Wichita eagle., 1890-02-09
find nothing unusual there.

herself thoroughly; then she would not
be in momentary fear of causing her
mother some sudden alarm. Without
any positive mental decision. she began
to mount the steps slowly, and on reach
ing the top drew long breath of sat
isfaction. The morning sun poured
through the eastern window in golden
fioods-the whole place was full of filmy
radiance.
How Dora Bertrand first became aware
she was not the only inmate of the place,
I can hardly tell. 1t was a vague inn
preston at first, something shadowy and
almost imperceptible, then it grew into
a fear, and next reality. Spellbound
| by terror, her own respiration seemed
almost to stop, while every instant the
others breathing became more regular
and distinct The intruder was certainly
asleep. There was but one place shielded
from her observation-the quaint carved
wooden settle, whose high back was
| towards her. 1t seemed hours before
she could command sufficient strength
to take another step, SO slowly passed
these dull moments of terror. At tlength
the point was reached, and she saw
something real and physical, but not
! the generally received idea of a house
breaker.
A young man of six or eight and
twenty, in careless but graceful posi-
ton, one arm under his head for pill
low, the other dropping over the edge
of the settle, and displaying firm
white hand that would not have
shamed a lady. His hair and beard
were of sunny brown, the upper part
| of his broad forehead clear and fair as q
| girls, but the rest of his face many
shades darker, the fervent color of the
suns tropical touch. 1t was handsome,
manly countenance. and losing her fear,
she began reconsider where she had seen
/ it before.
| A pleasant, familiar face, one on which
! she could place the smile. and remember
precisely how the eyes would look when
! the dropping lids were raised. Where
could she have seen it? She had no
fear of it now. and ionged impatiently
for him to awake He seemed in no
hurry, though; but presently the sun
rays began to steal over his face, and
then he stretched, yawned and began
slowly to open his eyes. They did not
rest on Dora Bertrand for some mo-
nents. however. and then he sat upright
suddenly, as if he had received an cleo
trio shock, his face growing perceptibly
paler every instant. She stood quite
still, unable to speak or fly.
care you Olive Harton?' he asked, at
length, in a constrained tone.
"No." She remembered then, how
she had come to know the face so well
and added, But you are Allingham
Chorley."
Il cannot deny it." he said. with a
naughty gesture, land l may be confess
ing to friend-er foe
There was silence of some seconds;
then he began:
'How did you come here this morn
ing?"
Il live in the house," and Dora longed
to add something more assuring, yet
scarcely knew what to say.
Indeed" he said, in a surprised tone.
81 thought the house was empty. l did
not know Mr.. Harton would dare to let
it, and there was perceptible sneer Oh
his lip and in his voice.
"We came here in May" Dora added.
81 was here in March and heard then
it had never been tenanted. Mr.. Har-
ton is home, of course:?"
"No, the family are all away and will
not return in several days"
L.. h.
said, rising, ''for thus entering your
abode If | had been aware of your re-
siding here or of Mr.. Harton's absence,
should not have chosen this course.
There are reasons why L do not care to
have my presence here known; yet, be-
lieve me, would not on any account
have disturbed or alarmed you. May /
trust that have not given you too severe
q fright
Dora could not but smile at thus find
ing herself on familiar terms with per-
san who short half hour ago was the
object of her deepest solicitude and fear.
AS if interpreting the smile, he held out
his hand frankly, and said, in deep, hon
est tones that carried faith with them:
LET US be friends | need friend
here sadly. for am an unwilling alien
in the house of my fathers. Twill prove
to you some day that am not utterly
unworthy of confidence"
Dora took the profered hand. He
seemed SO little like stranger that in a
few moments she found herself relating
not only the event that had disturbed
her midnight quiet but many incidents
concerning the Hartons: and he in turn,
when he found she knew the episode of
his supposed attempt on Mr.. Harton's /
life, related what had befallen him since. /
He had spent five years at the west. In a /
mercantile house, and two in Europe. /
Now the business had passed into other /
hands on account of the death OF his en- /
ployer, and finding lnll in his hitherto 4
busy life, he had determined to come to /
Chorley Gifts, and if possible make q /
thorough search for the lost viii.
''On my return from Europe last I.
March l came out here for few hours, !
and satisfied myself little as to matters /
concerning the house. / concluded my I
safest course would be to gain the tower /
unknown to any one. It's reputation OF I.
being haunted might favor me little, /
thought. / reached the next town below
here in time to obtain my supper. AID /
shortly afterward started To walk hither. /
The night was so beautiful that | loitered 4
on the way, consequently | did not ar
rive here until the lights were out, and
not dreaming OF the place being inhab-