The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-13

ways carried, twenty times day. On his
part. Gorg n would grin and glare at the
dwarf with ferocity that sent a chill
through my blood; but he never offered TO
retallate.
Among the neighbors, and in the SER
wants hall, wild stories we're ahoat. Ex-
actly what they were l did not know. until
one night at bedtime, my maid, who was
assisting me to undress, told ne. With tears
in her eyes. that she was going TO leave me.
inquired the cause.
"f dare not stay in the house with the
devil, Miss Cecile," was her reply.
The devil" repeated. "What do you
meanp
Begging your pardon, Miss Cecile." she
said, lowering her voice TO whisper, "5ut
| if one Of them two amt the devil, there
never was devil Tom, be says that Mr..
Modred has sold his soul to the old one, In
some Of the foreign parts. and that the ape
is satan himself keeping watch on his prop
erty. Harkln
The wild laughter Of the dwarf. mingled
with the fierce chattering OF the ape, came
from the chamber at the end OF the passage,
where the two slept. / shuddered at the
sound, involuntarily, but reproved the girl
with calmness was far from feeling.
''Such ST ries are as silly as they are i'm
proper. II MIR. Yale wishes to keep so un-
pleasant pet, he has a perfect right to
do So"
WELL" said the girl, obstinately, 'ft's
my opinion that there ape will go back
where he came from one OF these days, and
he won't go alone, neither"
& Though of course the girls superstition
was absurd, often thought of it afterward,
and am ashamed to say that sometimes
half believed it myself.
Since Modred's arrival be had not spoken
openly of his intention OF marrying me,
though was convinced that he was only
biding his time. perhaps the more effect
ually TO strengthen his hold upon my poor
father and myself. had seen Sylvan but
two or three times in the interval. With
out appearing to do so. Modred had main
tained close espionage over my move
ments. l could not leave the house for any
purpose but the dwarf. accompanied by his
| ugly familiar, would be at my side. politely
insisting upon escorting me In my walk,
and refusing to be shaken of.
One day, however, / had managed TO
elude his observations, as | supposed. and
| hurrying down the lane met Sylvan at the
style. We had hardly shaken hands. how
ever, when we were startled by the voice of
my prosecutor, who, with his grim compan-
ion, had stolen uDon us unpefceived.
| "How deeply I regret the necessity of
interrupting this interesting tete-a- tete p
he said, with the smile that was like an un-
spoken insult but l am compelled to
warn my young friends that 1t is contrary
to custom for a lady who is about to become
the wife of one man to hold secret inter-
views with another ~ rrf
"What do you meant" responded Sylvan
haughtily, while held my breath In dis
mayed expectancy.
Merely, my dear young gentleman :"
said the dwarf, suavely, that Miss Cecile
will shortly honor me with her hand Don't
apologize, beg" he added, with wave of
the hand. "You were not aware OF It of
course; hence there is no offense. l simply
wish to call your attention TO the fact.
ut is a ie." returned Sylvan, holly.
MARRY you'll She would sooner marry
your ape. He ia less hideous than you in
| her eyes"
| For an instant the dwarf gazed at him
| with an expression that froze my blood;
then he turned to me with his unyarying
smile. gss
81 will accompany you home, my dear
Cecile."
mo" I replied, my anger getting the bet
ter Of my terror you have no right to
control my actions. You are nothing what
ever TO me. Ny father owes you money
which be cannot pay, and you may turn us
out in the world without bread or roof to
shelter US, if you will. toBus' 1 will never
marry you"
do not lose your temper, dear child" he
said, imperturbably. IF our friend, Mr..
Gaines, will excuse US, as we walk home
ward together think can convince you
that l have spoken the truth"
There was something so sinister In his
tone and smile that yielded, and. bidding
Sylvan trembling adieu, went with him
and his hatched ape re ent
You spoke" said he as he proceeded
"of your father owing me money, tntimAt-
ing that therein lay my power to force you
| 20 L. -
power which you might easily defy. But
what II it were in my power TO send your
father to prison for term of yearsp
! l started and looked at him In horror.
| MY father-in PRISON."
| EYES," he answered, "just that In his
ignorance Of business up be charitable
he was unfortunate enough to mistake
his legal right. Just a mere signature,
nothing morei But quite sufficient to con-
stitute felony in the eyes of the law"
| "But he Is innocent" cried. clasping my
hands in agony. "My poor father feloni
y, have you no pity, no mercyr
who has had pity or mercy for me?" he
exclaimed, SHOW ing the only trace Of real
feeling | ever saw him. exhibit. 81, mis-
hapen, hideous. a mock of nature whom
you hate and despisel" Suddenly breaking
off. he added IN hisusual hooking manner, y
/ trust, dear child, that you will spare no
expense in the preparation OF your trous-
seau. Our wedding should do honor to our
family names"
Yes. it was so. Unsuspicious Of the trap
laid for him by the willy dwarf, and ignor-
{ Of business as a child, my poor father
| had done that whose consequences alone
| could save him from. / did not, / could
not hesitate.
| How passed the Intervening period I
cannot say; but waking out of what seemed
long dream OF misery. found myself at
the eve Of my wedding day. I had told
| Sylvan the truth and hidden him a last. sad
| farewell. had prepared myself for the
ordeal, and now only awaited the final sac
rifice.
Alone, gazed. heartless, / sat In my cham
Der, counting the slow hours as they passed.
| Suddenly, as sat so, a terrible cry rang
through the house; a cry so awful In its
pain and horror that the hair rose upon nv
head and the blood In my veins seemed to
| CONCEAL. Then there was a sound of feet In
the passage; the opening and shutting Of
doors. loud EXPLANATIONS, and wild con-
fusion.
found myself, how, do not know, with
many others in Modred Yale's room. He
lay upon the floor, with his eyes starting
from his head, and with an expression Of
| terror and rage upon his features that |
| shall never forget deadl On his neck was
the black mark Of powerful fingers. The
ape, GorgoD, had disappeared.
The superstitious aver that bis familiar
had at LIST claimed his bargain, aud that
MOdred Yale'g aoul had gone tn fta vnastar