Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-11-12

and step. He, too, evidently heard
or saw something to frighten and
annoy. must get back to him
but hoy!
a winding staircase next met my
ere, and trying to be brave, began
ascending the steps. Again the
sound of footsteps. How foolish
and nervous ! was becoming. Reach.
ing the top, 4 long, narrow corridor
opened before me, and as | adyanc.
ed another door near suddenly
closed.
Couches stood almost everywhere,
as if the former inmates of the old
house were only too fond of leisure
and reclining. With my handker-
chief | brushed the cobwebs and
dust from one that had once been
beauty, in its rich crimson satin
covering and heavy golded cords
and tassels, now so soiled and tar
nished.
Gratefully / sank down upon it
after placing shawl over it. albeit
the green mold and its odor were
very suggestive of tomb.
Somehow amid all this gloom and
desolation | grew singulsrly calm.
when raising my eyes | met two
dark, beautiful, clear filled eyes
gazing full into mine from an OPEN
ing in the floor overhead.
| did not start or cry aloud, and
as if impelled by an unseen force,
| raised my hand and beckoned to
the form.
1t quickly vanished. and soon
after a slight girlish figure, with
long light hair all unbound, with a
darkly beautiful face, and graceful
form clad in lusterless black silk,
made in the fashion of our great
grandmothers, stood beside me.
sat up and took the small white
hand she extended towards me into
my own and chafed il. for IL felt
cold.
Clearing my voice asked:
"What is it and who are you:"
The slight form of the girl, for
she was scarcely more than that.
shivered and her dark eyes sought
the corner of the gloomy room with
furtive apprehension.
do not fear | said bravely.
Nothing shall harm you" and
yet | too was quaking with a start
led, nervous tremor sadly akin to
fear
Apparently reassured, she gave
a deep sigh, as though of relief, and
dropped on her knees at my feet.
mo, no!' / said, mot there:
sit here by my side" and moving
along. l made place for her upon
the couch. But she shook her
head and raised her dark eyes to
mine pleadingly, and laid her two
little pale hands in my lap.
took them again, the tiny fut-
ting things, and held them within
my own warm clasp.
Il am SO glad you have come, "
she said, in sweet, plaintive voice,
] have waited SO long for one brave
enough to come here alone that |
might tell them my story" She
paused Suddenly she sprang to
her feet and said in fierce, intense
whisper:
His grave, his grave. Have you
seen it?''
His grave? Whose grave, hear:
Be calm"
1t came to me at once seeing this
creature and hearing her questions.
| knew only too well that the dis
honored grave OF Crayle Brau-
Wylleen in the old disused, desc
late cemetery near Weir Heights
was the one to which she referred,
but l caressed the slight, shrinking
form and waited.
"Crayle Brau-Wylleen's," she
answered me hoarsely, aad then she
broke into torrent of sobs and
tears.
Presently she grew calm. "He
never did it," she said firmly. sit
was all false, bitter lie. He made
me jealous, and | vowed revenge.
/ wrote those cruel letters and
sprinkled the blood of favorite
hound (whose life took about my
bed and over the floor and door
steps" She shrieked and groaned
and continued: "They thought he
murdered his young wife: but no,
she lived to see him hanged. Bat