Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-20

On the side Of the room opposite the
two windows and the bed was fastened
tail looking glass. formed Of three plates
set one above the other, edge to edge, in
such a manner as painfully TO cut up
and distort whatever was reflected IN
them In front Of the looking glass was
a lillipntian washstand and beside It a
straight legged chair without rungs-in
a word, a room more utterly devoid Of
Rvery kind OF picturesque or ornamental
attraction could not DO imagined: yet
could not keep my eyes from vacantly
traversing and retraversing its vacancy.
The door was behind me, as | lay turned
toward the little table on which the lamp
stood. but could see the free edge OF it
Drokonly reflected in the mirror. with
the cracked black porcelain latch handle
aud the iron bolt which had shot into
lis place
was anything but sleepy; the heat
and the pest OF midges and beetles which
the light attracted in through the win
dows would have sufiiced to keep Inc
awake even bad my mind been at ease.
IN order to dispense the insects ! finally
extinguished the lamp; the moonlight in
the room was so bright that / could al
most have seen to read by H. closed
the book. however. and clasping my
nands under my head gave myself up
70 meditation Not a sound Of any kind
was audible except the mufled ticking
Of the watch in my waistcoat pocket and
the faint rustic Of the pillow rs 1 breath
ed Tho white moonlight seemed to aug
ment the stiffness; the whole great night
and the house with II seemed silently
and intently listening, and at length
found myself listening intently tool For
what? / could not tell. bnt listened
nevertheless
By and by / fancied a,sound came-a
sound from somewhere within the house
II WAS a very faint sound and did not
come again. but It was such as might
nave been caused by the light pressure
OF foot in one Of the passages outside
lnstinctively reached forth highland
and laid hold Of my revolver. but 1 aid
not rise from the bed nor otherwise alter
my position. ! still lay as if asleep with
the revolver in one hand, the other
beneath my head aud my eyes fixed upon
tire edge Of the door, which was obcure-
~ visible in the mirror z4h
Several minutes passed thus. and there
was no return Of the noise Then | saw
the handle Of the door move and turn.
The latch clicked slightly. the door.
oolted though it was. opened as if on
oiled hinges, admitting an indistinct
figure In a long robe of soft gray. SO
much saw in the mirror. Then the
door was closed again and the figure
advancing toward the bed, ceased to be
reflected in the glass. II advanced close
10 the bed. and paused there moment
could hear its deep. regular breathing.
All this time bad not moved, but lay
with my back turned, feigning slumber.
Presently the figure passed around the
foot Of the bed. and came up the other
snde. The fnll white light Of the moon
fell upon II. II was Kate. as | had
Known Il was from the first moment she
entered the room She was clad In :
Lrtasing gown OF soft flowing material
which was fastened at the throat ant
tfailed ON the ground II had wide
sleeves one OF which fell back from TIN
Oare. smooth arm and hand that carrieC
ianH The laniD was not hrhfed