The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-03-05
The Haunted Chamber.
BY THE DUCHESS. "
A1,thor Of "Nonico," Mono ScWlly,"
Phyllis etc, etc.
CHAPTER I.


CHAPTER I.
The sun has dropped down." and
the day is dead" Tie silence and the
calm Of coming night are over every.
thing. The Shalowy twilight lies soft
II on sleeping flowers and sWaying
boughs, on quiet fountainS-the marble
basins of which gleam snow-white in
tie uncertain light-on the glimpse OF
the distant ocean seen through the
giant elms. 4 floating mist hangs in
the still warm air, making heaven and
earth mingle in one sweet confusion.
The ivy creeping up the ancient walls
Of the castle is ruStling and whispering
as the evening breeze sweeps over it.
High up the tenGrilS climb, past null
Goned windows and quaint devices,
until they reach even to the old tower,
and twine lovingly round it, and push
through the long apertureS in the ma
sonry of the walls OF the haunted cham
her.
1t is here that the shadows cast their
heaviest gloom. All this corner of the
old tower is wrapped in darkness. as
though to obscure the scene of terrible
crimes of past centuries.
Ghosts OF dead-ana-Sone lords and
ladies' seem to peer out mysteTlously
from the openings of this quaint cham
Der, wherein no servant, male or fe-
male, of the castle has ever yet been
known to set foot. 1t is full Of dire
horrors to them, and replete with le-
~geros Of Dv-gone days and grew some
sights ghastly enough to make the
stOutest heart quail.
In the days Of the StuartS an old earl
had hanged himself in that room, rath-
sr than face the world with dishonor
attached to his name; and earlier still a
beauteouS dame, fair but frail, had
been incarcerated there, and slowly
starved to death by her relentless lord.
There was even in the last century 3
baronet-the earldom has been lost to
the DynecourtS during the Common
wealth-who having quarreled with his
friend over reigning belle, had smit-
ten him across the cheek with his
glove, and thea challenged him to NOR
tai combat. The duel had been fought
III the luclleSs chamber. and had only
ended with the death Of both combat
ants; the blood stains upon the flooring
were large and aeep, and to this day
tho bearsS besr silent witness to the
sansuinaE character of that secret
fight.
Just now, standing outside the castle
in the warmth and SoftneSs Of the dy
ing daylight, one can hardly think of
by-gone horrors, or aught thas IS sad
and sinful.
There is an air of hustle and expect
ancy wlthin-doorS that betokenS COM
ing guests: the servants are moving to
and fro noiSeieSsfy but busily, and now
and then the stately housekeeper pass
es from room to room utterlng COM
mands and injunctions to the maids as
she goes. No less occupied and anX-
iouS is the butler, as he surveys the
work of the footmen. 1t is so long
since the old place has had a resident
master. and SO much longer still since
guests have been invited to it, that the
household are more than ordinarily eI-
cited at the change now about to take
place,
Sir Adrian Dynecourt, after q pro-
longed tour on the Continent and lin
gerng visits to the East, has at last
come home with the avowed intention
of becoming aStaid country gentleman,
and of settling. down to the cultivation
of turnips, the breeding Of prize oxen,
and the determination to be the n. F.
Ii. when old Lord Dartree shall have
fulfilled his declared intention of retir-
ing in his favor. He is tall young
man, 1.-THE and active. His skin, though
naturally fair, is bronZed by foreign
travel. His hair is light brown, cut
very close to his head. His eyes are
large, clear, and honest, and of a pecu-
liar dark violet; they are beautiful eyes,
winning and sweet, and steady IN their
glance. His mouth, shaded by q droop-
ing fair nustache, IS large and firm,
yet very prone to laughter.
It is quite the end Of the London sea-
son, and Sir Adrian has hurried down
from town to give directions for. the
reception Of some people whom he had
invited to stay with him during the
slaughter of the partrldgeS.
Now all is complete, and the last
train from London being due half an
hour ago ssr Adrian is standing on the
steps Of his hall-door anXiously await
ing some of his guests.
There is even a touch Of genuine I'M
patience in his manner, which could
hardly be attributed to the ordinary
longing of a young man to see few Of
his friends. Sir Adrian's anxiety is
open and undisguised, and there is a
little frown upon his brow. Presently
his face brightens as he hears the roll
of carriage-wheels. When. the carriage
turns the corner of the drive, and the
horses are pulled up at the hall door,
Sir Adrian sees a fair face at the WIN
dow that puts to flight all the fears he
has been harboring for the last half
hour.
", running down the steps and opening
the carriage door himself. Il am so
Glad! began to think the train ran
away from you, or that the horses
had bolted."
aSuch a journey as it has been!" ex-
claims voice not belonging to the face
that had looked from the carriage at
Sir Adrian. "Is has been tiresome to
the last degree. I really don't know
when I felt so fatigued!"
A little woman, small and fair, steps
languidly to the ground as she says this,
and glanees patheticalIy at her host
Sbs IS beautifully "got up" both ln
dress and complexion, and at first
glance appears almest girlish. Laying
her hand in Sir Adrian's she let it rest
there, as though glad to be at her jour
ney's end, conveying at the same time
by a gentle pressure of her taper fin
gers the fact that she is even more glad
that the end Of her journey has brought
her to him. She looks up at him With
her red lids dropping as if tired, and
with a bewildered expression in he1
pretty blue eyes that adds to the charm
Of her face. -
its an awful distance from town."
says Sir Adrian, as if apologizing fo1
the spot on which his grand old castle
has been built. And it was more than
good Of you to come to me. can only
frv, to make up to you for the discom-
fort YOU have experienced to-day by
W throwing ali possible chances Of amuse.
meus in your way whilst you stay
hele."
By5his time she had withdrawn hel
hand, and so he is free to go up to n:
other guest and bid her welcome. .He
saws nothing to her strange to say, out
it IS his hand that seeks to retain herE