Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-06-03
ONE GENT

found them quite free from the presence
of my ill-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 10 laird, added 20
and improved upon. 1t was curious
enough; and some of its wo~m-eaten oak
had stood since the earlier days Of Chair
| lee
went to bed very soon, and il seemed
to me l fell asleep. Very soon, too, it
seemed 10 me, l was awakened by-I
know not what
sat up in bed and listened intently,
thoroughly awake.
For several minutes heard nothing.
Then the dismal bowling of dog came
TO me as if from the adjoining room
and yet it had a smothered sound, as If,
though near to me, its howls were being
stihed. Suddenly this sound ceased, and
then came a stealthy creeping sound, and
saw crouching figure against my wall
the same figure, the same evil face now
turned straight toward me, the same
murderous expression-all, as II had, just
as suddenly, appeared in the hall.
And my room was In perfect darkness
But though the man continued 70 gaze
straight into my eyes he moved from, not
toward me, slowly and stealthily, until
he reached the door leading into the
dressing room, and through this he dis
appeared.
With one bound followed him.
r.. lIx. khok 1saA
upon me at sight Of this monster, rs
believed him, of my imagination.
rushed after him and would have thrown
myself upon him IN another instant had
not something rooted me to the threshold
powerless. In vain / endeavored TO move
hand or limb in vain attempted TO cry
aloud when found myself incapable OF
motion. / stood as If chained-gagged
helpless And before me
crept the man, always skulking 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 pale ribbon wound
about There, oh, my GodAstood Mavisl
Kneeling beside her was an old waiting
woman. Even in my speechless agony
knew paused, trying to place her, but
she was some one could not remember
tohave seen about Ghairlee. She stroked
and kissed her lady's hand-my lady's
hand-and seemed TO say some soothing
word, but though / saw her lips move,
try as / would could hear no sounds.
/ struggled franticahy for the power to
cry aloud, but my tongue was held by
some terrible force. could neither save
nor warn my darling of that ghastly
shadow that is creeping nearer, ever
nearer.
Mer,iful God!
Without a sound--noiseless as fate
merciless death giving - the figure
arose from its crouching posture and
stood behind the two women. With
some hideous cleaning weapon uplifted
to strike, with its evil face distorted by
the passion and intent to kill reflected In
all its CHASTITY horror in the long dim
glass, into which my poor lost Mavis
stared as if already stricken, the man
stood for an misunderstanding In antici-
patton this dark and bloody deed. Then
there WAS sudden flash as the thing he
carried descended-a dull crushing blow,
and at last-too late-my voice came to
me-
One shrek that should have rallied
long forgotten lairds to the defense, and
en-unconsciousness.
When / opened my eyes, Mavis, my
own Mavis, stood beside me. Then lsaw
the kindly face Of the laird.
After awhile told my story; then he
told his.
Many years ago there was a laird Of
GhairIee who had a cruel wicked brother.
This brother plotted to overthrow all who
stood in his way, but the laird was too
strong for him and found him out for o
wicked murderous dog; so 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 to tho
tower rooms and hid there; and that
night he murdered the laird's young bride
when none was within call but the feeble
old serving woman.
"Her picture hangs below, poor Teddy,
added the laird. @Mavis is enough like
her to be herselfl But you should have
told US of the warning in the passage,
laddie, and myself should have minded
what night it was and told you to sleep
with Dugald. For who passes the night
In the tower rooms on October must
aye see the Ghaist OGhairloe.
May Thank Her stsrs-
The narrow escape Of Mrs. b n Scar
es Of Eikhsrt, Ind, from . premature
death Is wonderful. She states that for
twenty years my heart troubled me great
". I became worse. Had smothering
spells, short breath, huttering; could not
sleep on my left side, had much pain 10
breast. shoulder and stomach. Ankle
swelled. Had much headache and dizzI-
ness. Treatment did me no good until