The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-02-07
leaving everything in darkness but for
the feeble flare of one little candle she

I
Il came, no matter how; suffice it that
J / was determined to unmask this daring
! fraud, and SO allay the fears Of timid
women and children. Certainly, in do
! ing this, | never expected to discover
! that Miss Nevergail was the prime mover
in this outrageous piece Of work."
| Ethel listened to the cold. hard words
! in utter despair, then fluttering like a
wounded bird to the side of the indig-
nant man, she laid one small, white
hand on his arm, which was shaken OH
in disdain before she could utter one OF
the following words:
at is the first time l ever did this
thing. Oh, believe ne: surely you must
remember that was in Liverpool when
you saw that sight, the time when IT last
appeared"
Yes, that is true; l had forgotten.
But that does not abSolve you from to-
nights CHASTITY deception" was the still
cold reply.
But Sir Reginald compelled me to do
it. / begged and entreated him to ex-
cuse me; l told him it was sinful, but he
few into a passion. and babe me disobey
him on the peril Of his everlasting dis
pleasure. Sir, | was homeless, and he
was sick. What was TO do?"
"Forgive me! You poor little girl. l
was harsh and cruel in my judgment. You
were. indeed, obliged to execute the vile
plans of the baronet. There" added he,
tenderly, as he drew her hands from her
face, and with his handkerchief wiped
away her tears, sweep no more: you
were not to blame Child, give rue your
hand in token Of forgiveness"
Laying her trembling hand In his, she
murmured:
"Then you do not deSpise me?"
"Despise you? No. no. | only" he
stopped; he was about to say "love you"
but remembering his vow, he added
softly, "pity you"
ayes, you may pity me. Oh, auntie,
auntie why did | ever promise you to
come to this wretched placer" was her
wailing cry.
Still holding her hand in his, and also
taking from her the candle, he turned
and led her down the long, steep stairs.
Only once did Ethel speak, then she
merely said:
"Sir Reginald will be very angry, if he
hears OF your entrance here. Must he
be told?n
q will think it over, and let you know
tomorrow. You must sleep tonight,
anu 81 TttONtE HUN IHlS ltI NouSIitSS
They soon reached tie bottom stair,
and entered the corridor.
Then Ethel remembered that her work
was but half done, and the rest could
not be accomplished until Dr. Elfenstein
had left her.
Turning to him, she said:
"Will you kindly tel me how you en-
tered this place? You must leave me
eli 1y
Il will. | came through the ruins /
saw Won open a door, and reach for a
basket, then | instantly entered"
But surely, / fastened it again?"
you were so agitated you forgot to
do it. | certainly opened it, without
difficulty. and crept after you, eager to
solve the mystery of the haunted tower
which then, for the first time, began to
connect with your movements. But you
are weary now. so | will leave you, and
return as | came"
Giving back the candle, he took her
hand and was just saying, Goodnight,
Miss Nevergail." when suddenly both
stopped short in their walk: both turned
deadly pale, as a short, strange, loud re-
port, close by their ears, startled and
COMPOUNDED them
hen. to their horror, something dart
ed toward them, q huge form swooped
past. dashing the candle to the ground,
thus eXtinguishing ii, leaving them in
total darkness and gloom.
"Oh, what is it. what is it?" cried the
terrified girl, as She nestled close to her
cumpaaion while he. scarcely realizing
what he did, threw his arms around her
form, to protect her from he knew not
what
Suddenly. wild. unearthly laugh or
vel tioatcd to them from the other end of
the corridor. and Is it passed, DR.. Ellen
stein pressed the girl he held closer 10 his
heart, and laid his cheek against her
frightened face.
What can il be? Is ii imp Or"
Devil, l guess - interrupted the Doe
tor. Then, gently raising her, he said:
But this will not do: | must strike a
light ard see What this can be-.
STOPPING TO find the candle. another
eldritcl-like wall came, this time as if
from the ruins, and with the first sound
Ethel dartcd toward the man beside her,
crying:
"Oh. do not leave me, ! shall die, /
shall die"
Gathering her once more in his arms.
the Doctor whispered:
Il will not. Iou are not SO afraid now.
and thus, close to me, are you. dear?"
No: not So fcarfully afraid as | was. y
Gently stroking her hair. the young
man felt, even i'll the terror inspired by
their dreadful position, a feeling almost
of rapture steal over him as he held her
thus close i'll his arms, with hers clinging
to his waist.
But. suddenly. calmcr reflections came:
IL, Il
ever presence had been near him must
he discovered, and that he ought to fol-
low up the sound.
"ChiId.' he whispered. "whateyer has
! been near us. | know by that last cry.
has escaped into the ruins. through the
door by which ] entered. That being
I 50, | must in duty carry you to a place
! of safety, then search around TO see what
/ it could have been"
/ Instantly, then, it flashed over Ethel's
/ mind that the ape, Sir Reginal Ids choice
concealed treasure, had escaped. and that
the knife She Lad so careleSsly given him
had done the deed.
( lie had cut his way out.
! Oh, the terror this thought thrust into
her heart was almost unbearablc.
At once she became, as it We're, a dead
weight again in the Doctors arms.
Then another thought came that inn
parted new life.
I Her oath had been taken never 70 re
4 veal the existence OF that animal. nor o.
/ the concealed room.
In order to keep this VOW DIR. Ellen
! stein must not examine the premises.
She knew well now the meaning Of
that first report
The beast had knocked down the iron
/ shelves burst open the panels. and il
( consequence a light would show the
Doctor that opening and the room be
You'd
No. He must never examine thi.
corridor.
Nerving herself for new task sh,
said:
Doctor, | cannot consent to being lef
/ n moment here alone. Nor will | con
I sent to Your exposing yourself further
tonight Take me, then. to my room
and we will lock mn this ulapa and yof