The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-04-16
The Haunted Chamber :
BY THE DUCHESS.
Autaor Of 'Monica,' Mona Scasts,> :
phyllis" ETC., etc.
CHAPTER. VI

few davS later. For the last fortr lgnG
Florence has been making strenuous
efforts to leave the castle, but Dora
would not hear of their departure, and
Florence. feeling it Will be selfish OF
her to cut short Dora,s happy hours
with her supposed lover, sighs. and
gives in, and sacrifices her own wishes
on the alta Of friendship.
It is FIVE O'Clock, and all the men,
gun in hand, have been out since early
dawn. Now they are coming strag-
Cling home, in one or twos. AmongSt
The first to return are Sir Adrian and
his cousin Arthur Dynecourt, who,
having met accidentally about mile
from home, have trudged the remand
er of the way together
On the previous night at dinner, MISS
Delmaine had spoken of q small gold
: bangle, favorite of hers. she was
greatly in the habit Of wearing. She
said she had lost it-when or where she
could not tell; and she expressed her
self as being very grleved for It's loss,
and had laughlngly declared she would
give any reward claimed by any one
who should restore it to her. Two or
three men had. on the instant, pledged
themselves to devote their lives TO the
search; but adrian had said nothing;
Nevertheless, the bangle and reward
had remained in his mind all that
night and all to-day. Now he can not
refrain from speaking about 1t to the
man he Insiders his rival.
@Odd thing about Miss Delmalne's
bangle" he remarks carelessly.
"Very odd. dare say her maid has
put it somewhere and forgotten it.
@Hardly. One would not put a brace
let anywhere but in a jewel-case or IN
. special drawer. She must nave
dropped it somewhere"
q dare say; those Indian bangles are
very liable to be rubbed off the wrist"
aBut where? I have had the place
searched high and low, and still no It'd
ings Of it can be found"
There may have been since we lett
home this morning"
Just at this moment they come with
in full view of the old tower, and its
strange rounded ivy-grown walls, and
the little narrow holes in the sides they
show at its highest point that indicate
the position Of the haunted chamber.
What is there at this moment in a
mere glimpse of this old tower to make
Arthur Dynecourt grow pale and to
start so strangely? His eyes grow
brighter, his lips tighten and grow
hard.
"Do YOU remember" he says, turning
to his cousin with all the air Of one to
whom sudden inspiration has come,
that day when we visited the haunted
chamber? Miss Delmaine accompanied
\ Us, did she not?"
aYes"-looking at him eXpectantly.
Gould she have dropped it there"
asks Arthur lightly. by Jove, it
would be odd if She had-eh? Uncanny
sort of place to drop ones trinkets."
sSF--ft It is strange didn't think of it be-
FORE" responds Adrian. evidently
struck by the suggestion. Why, it
must have been just about that time
when she lost it. The more think of
it the more convinced feel that 1t
must be there"
Nonsense, my dear fellow; don't
lump at conclusions so hastily. 1t is
highly improbable I should say that
she dropped it anywhere else IN the
world"
well, I'll go and see, at all events"
declares Adrian. unconvinced.
1t is some lingering remnant OF
grace, some vague human shrinking
from the crime that has begun to form
itself within his busy brain. that now
induces Dynecourt to try to diSSuade Sir
Adrian from his declared intention to
search the haunted chamber for the
lost bangle? With all his eloquence he
seeks to convince him that there the
bangle could not have been left. but to
no effect. His suggestion has taken
6rmFoot IN Sir Adrian's mind, and at
,DlleaSt, as he fraNikii says though ltmay
be useless to hunt for it in that uncan-
nv chamber, it is worth try. 1t may
be there. This dim possibility drives
him to his fate.
well, if you 60 alone and unprotect-
ed your blood be Oh your own head"
says Dynecourt lightly, at last surren-
dering his position. Remember, What
ever happens, I advised you not to go."
As Arthur finishes his speech a slnls-
ter smile overSpreadS his pale features.
and quick light, as evil as it is pierc-
inc comes to his eyes. But Sir Adrian
sees nothing of this. He is looking at
his home, as it stands grand and ma
iestic in the red light of the dying sun.
he is looking. too, at the old tower,
and at the upper portion Of it, where
the haunted chamber stands, and
where he can see the narrow holes thaS
serve for windows. How little could q
se@asS imprisoned tnege see of the busy
world without.
Eyes. I'll remember" he saws testing
~. when the ghosts OF my ancestors
claim me as their victim, and lncarcer-
ate me in some fendiSh dungeon, l
shall remember your words and your
advice"
you don't mean to 60 there, Of
course% asks Arthur carelessly, whilst
watching the other with eager scrutiny:
1T is quite a Journey to that dismal
hole, and it will be useless"
well, if it diStreSseS you. consider /
gone" says Sir Adrian lightly.
THAT is right" rejoins Arthur, still
with his keen eyes fixed. upon his
cousin. II knew you would abandon
that foolish intention. certainly shah
consider you haven't gone"
They are at the hall door as these
words pass Arthur's lips, and there
they separate, Sir Adrian leaving him
with smile, and going away up the
large hall whistling gayly.
When be has turned one corner, Ar
thur goes quickly after him. not with
the intention of oyertaking him, but of
keeping him in view. Stealthily he
follows, as though fearful Of being
seen.
There is no servant within sight. No
friend comes across Sir Adrian'S path.
All is silent. The old house seems
wrapped in slumber. Above, the pref
ty guests in their dainty tea-gowns are
slipping Bohea and prattling scandal;
below, the domestics are occupied IN
their household affairs.
Arthur, watching carefully, sees Sir
Adrian go quickly up the broad front
staircase, after which ne turns aside,
s5 md as roa one nga nassase es or aSsoe ter
until he arrives in the corridor that be-
longs to the servants quarters.
Coming to a certain door, he opens
it, not without some difficulty, and,
moving into the dark landing that lies
beyond it. looks around. To any caSu-