Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-04-03

s.c,.red that he would kill me yet. Eos
some days l did not go out OF my cass,e'
NV face was bruised, my soul YVES us-
iected. / knew there was no possioie
chance that | should meet Marie, anu
that there was chance that might
meet the angry Colonel. An altercatlon
at this time would be very annoying anu
painful TO the lady, no matter what tne
result: and | considered 1T my duty 70
do every thing that was possible to ayolo
n meeting with Kaldhein. Therefore,
as l have said, shut myself up witnln
the walls of old Wulrick and gave strict
orders to my servants to admit no one.
ssIt was at this time that the strangest
events of my life occurred. Sitting In
an upper room, gazing out OF the win.
dow over the fields through which had
walked so happily but two days before
to meet the lady whom l had begun TO
think of as my Marie, felt the head OF
a dog laid gently in my lap. Without
turning my head caressed the animal
and stroked the long hair on his neck.
"My hound Ajax was dear compan-
ion to me in this old castle, although l
never took him in my walks, as he was
ant to get into mischief, and when l
turned my head to look at him he was
gone, but strange to say the hand which
had been stroking the dog felt as II II
were still resting on his neck.
"Quickly drawing my hand toward me
it struck the head of the dog, and, NOV
ing it backward and forward, felt the
ears and nose Of the animal, and then
became conscious that its head was still
resting upon my knee.
81 started back. Had | been stricken
with blindness? But no; turning my
head, / could plainly see every thing In
the room. The scene from the window
was as distinct as it ever had been. l
sprang to my feet, and, as ! stood won
dering what this strange thing could
mean, the dog brushed up against me
and licked my band. Then the idea
suddenly flashed into my mind that by
some occult influence Ajax had been
rendered invisible.
az dashed downstairs, and, although
Icould neither see nor hear it, felt
that the dog was following me. Rush-
ing into the open air, / saw one of my
men. Where is Ajax? cried. "A very
strange thing has happened, sir he
said, and | should have come to tell you
Of it, had not been unwilling to dis
turb your studies. About two hours ago
Ajax was lying here in the court-yardi
suddenly he sprang to his feet with
savage growl. His hair stood straight
upon his back, his tail was stiff, and his
lips were drawn back, showing his great
teeth. turned TO see what had enraged
him, but there was absolutely nothing,
sir, nothing in the world. And never
did see Ajax so angry. But this lasted
only for an instant. Ajax suddenly
backed, his tail dropped between his
legs, his head hung down, and with a
dreadful howl he turned, and leaping
the wall of the courtyard, he disap-
peared. / have since been watching for
his return. The gate is open, and as
soon as he enters / shall chain him, for
fear the dog is mad.
81 did not dare TO utter the thoughts
that were in my mind, but bidding the
man inform me when Ajax should re-
turn / re-entered the castle and sat
down in the great hall.
1.-THE dog was beside me; his head
again lay upon my knees. With feel
ing of awe, yet strangely enough with
out fear, carefully passed my hand
over the animals head. felt his ears,
his nose, his jaws and his neck. 1t was
not the head, the ears, the nose, the
jaws nor the neck Of Ajaxw
fro M, fO,--rrNfrrn I