People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-03-07
THE P0RqEN?.
A StoY of the inner Vision Of the
HighIanders, Commonly Called
the Second Sight.
By GEORGE MACDONALD.
CHAPTER VI.-(Continued)

OdAf IEfI Nl.-(COullnueu.)
"What right had you to be there?"
II heard a cry and could not help
going"
""Tis impossible l see. Some
wretch told you, and you watched for
me-"
Il did not, Lady Alice"
She burst into tears and fell back on
the couch, with her face turned away.
Then, anger reviving, she went on
through her sObs:
"Why did you not leave me where l
fell? You had done enough to hurt me
without bringing me here"
And again she fell a-weeping.
Now l found words.
LADY Alice" l said, show could l
leave you lying in the moonlight? Be
fore the sun rose the terrible moon
might have distorted your beautiful
face"
"Be silent, sir. What have you to do
with my face?"
"And the wind, Lady Alice, was
blowing through the corridor windows,
keen and cold as the moonlight How
could leave yOu?"
"YOu could have called for help"
Forgive me, Lady Alice, if l erred
in thinking you would raher command
the silence Of a gentleman to whom an
accident had revealed your secret, than
to have been exposed to the dOmesucs
who would have gathered round us"
Again she half raised herself, and
again her eyes flashed.
"a secret with you, sir?'
"But, besides, Lady Alice" | cried,
Springing to my feet in distress at her
hardness, Il heard the horse with the
clanking shoe, and in terror, l caught
you up, and fled with you, almost be-
fore | knew what l did. And | hear
it nOW-hear it now" l cried, as once
more the OminOuS sound rang through
my brain.
The angry glow faded from her face,
and its paleneSS grew almost CHASTITY
with dismay.
do you hear it," she said, throwing
back her covering, and rising from the
couch. 81 do not"
She stood listening with distended
eyes, as if they were the gates by
Shich such sounds entered.
81 did not hear it." she said again,
sitter pause. 1T must be gone now"
Then, turning to me, she laid her hand
on my arm, and looked at me. Her
black hair, disOrdered and entangled,
wandered all over her white dress to
to her knees. Her face was paler than
ever; and her eyes were so wide open
that l could see the white all around
the dark iris.
did you hear it," she said. mo
one ever heard it before but me.
must forgive yOu-yOu could not help
it. will trust you, too. Take me to
my ROOM"
Without a word Of reply 1 wrapped
my plaid about her. Then, bethinking
me of my chamber candle, l lighted
it, and opening the two doors, led her
out OF the room.
''HOw is this" she asked "Why do
you take me this way? l do not know
the place"
'This is the way brought you in,
Lady Alice" l answered. l know no
other way to the spot where l found
you. And l can guide you no further
than there-hardly even so far, for
CROPPED my way there for the first time
this night or morning whichever Il
may be-"
at is past midnight, but not morning
yet" she replied. 81 always know.
But there must be another way from
your room"
"YeS, of course, but we would have
to pass the hOusekeeper'S dOor-she is
always late"
"Are we near her room? l should
know my way from there. l fear ii
would not surprise any of the house
hold to see me. They would Say-It
is only Lady Alice Yet l can not tell
you how l shrink from being seen. No
4 will try the way you brought me
If you do not mind going back with
me-"
This conversation passed in low
tone and hurried words. 1t was
scarcely over before we found our
selves at the foot of the staircase. Lady
Alice shivered, and drew the plaid
close round her.. We assembled, and
soon found the corridor; but when we
got through it, she was rather bewil-
dered. At length, after looking into
several of the rooms, empty all, except
for stray articles of furniture, she ex-
claimed, as she entered one, and, tax
ing the candle from my hand, held it
above her head:
"Ah, yes am right at last. This is
the haunted room. | know my way
now"
l caught a darkling glimpse of a
large room, apparently quite furnished:
how. except from the general feeling
of antiquity and muStiness, could not
tell.
At the door of this room she said: 4
must leave you here. l will put down
the light a little further on, and you
can come for it. l owe you many
thanks. You will not be afraid of be-
ing left so near the haunted room?
assured her that at present l felt
strong enough to meet all the ghosts
in or out of Hades Turning. she
smiled sad, sweet smile, and then
went on a few PAGES, and disappeared.
The light, however, remained; and l
found the candle, with my plaid, de-
..o-s4oI nt tho foot Of q chn.4 a:-i.I