News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-05-07

soundly, and the only servant was
in her room at the back of the house.
Tranquil and serene, ! stood and
contemplated my charms; then with
a little sigh of mingled satisfaction
and regret, l prepared to return
whence [ came, since not even the
pictures would come down and bear
me company.
With the thought of the pictures
still in my head L stepped out into
the hall, and stopped-for there was
a man going softly upstairs. The
light was dim, and he was wrapped
in a dark cloak, but | saw he was
carrying his boots under his arm,
and in an instant | remembered the
cavalier.
l was not as much frightened as
you would have supposed. l never
once thought of the burglar Mrs.
Woodfern had been talking about.
1t seemed only natural, and a mat
ter of course, that something unusu-
al should happen.
The rustic of my train, as | let it
fall, attracted the cavaliers atten-
ton. He turned and saw me there
in narrow strip of moonlight that
fell through the hall window, and in
an instant he was coming down
again toward me.
| retired before him farther and
farther till | was back again in the
moon-lighted parlor. But still he
came on; / could see him quite plain
ly then-such a handsome young
man, though wild and daringl 1t
seemed as if L had always known his
face must be like that-only his au-
burn love-locks were gone.
Il was told this house was haunt
ed, " he said, under his breath, look
ing at me with his dark eyes.
| had a vague impression in my
mind that it would be good thing
if l were safely back again in my own
room with the door locked; but
since l was downstairs l might as
well make the best of it. Perhaps it
was only a dream, after all, so L
looked at the cavalier steadily.
"Are you alone" l asked. "Where
are the others?" / spoke softly be-
cause 1 did not wish to wake Aunt
Augusta.
He did not answer, but came step
nearer, amazement in his face.
Il suppose the jailer is still
asleep" | said. casually. The cav
alier gave a tremendous start and
looked over his shoulder. IF you
were trying to escape, " said,
q there was no use i'll going up
stairs"
The cavalier came nearer stlll and
caught me by my wrist, but he did
not look any less puzzled. "
"Flesh and blood, y l heard him
uutter. and certainly there was moth
inc. unsubstantial about his grasp
But suddenly his brow grew dark
What do YOU meant" hewhispereC
fiercely. lis this n trap to eater
me?"
"No," answered. began TO ge
frightened, and spoke hurriedly. "Es
cape, if you want to-quick, before b
wakes up.
Where is he, up-stairs?' frownin,
still, but L could tell by the way h
looked toward the window that n,
meant to go.
No; he is in there" pointing tc
the room across the hall. But
won't wake himup; only let go my
arm. You hurt me!
"Do you give me your solemn wore
of honor that y ou will not scream ol
make any sound or attempt to leave
this room for half an nour?" de
manded my cGptOr.
promised readily enough, and III
motioned me to sit down in Aunt
Augusta's big chair, and then, with
out a sound, he opened the window
| thought h. was gone, but no, he
had stopped, and was looking back
at me as | sat there in the moon
light, gravely watching him, anC
then he came back and stood beside
me.
Il don't know who or what you
are he said 80 but you are the
strangest girl | ever saw-and the
prettiest. Did l hurt her poor little
wrist?" )" And then | suppose he re-
membered the gallantry of the days
to which he belonged, for he bent his
dark head down low and kissed my
arm as it rested on the chair beside
him. Then he vanished like a shad
ow and closed the window softly be
hind him.
| sat motionless in the big chair
and waited. The moonlight slipped
down from my bridal veil and across
my satin lap down to my shining
shoe-buckles. and at last was gone
altogether but still the jailer did
not wake up, and all the other pic
lures stayed quietly in their frames
and leaned my head back in Aunt
Augusta's great chair and went fast
asleep while | waited.
The clock was striking two when !
awoke, and then | was frightened
Nv mind was full of vague, halt-re
membered terrOrs. | was afraid o
myself, in my ghostly dress, and flew
upstairs as if pursued. had to get
n candle from my room to see to put
away my finery-the great square
room had grown so dark-and there
were queer noises i'll the wardrobe
and in every corner. / remembered
then about the burglar, and shook
from head to foot with fear. 1t die
seem as if / never should get those
things put away.
But it was done at last, and oh
the 10y when l was safely back in my
own room with the door locked fast
behind me.
There is the story, you can call Il
what you please-a ghost story, or
burglar story, or "a dream. Ther'
was nothing next morning to prov'
what it was
| went down as soon as l wa'
dressed to look at the picture in th'
sitting room, hut the cavalier wai
there still, noiselessly climbing th'
weary stairs past the sleeping jailer
| couldn't help being sorry for him
J that he hadn't escaped after all.
put back my aunt's keys directly
after breakfast. l didn't care abou
| keeping them any longer, and to thi
day am not altogether sure wheth
er | ever tried on my great-grand
| mothers wedding-dress or not
Frank Leslie's Illustrated News
paper.
| Yes he loves you now tits true,
Lass with eyes of violet blue,
| Lips as sweet as honpy-dew,
4 l.. I. - II