The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-09

sion. Although he no longer paid atten-
ton to the clock. he strobe about the room
stealthily, his tail swinging, his ears erect,
and his whole bearing indicating the pres
ence of strange sounds Mr.. Wheeler
himself, attentively as he listened, could
hear nothing peculiar. Yet the conduct of
the cat alarmed him. He strained every
sense to catch the least uncommon hap
pening. He examined the walls inch by
inch, putting an ear to them now and then,
watching Theophilus and the clock mean
while.
Presently the time arrived for him to
take his breakfast; but, as he was ill and
had no hunger, he fell into a chair and
groaued. In a little while the French
woman came in, and started in fright when
she saw his face.
s.Oh, monsieur y she exclaimed. you
ell All, what a peety | bring you
some coffee quick, monsieur.
''Tf you please, madame, weakly re-
sponded the wretched man.
Afterwards he felt little better; but a
violent headache came on, and it seemed as
though his temples would burst He for
got all about his morning walk, and, lying
back in his chair, could only watch Theoph.
illus. He had not let any light into the
room, and that which was strained through
the oil shades, though to him seemingly so
brilliant that it burned him, was insufficient
for Jenny, who, few minutes before her
accustomed time, burst into the room, in
extraordinary excitement.
"I'm sure it was the same, she gasped
breathessly, speaking to herself, and sup
posing that her master was away; "but III
see"
Not observing him crouching in his
chair, she hastily threw up the shades, went
straight to the clock, and pulled open the
little doors. Then she drew the figure
from the trap, with fierce eagerness loos-
ened the moose and removed the black cap,
and then, letting the figure fall to the end
of its cord, she staggered back to the man
tel, clutched her throat, and painted, her
wide-staring eyes fixed on the distorted
features of the figure.
''.Jenny ~ called her master
She screamed and sprapg away Her
excitement must have been great, for she
! exhibited neither shame nor contrition for
being caught in the act of violating her
2 masters orders. On the contrary, as soon
e as she could realize that it was he who was
e present. and not some dreadful thing that
r evidently she feared, she ran to him and
q threw herself on her knees at his feet
: seiziug his hands and clinging to them fol
4 protection. Every one of her features and
!, movements expressed terror Her throat
was filled with sobs and gasps. She swayet
and writhed in an effort to speak,
S sOh, Mr.. Wheeler" she finally tounC
D voice to say, "I've seen him-the same al
: that - pointing to the figure.
e Mr.. Wheeler's face became livid, and
f his eyes seemed to sink back into his skull
; "Where % he whispered.
1t ''Out there. He was slipping away from
y your door. His face frightened me so tha
J. | ran, and he caught me, and twisted m.
i? wrist, and asked me what | was afraid OF
d He is a young man. [ don't know wha
p [ said-it was something about rop
J. around his neck He cursed ME, and SAT-
II that if | said word about having seel
l. him he would kill me And there wa
i murder in his face q
d Mr.. Wheeler shrank deeper into hi
chair, and there he sat in complete collapse
is his Jaw hanging, his eyes rolled up an
to half-closed, and his breathing hardly PEI
N ceptible. His appearance alarmed the CIR
it who feared that he had died. She shoe
ly him and called him by name, but his rC
to sponse was only faint and petulant groar
I'd She ran and brought the Frenchwomal
ID and together they chafed his hands, an
ne placed him on lounge, and covered hi
n. heavily, for he was cold Sooner tina
is might have been expected, and before tn
ly arrival of physician who had been sun
Id moned, Mr.. Wheeler's checks began
e. flush, his eyes to brighten, and his pul'
ne and breathing to become strong. He sa
IN up and curtly dismissed the physical
IN when he arrived He refused to eat an,
Mt thing, and directed the women to leay
Q. him alone, taking occasion to whisper
lis Jenny request that she say nothing
IS any one about what she had seen,
IN He got to his feet and looked aroun
IS anxiously for the cat; Theophilus vi
sleeping peacefully on his rug, Then
an staggered to the clock and carefully reat
ok justed the figure on the trap, taking grei
ar deal of time, for his hands were extremel
at weak and uncertain. Then he sat dow
IS, trembling. The FrenchwOman present.
ce brought him tempting little meal
,i- THANK you" he said; 'that is just viii
nd l need-I am very hungry
er But as soon as she was gone he ga,
to Theophilus the food, to pretend that h
ut himself had eaten Meanwhile, the col,
Ill in his cheeks deepened and the light in h
at eyes became brighter; worse than that, h
ly began to talk; and as Theophilus, to whol
us he had often talked before, was his so
II, audience, Theopilus had to hear what
said.
or sTheonhilns he said. ..it is a lie-tI