The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-12-20
the back of his faithful horse Sultan. Il

he was anxious to be off. Downing
his rubber coat, with its protecting hood
we'll drawn over his hat. he started home
ward.
Pitchv darkness he encountered all the
way relieved only by vivid flashes of
lightning that darted hither and thither
over the inky sky, while the wind, eerie-
like, sOughed through the tail trees of
the grounds surrounding Glendenning
Hall: then. seeming to gather force with
each lull. broke loose again into fury,
lash;ng and thrashing the branches in a
fearful manner.
The rain also fell in torrents.
Suddenly. a brilliant flash of light
ming caused his horse to shy to one side.
while crash of thunder almost appalled,
him.
Raising his eyes instinctively toward
the sky, they fell by accident tfor its
very existence had been forgotten in the
excitement of the moment} upon the
windows of the Haunted Tower.
The words of the boy were fully con-
firmed: the most horrid creature fam
cy could picture was surely dancing just
within the tower in full, plain view.
A hideous figure, with large, flaming
eyes, and strange, fully defined horns
down, amid glare of what seemed sui
phurous light. while every now and then
it sank down only to rcappear, going
through the same wild motions and
capers, each one appalling enough TO
strike terror to the hearts Of the super
stitious beholder.
But DR.. Eifenstein was not a Superti-S
tious man. Ghosts, COLLINS, specters, ali
We're To him mere vagaries OF crazed
brain. Therefore, while startled and
Mortified for one moment by this siIgu-
lar apparition. the next he coo!ly refined
in his horse, and thus stood still, calmly
contemplating the scene.
He certainly had not fancicd the thing
he saw. He felt himself, the horse: then
again comprehended fully the situation;
the pouring rain. the wild thunder and
still wilder lightning, and there ahead Of
him, distinctly visible, the windows Of the
Haunted Tower. with this hideous dancer.
No. lie. Earle ElfenStein, NJ. d., was
rot dreaming, but. in truth, was a living
witness OF something so ineXplicable and
singular that he then and there instantly
determined that it should be his aim. his
study. nay, his duty, 10 unravel the
meaning of this perpleXing enigma,
this covert mystery that had Tor
years. it seemed, almost paralyzed the
villagers with fear. and now had OBJ
truded upon the notice of himself. a
stranger. engaged III following out the
duties OF his profession in a dark and
stormy night.
While still sitting there upon the back
of his horse. lost in amaZement and con
lecture, the demoniacal hobgoblin, APP
partition, or whatever the evil genius Of
the Haunted Tower might be called,
dropped from sight: the strange. lurid
light disappeared; darkness reigned over
the place. except as revealed by the
lightning flashes, and the puzzled and
undaunted physician was free to urge
his horse onward once more towards the
peaceful cottage that he called his home.
Once within the cheerful shelter Of the
library he seated himself beside the ia
bic, drew nearer the wax candles, and
again took up his book to read another
chapter before retiring for the night.
Bat he soon found that reading was
imp possible, for ever before the page fit
ted the impish figure he had seen, with
its horns, its flaming eyes, and hideous
contortionS.
Closing the book then he leaned his
head against the tall back Of his chair,
and thought long and deeply.
At the close of his cogitations, as he
laid himself down upon his bed for the
night, one result alone was reached,
namely:
There had been d murder committed
years before within Glendcnning Han.
and the murderer was still unknown and
at large.
"For some unaccountable reason the
tower was made to appear in the posses
sion OF evil spirits by some parties. also
unknown"
In his soul DIR. Elfcnstein believed the
dreadful apParition he had himself wit
messed that night was the work Of some
wicked person, wrought out, probably,
to keep up the superstitious notoricty
such mystery would bring upon a
place.
Whichever or whatever the motive,
and what the meaning Of the whole thing
might be. he was resolved to find ont.
Rut how? Such questions are often
asked by human hearts on private medi-
tat: on. and as no answer comes. they
press on blindly, seeking lhe fultl!mcut
Of their queries in their own way. and
that way often leads, as it did III this
case. to strange and wholly unlocked for
results.
again arose. and drawing aside the cur
tain from the window once more gaZed
forth into the darkness OF the night.
Bat while the storm stll ragged furi-
ouSly. and the sky was shroudcd by an
inky pail, no light appeared from the di
lie ton of the Hall to whisper forebod-
ingly Of the srecter of The tower.
Leaning his head against the sash, the
Young physician soon found himself l,ur
Suing another aud an entirely different
train Of thought.
This time the storm passing before his
eyes was transfer ed to the wildly dashed
and foaming pillows Of the sea. Ills
peaceful home had changed to the cabin
of an ocean steamer, and the goblin OF
night into the graceful form Of Ethel
Ncvergail, his lovely fellow passenger OF
a few weeks before.
Again he seemed 10 be supporting lei
in his arms. while gu ding her feet across
the saloon Of the rocking, swaying.
phmging steamer.
Once more their fingers seemed 10
have met. aud he was gazing. with q
thrilling pressure upon his heart. into
her frightened eyes and upon her blush
ing checks.
All. beautiful, lost Ethel! How he
longed 10 see her. 10 speak TO her, 10 be
near her; but he knew that for him such
Il pleasure would never again be. - with
weary sigh he dropped the curtain and
turned 10 his pillow, but not to sleep
even, but To toss around and strive in
vain To Danish from his mind thoughts
OF the girl who had mconsciouSIy sue
ceeded in leaving 80 indeliblc an impress
sion upon his heart
TO BE CONTINUED
Roo>ier Philosophy.
The blirdeSt man i tba o,,a u-bo