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

break the seals, and as l did so the bell in
ne ghboring church tower rang out the
hour of midnight. 1t was another strange
coincidence. and as / listened to tho sol
stiffened, cold sweat beaded my fore
head. the old fear had come back upon
me. I was suffering the keenest torture.
Gradually the fit passed off and was able
to proceed with the reading OF the letters.
They were one and all love letters, ad-
They were wildly, almost tempestu-
ouSly passionate, and more than
ever was l convinced that Saint-Gery's
reason had always been more or less un-
fixed. In every letter there was some
reference to Aurore's glorious head Of
hair, and | now felt sure that had seen
not Aurore herself but her spirit; that she
ad been foully murdered by Sant-Gery in
an excess Of rage or jealousy. Upon I'M
sealing the third package l found a heavy
tress of golden hair, at least five feet i'm
length. 1t had been cut from Aurore's
head by Sant-Gery. for that fact was
noted in his handwriting. giving even the
hour, day ard date, A COMPARISON with it
OF the few hairs that had clung 10 the but
tons and gold lace of my coat on that fear
full night seemed to confirm one of my
strongest beliefs shat the spirits of the
dead. under certain conditions, have the
power OF naturalization when they walk
the earth.
Well. you will not be surprised when. l
tell you that didn't destroy those letters.
that an intense desire to ferret out this
mystery seized upon me, and that ! firmly
resolved upon my return from the New
World to set about the task, and if possible
to learn the exact fate OF the beautiful
Aurore. You know what happened. In
Rio | met lady, loved her. married her,
and settled down there. 1t was twenty
hofn I m
again. l was then an old man, not in very
robust health-a cnIdleSs widUwer. I had
come home 10 die, but the sight Of old
friends and native land gave me a new lease
Of life, and 1t seemed to me as if began
life all over again. | was passionately fond
of hunting, and one autumn about ten
years ago while so engaged in the north
east of France was overtaken by ter
riblc storm. urged my guide to find shell
ter as speedily as possible. He assured me
there was not roofs within four miles of
us, and scarcely were the words out OF MS
mouth before caught sight of what seemed
to me to be charcoal burners cot on the
edge of the forest about half a mile dis
tant.
Nay. my lord. not there" exclaimed
the man with gesture of dread. ut might
mean death to us both.
death TO us both ?" | echoed.
YES" returned the man, ''the cot is
Inhabited by "a madman, or one very nearly
So"
But the storm was now increasing In
fury, and, madman or no mailman, | was
determined to seek shelter there. AS our
knocking called forth no response |
pushed the door open. In the center of
ths room stood man Of low stature. with
shaggy hair and loug matted beard white
as the driven snow. AT glance the mans
eyes told me whom | had come upon. 1t
was Saint-Gerv. There could be no mis-
taking him. Each of his hands grasped a
pistol and he burst ont furiousiy:
Halt! Another step and I'll shoot you
both down. you Infamous miniOns of the
law. l know what you've come for-to ar
rest me for murder, aud you're right, too,
but Pm resolved to sell my life dearly
yes. dearly. just for the pleasure of killing.
Ha. ha. hal"
Nay. sir; you mistake US entirely" |
cried out in friendly way. 1--WE are not
officers. but merely travellers. who crave
the shelter Of your roof We will do you
no harm"
In an instant his fury left him and he
held out his hand to me.
'Saint-Gery!" 1 cried, 'od friend. don't
you recognize me-your old schoolmate.
De la Tour Samuel?"
But my words made no impress upon
his disordered mind. He was hopelesslv
insane. Hopelessyp And yet why?
tHcuEuL as SAL gazing upon Jne awful
mental and physical wreck before me- If
l could but persuade him, little as | be-
lieved it myself. that Aurore still lived,
that l had seen her, touched her, talked
with her in the old chateau near Rouen,
possibly might be abe to call his wan
deripg reason back again. My mind was
made up at once. As contemplated
remaining ia that region as long as
the hunting season lasted. would
send TO Paris for the three packages
and deliver them to him. The sight
Of these letters. the touch Of Aurore's
beautiful hair, together with the sound of
my voice might gradually make Saint
Gery's reason whole again. A las man
proposes. but God dispose.. l carried out
my programme to the letter. | covertly
laid the three packages on Saint Gery's
table one evening and then left him alone
with these reminders of other days.
The next morning the found the door
locked We burst 1t open. There sat
Saint-Gery at the table with his heod sup.
ported on Que hand. and his eyes appeared
riveted on something held in the other.
'Saint-Gery. old friend, how are YOU to-
day?" l called cheerfully, as l laid my
hand on his shoulder.
He was dead. He had died sitting there
with his eyes fixed upon the strand of
Aurore's hair.
CHAPTER III.