The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-01-10
Dr.Eli6nstein' Mission
4 Remarkable Romance.
BY EMILY THORNTON.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE EVENING TASK


THE EVENING TASK.
As an elegant clock, with Old cathedral
chimes, struck the hour Of ten, Ethel,
with a pale face, and trembling hand,
lighted a candle, possessed herself OF the
strange looking knife, then opening the
wardrobe, and drawing back the bolt.
stepped into the passage and from thence
through the small door IN the opposite
wall
As this opened she looked timidIy
around for the entrance to the ruined
rooms in which she was to find the
basket Of food.
She found herself as soon "a the small
passage was LIFT, in a long, straight.
dark gallery or corridor, that led Iii
rectly 70 what Sir Reginald assured hey
was the Haunted Tower. At the end
where She stood. however. on the left
hand Idle, was door, fastened with
od-fashioncd iron hook. This led TO
ruin, and with a beating heart she
opened il.
Clos Dy tie door She found 4 small
covered basket that She knew must con
tain what she sought.
Era ,ping ii quickly She again fastened
the door, as Sir Reginald had instructed
her 70 do, ana passed down the corridor.
There she found the entrance TO the
bright, sGnsliny day 10 visit this spot.
she turned, as she had been directed, II
count ont the number OF panels on the
left hand wall and Immediately discoy-
cred the faint crack that she knew must
DC what She sought. Inserting the point
81 the knife. She turned three times,
when ths panels parted and there lag the
shelves.
Opening then the basket, she found
food i'll small pieces consisting OF broken
biscuits. bits ii chicken. potatoes. and
quite q quantity I'll meat cut in mouth
fuls This she placed on the shelves
upon the wooden plate upon which il
was heapcd. Then gently showing the
shelves, they slowly wltlrIcd around, and
Wren he -ane side returned To her the
plat" stood Upon it empty, ready u DC
placed again IN IT. ba k l.
.lliat aIf must have been trained
s,ie thought 80 empty tie plate and
retgrn it,
ben shc innar.iiy smiled 1T Iii, in
reGig,nce
Sic listened for 4 moment, but ali was
still. shal ing 70 the panels, She found
that th.k rcloesrd themselves. - tat,ia..
I'M candaSirk, sHifr and baShct -la
placed the latterag ainSt the outside door,
fastened il securely ard reached her
.Gn room IN safety
once buited in. til" poor gir! gave !
SIGH 81 relief aHd dropped into 4 chair
til calm herself before Size could proceed
t. return the eaud.. ana knife TO their
places.
lie task required Of her had been i
-lIgui;frty AnptaSa one. She was It
brave Young girl, aud had endured but
few feelings Of fear, but She had trcln-
hr, hecau>, Tie thing required So much
secrecy,
She diSlil>ed mysteries Of ali kinds. amt
TIER honest, open nature revolted from
the whole work.
Had Size Hot >e'cmnIy promised her
aunt To assist TIM harouet iii any scry-
ice ne might REQUIRE, in order thus la
secure a safe home aud Just euardian-
ship she would never have consented 10
the ta-h She had now formed
"HoweNcr," She reflected. "thcrc j.
certainly nothing wrong in mans
keeping secret his possession IL 4 yalua-
he animal rs long a. lie could attend
10 his wants himself Bat when he
could nui III. thought MS best mode.
would have been 10 send for il owner.
hut where VA the owner?
Probably u far of that the creafEl,
would die un,e>S cared for therefore
tharr really seemed no other way
~ this lid not distress her 50 much rs
the words Sir Reginald had said about
tie Haunted Tower This duty was
Easy and simple, and. ~ far a. She could
see, silly. but not wicked: but pretend
ing place haunted, aud using strange
lights and machinery 10 keep up the evil
appearance therein, She felt was deceit
fal aud wrong. and She shuddered as she
thought Of hiS words that after awhile
~ should rcq4iro this assistance At her
hands.
She did not fancy as has been said
any rarr ii her evening tasks I'M thar
was almost more than she could under
take
Hut how could She avoid il now. when
her word had been pledged? how refuse
Hit the time. when urged tn i u,ryons
Suffering. and uustruug human bcinr
Just terribly wounded. whose life almost
danended ou being kent nerfertIv ,,,,i.ta
In view If his fearful ,ituat5,r sh.,
f.rt thar Ill, cauli 10 N, ia--t Than fIr.3..r-
take to relieve, him uG his Intense ankle
ties on the subject. aud could Src no way
III shrhlng the obligations laid upon
her.
one thing. however. She decided IN do
sle sha.,Id take some morning hour t.
explore the ruins. and that Haunted
Tower. - that she might become accus-
toned 10 all the dangers and pecuIiaritieS