Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-28
The Mystery
of the Towers

could not but doubt led to the house I
sought But these gates-they were Shut
but not locked. / cannot say how
guessed that, but it seemed to me quite
natural that, when, without SO much as
pausinR to think, l advanced and laid my
hand upon them, that they should yield
beneath 1t, for they did open before me,
and a moment later 1 had passed in
beyond.
Slowly, and with a heart beating knew
not why, with unwonted rapidity within
my breast, passed up the winding road.
At every step l took, the trees, standing
like shadowy sentinels on either side,
bowed their tall heads with a stately
motion as though they bent in welcome
before me-a welcome repeated in the
waving of their long leafy branches above
my head with never-ceasing movement
seeming to me to beckOn me onward
Up the steep path as though they too
would bid me come,
So on passed, q solitary shadow amidst
the land of shadows with which it is
NIGHTS dark fancy to people the earth.
here was 1 RoingH 1 knew not I
had followed my beacon-light because Of
the strange idea which filed my mind
that in so doing lay my means OF safety
and l saw no reason to doubt the truth of
my conviction, because in all that dreary,
iesolate country 1t had led me to the one
place of habitation which 1t seemed to me
was to be found for miles.
But though the gates, it is true, were
unfastened for my admittance the trees
lining the avenue waving me welcome,
what could expect would be the end Of
my journeyP
1t was late, very late; the evening had
passed into night long ago, and where my
beacon-lfght had led me was private
round Shout any one from the house
ind me, what should prevent them look
ing upon me as an intruder-perhaps
assign to me some not too honest purpose.
and make me pay dearly as a would-be
thief, or at least a vagrant for my
trespassS
This was a view of the subject which
entered my mind afterwards At the
time I had no fear OF any such con-
tingency
Clasplng my harp closely to me- strobe
along until the end of my journey was
reached A sudden turn in the avenue as
sured me of this. Towering above me-a
tall white spectre against the outer dark
ness-stood the house to which had been,
as 1t were, unconsciously led, its massive
architecture just distinguishable In the
gloom, its many windows peering like
dark staring eyes from ont the building,
and IT'S many and high chimneys rising
with stately dignity from the sloping
roof.
But did not at the time stay to note
distinctly the picture It presented, for my
attention was arrested by one item of 1t.
stood, as have said, at bend OF the
avenue-in fact at point where broad
high flight of stone steps led from the
drive below to high portico, passing be-
meath which massive oaken door lod, no
doubt, into the hall beyond.
But this was not all l saw. Running
along parallel with the portico already
mentioned, was balcony, the balustrade
of which was low and covered with trail
ing evergreens, which hung suspended in
artistic confusion from it.
On to this balcony led three French
windows, but these like all the rest in the
house, were dark-heavy curtains serving
to shut out the drear1ness of the night
Yes, all was dark-my beacon even had
disappeared. Was 1, after all, to be the
victim of too-heated fancy9 What was
I to do2
To go boldly up to the door and try II
| all the household had not yet retired to
rest, and beg from them Beg How
| loathed the word. Mono, not SO low as
that. Then the only other course which
seemed open to me was to steal out down
the dark, ghostly avenue as had come
steal away back into the niRht-go tramp
ing on as had done before-I knew,
| cared not whittier. These thoughts rose
in my mind, but only claimed my atten
ton for one moment-the next 1 cast
| them from me
The belief in the fate which had turned
my steps in the direction Of the house be-
fore which l stood, rose, know not why
suddenly stronger in my heart and as by
Instinct followed its dictates
And what are theyf Simple enough
At least SO they appeared to me- To any
one less led on by wild imagination, thu
impulse which rose in my mind woult
have appeared but that of mailman
To me it was not SO. Half mechanical!
placed the little canvas stool, which al
ways carried, on the ground seated my
self upon it-and rested my harp agains
my knee.