Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-10

open door of the old house, that he was
near the fatal threshold and would in an.
other moment be across it and within those
moldy halls. That was right, another in.
slant proved, for suddenly through the
great hollow of the open portal a mild
| CLEAN broke and / saw he had lighted a
lantern and was moving about within the
! empty rooms.
Softly as man could go, 1 followed him.
| Crouching in the doorway, with ear turned
| to the emptiness within, listened And
as 1 did so, 1 felt the chill run through my
blood and stiffen the hair on my head, for
| he was talking as he walked, and his tones
| were affable and persuasive, as if two
| ghosts roamed noiselessly at his side, and
he were showing them as in the days of
yore, the beauties of his nearly completed
| home.
can ample parlor, you see," came
in distinct, suave monotone to my
ear. Groom enough for many a
couple on gala nights, as even sweet
Mistress Juliet will say. Do you like this
fire place, and will there be space enough
here for the portrait which Lawrence has
promised to make of young Madam Day? I
do not like too much light myself, so 1 have
ordered curtains to be hung here. But if
Mistress Juliet prefers the sunshine, we
will tell the men nay, for all is to be ac-
cording to your will, fair lady, as you must
know, being here. Pardon me, that was an
evil step; you should have a quick eye for
such mishaps. friend Orrin, and not leave
it to my courtesy to hold out helping
hand. All! you like this dusky nook. It
was made for sweet young bride to hide
in when her hearts fulness demands quiet
and rest. Do the trees come too near the
lattice? If so they shall be trimmed away.
And this dining parlor-can you judge of it
with the floor half laid and its wainscoting
unnailed? 1 trow not, but you can trust NE
pretty Juliet, you can trust me; and Orrin,
too need not speak, for me to know Just
how to finish this study for him. Up stairs?
You do not wish to go upstairs? All,
then you miss the very cream of the house.
1 have worked with my own hand
upon the rooms upstairs, aud there is
little Cupid wrought into the woodwork of
a certain door which 1 greatly wish you to
pass an opinion upon. 1 think the wings
lack airiness, but the workmen swear it is
as if he would fly from the door at
whisper Come, Mistress Juliet; come,
friend Orrin, if 1 lead the way you need not
hesitate Come! comep
Was he alone? Were those eager steps of
his unaccompanied, and should I not be-
hold, if looked within, the blooming face
of Juliet and the frowning brows of Orrin,
crowding close behind him as he moved?
The fancy invoked by his words was so
vivid, that for moment I thought 1 should,
and 1 never shall forget the thrill which
seized me as leaned forward and peered
for one minute into the hall and saw there
his solitary figure pausing on the lower step
of the stairs, with that bend of the body
which bespeaks an obeisance which is half
homage and half an invitation. He was
still talking, and as he went up, he looked
back smiling and gossiping over his shoulder
in a smooth and courtly way which made it
impossible for me to withdraw my fascinated
eyes.
mo banisters, sweet Juliet? Not vet
not yet; but Orrin will protect you from
falling. No harm can come to you while
he is at your side. Do you admire this
sweep to the stairs? I saw a vision when 1
planned it, of pretty woman coming down
at the sound of her husbands step. The
step has changed in sound to my imagina-
tion, but the pretty woman is prettier than
ever, and will look her best as she comes
down these stairs. Oh, that is window
ledge for flowers. A honeymoon is nothing
without flowers, and you must have forget
me-nots and pansies here till one cannot see
from the window. You do not like such
humble flowers? Fie! Mistress Juliet, it is
hard to believe that-even Orrin doubts it,
as 1 see by his chiding air."
Here the gentle and bantering tones
ceased, for he had reached the top of the
stair. But in another moment heard them
again as he passed from room to room,
pausing here and pausing there, till sud-
denly he gave cheerful laugh, spoke her
name in most inviting accents, and stepped
into that fateful room.
Then as if reused into galvanic action, 1
rose and followed, going up those midnight
stairs and gaining the, door where he had
passed as if the impulse moving me had
lent to my steps a certainty which preserved
me from slipping even upon that dank and
dangerous ascent. When in view of him
again saw, as l had expected, that he was
drawn up by the window and was bowing
and beckoning with even more grace and
suavity than he had shown below, Twill
YOU not step out, Mistress Juliet?' he was
saving; II have plan which 1 am anxious
to submit to your Judgment AM which can
only be decided upon from withSA.. A high
step, true, but Orrin has lifted you over
worse places-and you will do me great