The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-21

of o human being, and we all three started
in the direction OF o1n.
When we arrived at our destination we
paused for q moment to light our lanterns;
then pushing open the heavy front door
passed with sehoing footsteps down the dark
ball and NY the moldering stairs. The
door OF the haunted chamber had grown SO
rusty upon It's hinges that our combined
strength was necessary TO effect an entrance,
and as it swung backward with sudden
violence musty odor, as from vault, met
u.s. The moon was at its full, and pouring
through the shutterless windows flooded the
chamber with its soft radiance, dimming
our lanterns, aud showing US the traditional
blood stains-not red, as my childish fancy
had painted them, but brown and dark
with age.
taMsrk pointed toward them with tremba
ling hand, but when we urged him TO aban-
don his purpose he was still resolute; and,
spreading blanket near the door for him
20 lie upon and rolling another into pillow
for his head, we begged that he would en-
deavor to pass the remainder OF the night in
sleep. Then we placed the lighted lanterns
on either side Of his pallet, with candles
and matches at hand for their renewal, and
giving Mark stick which l carried in my
hand, l babe him knock upon the Goor
should be need our help, and, motioEing
Carlo TO sit beside him and WATCH we
turned and left the apartment. My COM
panion was less emotional than |, and was
slumberlng heavily by my side long before
any sensation OF drowsineas visited me.
The moonlight had made a pretty etching
OF the easement upon the time-stained wall
opposite me, delioately tracing the skeleton
branch OF tree across it. Presently
light breeze sprung up, moving the bare
branch gently up and down across the
shining square, and soothed by the mono
tony OF the swaying motion, fell asleep.
How long | slumbered | cannot tell, but
was aroused by a sound as Of the beating
Of drum at rollcall; and, sitting upright,
l endeavored 10 recall my wondering
senses. The moon had gone down, leaving
the room in utter darkness. AT this mo-
ment a sudden gust of wind swept round
the corner, making the loose easement
tremble as though shaken by the hand of a
giant.
1t recalled my whereabouts to me, and
the incidents of the previous evening rushed
suddenly into my mind. The sound which
l had heard was no roll call. 1t was Mark
Eton's signal of distress, and rousing my
companion we felt our way across the dark
apartment and into the hall. Here a strip
of golden light guided us TO the haunted
chamber, the door of which turned more
readily upon its hinges than on the previous
evening, swinging backward with a graf
ing sound. Undimmed by any rival lumi-
nary the lanterns CLEANED from the spot
where we had placed them like miniature
light houses.
They showed US Mark Elton stretched full
length upon his rude pallet holding loosely
In his right hand the stick which | had
given him. His head, with its wealth of
blonde ringlets. was slightly elevated; his
lips were parted; his great, wide-opsn blue
eyes were fixed with the terrified express
sion Of one beholding a vision.
In the Temotest corner of the apartment
Carlo covered trembling. At the sight Of
us the dog sprang forward fawning at our
feet, licking our hands and uttering pro-
longed and piteous bowls. When we had
succeeded in queting him he turned toward
Mark, still lying as we had first seen him.
II thought | heard you knock, Mark"
said. Did you need our help" There was
no answer, no change Of expression in the
fixed blue eyes, and altering my phrase
ology and raising my voice, l repeated the
question.
We heard a sound like your signal. Had
anything occurred TO alarm your
There was still no answer, no culver of
the upturned countenance.
HE has tainted, ;" exclaimed Walter, and
hnrrying forward We kneeled on either side
of hlH, chatting the nerveless fingers and
listening with bated breath for the sound OF
his breathing. Then we pressed our chesks
close to his motionIess breast IL was silent
as the cage of dead bird.
As we closed the blue eyes and composed
the rapidly tifening limbs, the dawn with
rosy fingers was tintlng the eastern horizon.
Mark Eton's night OF probation was over.