Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-05-31

But there was no answer ana the
noises still went on. So Minna desisted
from her own vain attempts to be
heard. and her mind being full of fears,
none the less ugly for being vague, she
crept up into the hall and chung in a
limp and helpless fashion to the bot
tom banister. frightened to death"
as she would have expressed it. vet de-
termined to wait until Ciecly came up
again. She wrapped the folds of her
dressing gown tightly around her-for
1t was cold down there at 1 o'clock in
the morning. and sat on the bottom
stair, so that nobody should pass with
out her knowledge. Nobody. for to add
to her terror there was the possibility
since she had not properly seen the fig
ure She followed. that it might not be
Cicely at all.
Minna sat waiting so long that at last
she dozed off to sleep.
She woke as somebody tried to pass
her, Starting up, only h:,lf-conscious.
in her drowsy state. of what she was
doing. the girl threw up her arms to
stop her disturber. 1t was Cicely.
A bright stream of summer morning
sunlight was flooding the hall with light
and AIinna, now wide awake. was able
to take in every detail of the appear
ance Of the woman she was embracing
Cicely was as pale as the dead. her
hands and her dress were covered with
dirt and dust: even her brown hair was
disordered and begrimed with cobwcbs.
But the circumstance which most Of
all attracted Minna's attention was
that Cicely's eyes We're shut.
Minna watched her. trembling. Was
she really asleep: she wondered. keep
ing her eyes fixed on Cicely's tottering
figure as the latter assembled the stairs
and shut herself into her bedroom.
Next morning Minna. who. to tell
the truth. was too much alarmed by
what she had seen to- be quite candid.
. affected to laugh at her sister-in- law,
telling her she had taken to sleep-walk-
ing.
Yes" went on NIinna. laughing. ''you
gave me nice fright. l can tell you!
I heard noise down stairs, went
down. got frightened. and fell asleep
in the hall. and YOU woke me as you
tried to walk past me in your sleep.
i wonder what you had been doing?"
II wonder". echoed Cicely. who look
ed indeed very white, but With a pallor
which Minna thought was rather the
ASSu1t VI tSlIol vi tbulSuultIt.
Don't tell anybody that l walk in
my Sleep" Cicely said ncrvously as
they rose from their chairs. Il should
be so laughed ut. YOU know. 1 shall
be all right when Duke comes hone,
and they tell me they hope to be able
to let him be moved in ten days or a
fortnight, if all goes on Well"
Minna had heard all this the day
before, but she assented without COM
ment. and the two ladies went their
separate ways each under some re-
straint. In the afternoon Cicely drove
off alone to the hospital. and Nina,
whom the mystery she felt but did rot
understand was working up into high
ly nervous state. was left to her own
reflections.
The young girl felt intensely relieved
when the front door bell rang. ANY
visitor. no matter how much of Dor.
he OF. she might be considered at anoth-
er time. would be welcome to break
the painful monotony of the thoughts
which oppressed her. 1t was with an
exclamation OF surprise. not mingled
With disnlay. however. that she saw
the door open to admit her uncle. Mr..
William Bennington and Algy Hurst
The meeting with the former proved
much less embarrassing than Nlinnl
had expected. Mr.. Bennington seemed
relieved rather than disappointed to
hear that Cicely was out; and as Minna
was not above the meanness of fattcr-
ing him. they got on extremely well
together.
Il am quite glad to have this oppor-
tunity of consulting you about Cicely,"
said the young girl with polite defer
ence. but with some nervousness She
had resolved upon the bold step of TAX
ing her uncle fully into her confidence
And forthwith she gave him a descrip-
ton OF her experience of the last two
nights: her following Cicely downstairs,
the strange noises she had heard in the
cellar, and lastly her meeting with
Clcely, when the latter appeared to
be in SQmnambulistic condition She
had argHtd with herself rapidly before
giving this account. that it could do no
harm, since her uncle. as a member
of the family. would certainly be silent
concerning anything discreditable to it,;
while, on the other hand. this proof Of
Cicely's distress OF mind would in any
case soften him toward her.
But her narration had much strong
er effect upon him than she had expect
ed. Mr.. Bennington was shrewd enough
to couple it instantly with the fact Of
Joseph Radstock's disappearance, and
it was with difficulty that he subdued
his intense curiosity and excitement
sufficiently to listen quietly to the end
of Minna's recital
Algy Hurst also heard the story with
much interest. though for 4 far less
serious reason.
why, Miss Bennington" he cried,
when she had ended. Il believe l can
give you an explanation Of that. Do
you remember Dukes taking us down,
a few evenings ago. when the vanish.
ing clerk was dining here''-Mr. Der.
rington grew suddenly attentive
'down into the cellar and slowing us
little underground room where some
choice wine had lain bricked up and
undiscovered for years."
Minna was noticing With surprised
attention the expression Of her uncle's
face Suddenly he arose to his feet,
unable any longer to control his excite
ment.
II think" he said. in solemn tones.
r.,