The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-05


story that he had learned of the existenc
of the Thing that night. But was pres
ent and am persuaded that at the tim
all thought, as did That never was gave
scene even at Glendowie, never host an,
hostess more cordial, never merry eye
heir more anxious to be courteous to al
| and more than courteous to one. Dane
succeeded dance. The hour was late, bu
another waltz was begun. Then sud
denly
And at once the music stopped and tn
dancers were as still as stone figures
! had been horrible inhuman scream, S,
loud and shrill as to tear a way through
| all the walls Of the castle; a scream not o
! pain, but of triumph. | think il mus
have lasted half a minute, and then camt
! silence, but still no one moved; we waited
as if after lightning for the thunder
| The first person | saw was the earl. His
! face was not white, but gray. His teeth
were fixed and he was staring at the door
waiting for it to open. Some men hastenet
| TO the door and he cast out his arms anC
drove them back. But he never looked al
| them. The heir saw with his hands over
| his face. Many of the men stepped il
| front OF the women. There was no wits
| pering, think. We all turned our eyes
| to the door.
Some ladies screamed Zone, have heard
swooned, but we gave her not a glance
when the door opened. 1t was only the
African servant who entered, a man most
of US had heard of, but few had seen. He
made a sign to the earl, who drew back
from him and then stepped forward. The
heir hurried to the door, and some of Us
heard this conversation:
''Not you, father; me-"
''Stay here, my son; / entreat, com.
nand"
Both" said the servant authoritative,
", and then they went out with him and
the door closed.
The dancing was resumed almost inlme.
diateiy. This is a strange thing to tell
Only woman could have forced us tc
seem once more as we were before that hor.
rid cry; and the woman was our hostess.
As the door closed, my eyes met hers, and |
saw that she had been speaking to the
musicians. She was smiling graciously, as
if what had occurred had been but an
amusing interlude. saw her take her
place beside her partner, and begin the
waltz again with the music All looked at
her with amazement, dread, pity, suspicion,
nothing?" asked myself, overhearing her
laughing merrily as she was whirled past
me. Or was this the woman's part in the
tragedy while the men were doing theirs?
What were they doing? 1t was whispered
in the ballroom that they were in the open
looking for something that had escaped
from the castle
An hour dare say passed, and neither
ba ri l. l>o1 al
dancing went on, but it had become an I'M
canny scene: every one trying to read the
others face-the men uncomfortable, as if
feeling that they should be elsewhere
many of the women craven. only the coun-
tess in high spirits By this time it was
known to all of US that the door of the ball.
room was locked on the outside Guests
babe our hostess good night, but could re-
tire no farther One man dared request
her to bid the servants unlock the door,
and she smiled and asked him for the next
waltz.
About 2 o'clock in the morning many OF
US heard a child's scream, that came as we
thought from the hall of the castle.
A moment afterward we again heard it
this time from the shrubbery. saw the
countess shake with fear at last, but it was
only for a moment. Already she was beck,
oning to the musicians to continue play
ing One of the guests stopped them by
raising his hand. He was the child's ia.
ther.
you must bid your servants unbar that
door" he said to the countess sternly, 'oI
l will force it open"
you cannot leave this room, sir" she
answered quite colnposedly, and then be
broke out passionately, fear for his child
mastering him, something about the dev
IFS work, he said.
There is some one on the other side OF
that door who would not hesitate to kill
you" she replied; and we knew that she
spoke of the native servant.
Order him to open the door"
81 will not"
In another moment the door would have
been broken open had she not put her back
against it, Her eyes were now flashing.
The men looked at each other in doubt
and each of them, know, were for tearing
her from the door. 1t was then that we
heard the report like a gun.
1t is my belief that the countess saved
the life of her guest by preventing his leav-
ing the ballroom. For nearly another hour
she stood at the door, and the servants gath
cred around her like men ready to support
their mistress
We were now in groups, whispering and
listening, and l shall tell what heard, be-
heving it to be all that was heard by any
of US though some of those present that
night now tell stranger tales. | heard
child laughing, and | doubt not that we
were meant to hear it, to appease the pa
rents fear; | heard the tramp of men in
the hall and on the stairs, and afterward
an unpleasant dirge from above.
A carriage drove up the walk and stop
ped at the door. Then came heavy noises
on the stair, as of some weight being slow
ly moved down it. BY and by the carriage
drove off. The earl returned TO the ball
room, but no one was allowed to leave it
until daybreak. | lost sight Of the countess
when the earl came in, but many say that
he whispered something to her, to which
she replied. Thank Gedr' and then faint |
ed. No explanation OF this odd affair was
given to the company; but it is believed
that the Thing, whatever it was, was shot |
that night and taken away by the heir and |
the servant TO Africa, there to be buried
J. NJ. Barrie in Romance.
TIE Situation in the Metropolis
"Are you still engaged" asked the old |
friend. who had not seen the dear girl for |