The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-19
CHAPTER XII.
A DREADFUL MISTAKE.


ccnded. tho brownstono steps and pulled
the bell This was the result of her re-
fcctions in the cold and dark She
would 500 this high bred acquaintance of
the mysterious mal, convince her Of the
urgcIicy Of the case, threaten her if need
be and learn from her if she could who
ard what he was.
1t was not without q conscious dread
and shrinking that she took the initia-
tive stop in this determined project. She
had been rather inclined to consider
herself as lacking in executive ability,
but no0o of us exactly know ourselves
until an emergency arises to test us.
After she had let go the handle which
summoned tho servant TO the door sho
was taken with fit Of trembling and
began to consider whothor she had bet
ter not run away whilo there was yet
time
Tho instant the servant appeared and
she had spoken to her, her courage re-
tuTGod, the trembling left her She could
not understand what had so frightened
her nmomont before. But the sentiment
which camo to tako tho place of the
dread and tho fear was soon changed
tom that OF bravery to surprise and be-
wilderneht AS the house seemed desti-
tuto Of a door plato, Miss Maxey had
made mp her mind to ask, like d peddler
or q boggar, for the lady Of tho house.
Her ring had been answered with sur
prising alacrity by maid in a white
cap, who now, hardly waiting for her to
open hor lips, said in q low voice:
"You want to SEQ my lady? Yes. She
is waiting for you. Como up. This
way"
Tho next momcnt the door closed be-
hind her, and Miss Marcy was in the
honse. Her heart was beating rapidly.
What did this mean? Had the woman
suspected her, watched her? Did she
know how she had followed her carriage
and had hidden undcr the steps of the
adjoining house till Mr.. Dyo had como
out? I5 seemed preposterous, but it must
b0 SO.
Come right with me-" said the maid
in tho samo low tone when she had
closed the door.
She began ut orco to ascend tho broad
richly caIpctcd staircase which led to
tho floor above Miss lIaxey, startled and
confused, followed. Having reached the
head Of tho flight, tho maid went along
tho spacious hall toward tho rear Of the
house and turned into d narrower pas
Gage running at right angles. Tho light
was dim. 1t was with difficulty that the
artists sister could see her way. The
maid knocked at 4 door. Immediately
there was q rustic within, followed by
tho sound Of q key turning in tho lock.
Tho door opened cautiously a little way,
ard . womGn's voice said:
''Ij it sha?"
"Ycs," the maid answered.
"Be quick, said the voice.
Tho maid laid her hand upon Miss
MaZey's shoulder, and in her easorloss
to enforce the order urged her, almost
pushed her, through the doorway. Miss
MaXoy suddenly found herself in glaro
Of light that dazzlcd her eyes. This fact
and the realization that tho door was
instantly closed and locked constituted
her first impressions. Immediately the
strong and TO hor tho sickenins smell of
ether choked her with its intensity, and
sho saw tho room and all that It con-
taincd.
It was q bodchambcr, expensive and
luxurious in all its appointments. Great
mirrors a costly dressing table, elegant
but sonsuous pictures, rugs that would
have been q wealth Of delight and
warmth to the fcot--nothingw was want
ing that IN cpicurean taste cOUld suggest
and money could purchase. But for all
that tho furniture was disarranged and
disordered as if some unwonted disturb
anco had lately occurred there. Tho bed
had been drawn ont into tho center Of
tho floor, Tho lace curtains with which
it had been surrounded wero torn from
their places and lay in a confused heap
on the floor. A tablo stood near tho bed.
Upon it wcro several sponges, bowl
containing water deeply tinged with
blood, achafing dish with rcdhot curl
ing iron apparently forgotten in it.
The sight Of this last instrument af-
focted Miss Maxey moro deeply than any
thing else. Despite tho powerful fumes
Of the ether sho thought she detected q
moro dreadful odor still, as of burning
flesh. On the bed, not in it, dressed in
olooso wrapper, which was still further
loosencd at the neck to give her all pos
siblo ease Of breathing, lay the pretty
young woman whom Miss Maxoy had
seen with tho elder in tho carriage, pale
now and loering about in silly, idiotic
way. Miss MaXGy knew instinctively
that sho was under the influence Of
ether. She was very scantily dressed and
had been covered with a sheet apparent
y, but in her convulsivo motions had
displaced it. Miss Maxey's frightened
glance fanoied she detected spots of
blood upon tho CLOTH
All this, not moro tho powerful total
than tho smallest detail of the scene,
rushed in upon Miss Maxoy's Mortified
sense with the suddennoss and tho pow
or Of thunderbo~T In those few mo-
monts she saw that which lifetime
will not offace.
Then she became aware that another
face, as pale and startled as her own,
was at her sidc, regarding her in speech
less CONSERVATION. Even before she
turned toward it sho knew that this face
was tho handsome, disdainful face that
had looked forth on the trembling Dye
from tho carriage. She realized this in
one instant. In tho next tho woman had
caught her by tho wrist had with eX-
cited roughloss pulled her about so that
she faced her, and demanded in voice
in which anger and fear seemed to be
sharply commingled:
"What do you mean? How dare you
come in hero?"