn up templingly before the open CRATE.
They applied equally TO Tom aud myself. Tom
was lucky fellow, certainly-the master OF the
grange and the husband Of a charming woman,
and counted myself almost equally fortunate III
my freedom from business cares for three whole
weeks, and the prospect OF unlimited nshlns ana
driving.
Cousin Tom had recently inherited fortune.
l was still plodding along in London, but for the
three weeks of liberty determined 10 enjoy all
the blessings the gods had vouchsafed me, and
10 imagine myself for The nonce as rich and
happy as Tom himself.
Although it was eaily fall the nights were 4
little keen, and Constaace-Iom's wiie-had or.
dered rre ID MY room, he cheerful blaze Civ
Ing 10 the richly furnished apartment delight
I'll touch Of warmth and cosiness.
With such fire and such a chair and with my
favorite evening paper in my pocket, retiring
was not TO lie thought of; so drawing close TO
my chair a table OIL which Stood shaded lamp
gave myself up 10 the Ierusal oil my journal.
over The long parliamentary report l must
have gone 10 sleep, and when awoke the lamp
had burned itself out and but few sparks re-
manned of the CHEEKY lire. ! lie room was not
in total darkness, for there was moon, hidden
by darkness 10 be sure, but still throwing
enough light In at Tie wide WINDOWS 10 MAXI
things dlmy visible.
on the instant of awakening felt that some
one was near me, and with that Startled feeling
one has on awakng suddenly from u souno
sleep, / cried out, "who's there ?"
No answer cane, and the only sounds were
the tapping of tree branch against the WINDOW
and the ticking OF clock over the fireplace.
sim / was conscious that somebody-some-
thing-was near me, and | held my breath,
stlaining my ears TO catch some s0und tnal
should reveal the intruder, but only the tap OF
The ice branch and The tick OF the clock broke
the silence. 49,
l remembered that there were matches on the
table ana turned in my chair 10 search for them.
An exclamation of establishment rose 10 my lips
as did So for on the surface OF The table was
stange, luminous spot-nelIher lamphght, IRE
light nor moonlight.
Up 10 this time my feeling had been one OF an
noysnce rather than fear. but there was some
Thing so Understandable, 60 supernatural, about
This light that sudden terror seized me- ana L
gaZed as one fascinated, unable TO move.
A card and pencil had taken from my pocket
lay on the table and over ms Inc llght grew
brighter. and in IFS midst hand appealeu-a
wuman's hand, delicate and beautiful, Dut OF
dealhly Wilderness and on The thifd finger
gieamed q ruby. the stone held between Two
Tie fingers closed over the pencil and after
making several irregular marks upon the card,
NaId with GREATNESS interest saw the pallld
hand wife with perfect dlstlnclness;
Search for the box III The old we'll"
Then The strange light grew DIM, the hand
gradually faded away. and The moon. emerging
from lhe clouds, threw shalt OF light lrto lie
room.
in a moment l had found match ana taper, and,
light in hand, was bending over the table.
The card was bank-nOt word upon lt-and
| asked myself If l had been dreaming. But
hard as tried 10 convince myself that such was
the case / could not it had all been too real
A strange experience II was surely. But after
bordering over II awhile L decided 10 dismiss IL
from my mind and to retire.
In the morning the affair seemed more mex
plicable than ever and found myself constantly
thinking OF the words l had seen traced by the
mysterious hand. They were meaningless 10
me. search for the box in the old we'll"
knew of no box that had been lost, and certainly
Iknew of no old well. Tie affair had flavor
OF " Lady Audley's Secret" abou. 1t, and 1t was
not hard TO picture a grass-grown well conceal
ing in lis depths some shaslly secret.
IL | could have laughed the matter OIL as 4
dream should have RECALLED Tom and Consta nee
with the story at breakfast, but could not bring
!By lie way, Lester" said Tom, I'VE are ex-
pecIing another guest to- day-Mlss Mabel Saun-
ders. Charming girl, TOO"
land tile Oranges Iigh;ful mistress" added
Constance.
i locked I'D In surprise.
IL thought you bought the place, Tom, so who
could be lie rightlul mistress bur Cuusiance?"
- Only leased IT, old fellow. The owner, Lee
HarcouTt. would not sell. though lie is ashamed
to show his face about here. 1t IS my opinion lie
hopes 10 come back and marry Mabel when the
feeling against him has died away
TEL me the story, om,' asked, Tor that
there is Il story Is evident"
Easily told, Lester Mabel Saunders is the
daughter Of an old army comTade OF Colonel
Denison, the late owner OF the Grange, and when
her parents died In her infancy, Colonel Denison
and his wife took the Child TO their home. She
was not legally adopted, but as they had no chill
dren of their own Mabel was looked upon as their
heress, and the ColonePs attorney AYERS that lie
drew up VIII four years ago leaving the
property to her. Two years ago Colonel Denlson
was brought home dead from the bunting held,
and his wife, who had been for years an Invalid,
survived the shock less Than a month. When the
Coioneis papers were examined no VIII was
found, and Lee HarcOuIt, lbe next oil Kin, came
lnun nj 81
were not slow TO express their BELIEF That Har-
court had destroyed the Coloneps Will. as be mad
been visiting al The grange at tie time OF Tue
Colonel's death, but there was no proof lie
wanted 10 marry Mabel. probably TO end The
gossip but She refused his hand, and for more
than a year now has been gOverness for Mrs.
StantOu's three unruly boys. Now, these pre-
cocious youngsters are TO have a vacation, so
Mabel comes 10 us. Indeed, we would gladly
give her home, but she is too proud 10 accept
il. There's the story, aud now for our drive.
Here he the horses"
A glorious eaop IL was in the braclng au-
Iumnal air. and visit TO The stables followed, so
that / did not see Constance again TIL came
down TO lunch Meeting Tom In the hall, we en-
tered The room together, 10 md Constance await.
ing us, and by her side tall, straight girl with
the sweetest lace had ever seem
Tom greeted her warmly, and then Miss
Saunders was introduced 10 me, extending her
hanC with some pleasant remark.
What sue said do not know, for on the hand
that was laid in niue ellSened iuby-a ruby
held between TWO golden seIpents. LEADS,
/ must have seemed strangely embarrassed for
moment Bat / saw Constance look at me
oddly, and with q determined effort put aside
all speculations for the time being.
That evening in the drawiDgroom, as Miss
Saunders and were looking over a book of ell
cravings. / seized the opportunity 10 comment
upon the RUG, saying had never seen That de-
The swee. face grew sad as she answered: at
was my mothers ring. she placed IL on my
hand the day she died"
BY her mother / understood of course that she
meant Mrs. Denlson, the only mother she had
ever known. and l almost seemed TO hear the
words: Search for the box IN Inc OLD WELL"
Could there,be any connection between the miss
ing viii! and my strange vision?
The days went on, every hour bringing me
nearer that unhappy day when must leave The
Grange and Mabel and return TO my Office drudg-
cry. l had often declaimed against sudden
attachments. had often argued that love should
be growth, and here were all my theories COM
peteiy shattered. AT glance from MabePs blue
eyes flame had been kindled In my heart that
grew brighter and brighter as we walked or
drove together In the long, pleasant days. Sill
did not mean 10 ask her 10 be my wife, for what
had l 10 o1er? Two or Three rooms in dingy
garden as the moonlight fell upon her appraised
face, l lost my head completely and avOwed
my love. 10 find it frankly returned. And when
i told Mabel how little l had TO lay at her feet
she drew such a picture of a little home In Lon
don that tile two or three shabby rooms became
the brightest spot on earth.
Tom and Constance were delighted, and indeed
l shrewdly suspect that the Whole affair was one
of my Cousins Mife's matchmaking schemes.
"Ah, Lester" size Salu, III tnat VIII would
only turn up you might have a fortune as well as
bride. On, yes" as protested that wanted
no fortune, ~ know that you are disinterested,
but you would still love Mabel, would you mol,
II size were ich?"
"By Jove!'' said Tom, "ips shame about that
VIII. Let's have another search for the box"
1.-THE bOxi what box ?' cried, jumping to my
feet in my excitement.
"Why, the tin box the will was In, together
with the papers. Didn't tell you the whole lot
was missine?"
For moment lost sight OF Tom and Con-
stance and before me saw pallid band, with
Its cleaning ruby, and IL traced the words,
"Search for the box in the old we'll"
l TUNED sauaIely upon Tom, who was watch
Ing me somewhat curiOusly.
'.Why don't you search the old well?" asked
abruptly.
II was Toms turn to Jump to his feet.
4" The old we'll! What put that into your head?
But 1t shall be searched before the sun goes
down. And, by JOve, Constance, don't you re-
member when we leased the Grange that Har.
court spoke about the old we'll as dangerous and
suggested that we have 1t filled up?"
There was well, then, and l wanted to ask
where; but Tom had taken II for granted that
knew all about lis existence, and did not want
TO tell them my strange experience my first
night ut the Grange. The search might reveal
nothing.
Tom would not walt moment, but hurrying
off fha nd tx,ifl fI,ran s,f