The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-30

Inc appar)tl0n spoke. Ou, SIT, you Chu
do me great service"
refused to do their work; low breathing
sound alone came from parched and aching
throat.
Again the lips of the appartion moved.
Twill you? You have the power to save
me, to cure me. | an. suffering fright
fully-Oh, so frightfu)ly!
AS she uttered these words 10 tone too
weird and instrument-like to be human.
she let herself drop gently aud slowly into
h sitting position on the sofa.
Twill you" again came from those pale.
thin, blue lips.
l tried to say ''yes," but nothing save
low kissing sound escaped me. Twas all
| was capable of. aud so l bowed my head
in sign of acquiescence.
With that she drew out from under the
folds of her white gown large toothed
tortoise-sheli comb, and, holding it out to
me. whispered. Comb my hairl oh, comb
my hair! 1t will cure me; it will stop this
pain; it's the only way. Look at my head.
See how | am suffering. 1t will drag me
down to DEATH"
AS she sat there her wonderful head of
hair fell around her like an eHveloping
cloud, its edges resting upon the floor.
why did l attempt to obey? Why did l
reach out n tremulous hand for that comb
and why did l take hold of those thick
shivers of intense GOODNESS through my
hands and arms as if l we're toying with
strings of serpents? l cannot tell you.
my friends. but believe me when l say that
that sensation of cold is here yet and that
| can feel it now. A horrible fascination
came upon me as set to work. Cold and
heat by turns struck me deep in the very
ytals. l was caressing the dead; toying
with hair cold and dark from the tomb.
1t was dreadful and yet it was heavenly.
Gradually my strength came to me. l
was an adept In the use of comb, for
almost daily l was wont TO comb aud
braid my horses name. l couldn't see
whether an expression of comfort had
stolen over that white face, but could
hear that low breathing. that softened
groan which means relief from pain, as [
proceeded with my work. Separating
that luxuriant growth into several parts,
| took up each in turn and c0mbed it to its
full length. Then, gathering them all
together, l began TO braid them. and as
my fingers lost more and more the stiff
ness which fear had caused. went faster
head and continued to give forth those
softened groans. which seemed almost like
the purring of a cat
Suddenly she murmured a word of
thanks, and. reaching out quickly, took
the comb from my hand and dar Ell out OF
the room, disappearing in the darkness of
the half-opened door, more like a specter
than ever.
The moment found myself alone there
came upon me that dazed feeling so COM
mon TO any one escaping from the chains
OF some dreadful nightmare. The spell
was broken, all sense Of fear had vani shed
ana l could feel the blood tinglipg back
into my veins again: | was enraged at my
own weakness. l felt like man who has
been tricked and gplled by mischief-loving
friends. determined to follow the mid
night visltant, and sprang after her, but
the door was locked. / threw myself
against 1t with furious onslaught; but it
held firmly. however. Just then my horse.
which l had tied at the porte cochere,
gave long, loud neigh of impatience.
1t startled me stra nGely, for it seemed to
he the call of friend to hasten out of the
chateau, where my foOlhardiness might
cost me my life. | obeyed, and, dashing
down the stairway at the risk Of breaking
my neck, l CROPPED my way outdoor and
sprang into the saddle. The faithful ami
NAL seemed overjoyed to have me on his
back again and was off with bound How
long we took to reach Rouen don't know.
Not long. for the animal kept up wild
pace. My orderly was waiting for me- and
think he uttered something about hard
ride as ] turned away.
l need hardly tell you that there was
UOt muCu SteSp lUI iNe LVdt ulSul. Az
times it seemed TO me as if / had fallen
asleep in my easy-chair. for | had not I'M
dressed. and dreamed 1t all. But no; l
could feel one package of Saint-Gery's let
tiers. which | had thrust into my breast
pocker, pressing against my body. But
more than this. There, twisted around
the buttons Of my coat and entangled in
the metal lace, were several long siIken
hairs OF golden tinge. They were from
the head of the beautiful ghost of Castle
Sain t-Gery. There could be no mistake
about it. They had been detached in the
combing and had fastened themselves to
me In the manner indicated. There was
awful reality. Carefully unwinding these
hairs, rolled them up aud put them away
in an envelope.
The moment / had swallowed little
break fast set out to find Saint-Gery, to
give him his letters, to tell him OF my
strange adventure in the old chateau, and
to ask him for an explanation. Judge of
my surprise, nay, my amazement, to find
that he had abandoned his lodgings late
the night before. Where had he gone? No
one knew; no one seemed TO know any
thing about him. l appealed to the police,
but he could not be found in Rouen. The
mystery was deeper than ever, and again |
was half inclined to think that some
mischef-lovjng friend had been playing a
tTlCk upOu uJc. DuL LHcIo WtIC Luo lCttCISs
three packages, just as l had taken them
from the Saint-Gery writing.desk, and
there were the hairs found clinging to the
buttons and gold lace of my coat. and my
orderly. too. assured me, with smile, that
l HAD galloped madly up to the garrison a
little after O'Clock. my horse being COW
cred with foam. II had certainly been
ten-mile gallon, so my orderly thought.
1t took week or so for me to recover
my habitual composure of body and mind.
and, happily for me, my regiment was
shortly after this ordered to Algiers. l
distrusted Roger. and therefore made up
my mind that / would not turn the letters
over to him, but wrote him few lines
telling him Of my sudden departure from
Rouen ana asking him to write TO Saint
Gerry and say would hold the letters sub
ject to his order. but would in no case de-
liver them up to any one else except upon
hfs written authorization.
/ was absent from France for several
years. Now and then. in rummaging
through my goods and chattels, 1 would
come upon Saint-Gery's letters. and let me
assure you, my friends. that a sight of
them was always quite enough to send a
cold shiver down my back.
u on my return from Algiers my health
was so impaired by African fever that /
determined TO resign from the army and
make tour through the New World.