The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-14
us It possl6ie that This Is the occupa-
ion of Miss Ethel Nevergail this stormy


above. the form of DR.. Elfenstein.
"Oh, Doctor" she walled, as she bur-
led her face in her hands. and burst
into low sobs Of pain and dsmay. chow
came you mere to witness my dlsgrace1ul
work?"
Then suddenly remembering her
charge, and true 10 the interests Of her
employer, she again seized the crank
and, lowering the image, extinguished
that head lamp, as well as the others,
leaving everything in darkness but for
the feeble Hare Or one IIrtre candle she
had placed upon the floor.
Then turning she faced her accuser.
II came, no matter how; suffice it that
I was determined to unmask this daring
fraud, and so allay the fears of timid
women and children. Certainly, in do
ing this, never expected to discover
that Miss Nevergail was the prime mover
in this outrageous piece of work."
Ethel listened to the cold, hard words
in utter despair, then futtering like .
wounded bird to the side CT the indig-
nant man, she laid one small, white
hand on his arm, which was shaken OIL
in disdain before she could utter one OF
the following WOrQS.
at is the first time I ever did this
thing. Oh, believe me; surely you must
remember that was in Liverpool when
you saw that sight, the time when 1t last
appeared?"
ayes, that is true; I had forgotten.
But that does not absolve you from to-
nights ghastly deception" was the still
cold reply.
"But Sir Reginald compelled me to do
it. I begged and entreated him to ex-
cuse me; told him it was sinful, but he
few into passion, and bade me disobey
him on the peril Of his everlasting dis
pleasure. Sir, was homeless, and he
was sick! What was to do?"
"Forgive me! You poor little girl, I
was harsh and cruel in my judgment. You
were, indeed, obliged to execute the vile
plans of the baronet. There" added he,
tenderly, as he drew her hands from her
face, and with his handkerchief wiped
away her tears, sweep no more; you
were not to blame, Child, give me your
hand in token Of forgiveness.
Laying her trembling hand in his, she
murmured:
aThen you do not despise me?"
"Despise you? No! no! only" he
stopped; he was about to say "love you, "
but remembering his VOW, he added
softly, "pity you'll"
ayes, you may pity me! Oh, auntie,
auntie! why did ever promise you to
come to this wretched placer" was her
wailing cry
Still holding her hand in his, and also
taking from her the candle, he turned
and led her down the long, steep stairs.
Only once did Ethel speak, then she
merely said:
@Sir Reginald will be very angry, II he
hears Of your entrance here! Must he
be told?"
II will think it over, and ltt you know
tomorrow. You must sleep tonight,
and SO recover from this nervousness.
=. They soon reached the bottom stair,
and entered the corridor.
Then Ethel remembered that her work
was but half done, and the rest could
not be accomplished until DR.. Elfenstein
had left her.
Turning to him, she said:
aWill you kindly tell me how you en-
tered this place? You must leave me
now, going silently as you came"
"Iwill. I came through the ruins. l
saw you open q door, and reach for a
basket, then instantly entered"
aBut surely, fastened it again?"
aYou were so agitated you forgot to
do it,. T certainly opened it, without
difficulty, and crept after you, eager to
solve the mystery Of the haunted tower,
which then, for the first time, began to
connect with your movements. But you
are weary now, so l will leave you, and
return as came"
Giving back the candle, he took her
hand and was just saying, "Good-night,
Miss Nevergail." when suddenly both
stopped short in their walk; both turned
deadly pale, as short, strange, load re-
port, close by their ears, startled and
confounded them.
Then, to their horror, something dart
ed toward them, a huge form swooped
past, 6ashing the candle to the ground,
thus extinguishing it, leaving them in
total darkness and gloom.
"Oh, what is it, what is it?" cried the
terrified girl, as she nestled close to her
companion, while he, scarcely realizing
what he did, threw his arms around her
form, to protect her from he knew not
what.
Suddenly, wild, unearthly laugh or
veil floated to them from the other end OF
the corridor, and as it passed, DR.. Elfen-
stein-pressed the girl he held closer to his
heart, and laid his cheek against her
frightened face.
SWhat can it be? Is it imp Or"
"Devil, guess" interrupted the Doc
tor. Then, gently raising her, he said:
aBut this will not do; must strike
light and see what this can be-"
Stooping to find the candle, another
eldritch-like wall came, this time as il
from the ruins, and with the first sound
Ethel darted toward the man beside her,
crying: =,
"oh, do not leave me! shall die, I
shall die!"
Gathering her once more in his arms,
the Doctor whispered:
81 will not. You are not so afraid now,
and thus, close to me, are you, dear?"
"No; not so fearfully afraid as was. 1"
Gently stroking her hair, the young
man felt, even in the terror inspired by
their dreadful position, feeling almost
of rapture steal over him as he held her
thus close in his arms, with hers clinging
to his waist
But, suddenly. calmer reflections came;
he felt this thing must be seen to; what
ever presence had been near him must
be discovered, and that he ought to fol-
low up the sound.
sChild!" he whispered, "whatcver has
been near US, know by that last cry,
has escaped into the ruins, through the
door by which 1 entered. That being
SO, must in duty carry you to a place
xhan eo,rob a ro,, tn c n hot