West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-05-09


come as l trod the massive stone
steps. Did she still love mop
L entered the hall. and saw her com
ing toward me, hut not with tho glad
bound OF former days Her voice had
dreary cadence I'm it and even I'm
that dim light l could see the outline
OF her face had sh0rpcncd, and. with
the exception OF the lips, was color
less. she let her hand lay pnssiVcly
In mine. and my kiss. fanciod. was
returned with "a conVulsiVe shivcr.
Edna, YOU have ceased TO care for
mcY"
She sat quite stln and made no re-
ply.
EDNA, YOU have only TO say YOU do
not love me, and l viii relieve YOU OF
my presence Immediately. Had
known there would have been no well
come for me from your lips. 1 should
not have Vontured hithcr."
The eyes were still downcast. Slow
iy fow tears dropped on my hand
which was claspng hers.
You do love mel" l cried. trium-
phontly and drew the fair head down
on my shoulder
mo, / cannot say It," she muir
INJURED. For two days / have been
studying the lesson; have been
schooling myself TO be cold and ro-
served toward you. but cannot 80
belle my own heart. 1 do love YOU,
clifford"
~ length she raised her face from
It's dangerous noarncss TO mime and
sat upright; no longer cold. but tender
and flushed. But by degrees sor-
rowful light stole into Il. something
that made one sad TO see.
20 Clifford. lf you had not comet
IL will be so much harder 20 part
now
4" There is some mystery here" be-
gan. why do YOU not wish to marry
me, when you confess you love me?"
II cannot leave my father lie ia Gar
from being well. and has some secret
trouble. What II he should die sud
denly alone. here in this gloomy
placc?" md she shivcrcd
'1Iow curious" / said "lIRs your
father given up socicty2 Io used 60
be so fond OF IT,"
"PlcRse don't laugh at me" aho be-
began dcprccoungly. ~ think sotno-
times, the house ia haunted or that
my father lg affected with a singular
malady. lie has changed SO much"
well. have you seen tho ghost2"
mo; yet l am not sure but that
have heard IT, There are noises ana
sounds II seems impossible TO account
hpis NhH ob lilEilAflltu hllftt una 80
sure they came from the chapel. that
i told father. He took me all through
IL. There was nothing unnatural or
supernatural. go far as I could see"
Was your father really III that sum
mer2"
''IIe says not He cannot bear to
hear II spoten OF, though"
Possibly he might have had somo
sort OF an attack that affects his mind.
But, as he says. 81 Is killing YOU" and
/ clasped the dear form that tremblod
80.
THAT Is what l nm afraid Of" she
snid. slowly Another might pros
trate him entirely / cannot leave him.
Now you know why 1 was not willing
you should be sent for"
When we retired Il was quite late
She lighted me to my room. and hoped
In pretty, shy way, / would slcep
well 1t did me good TO see her face so
radiant. and l gayly told her To So nd
the ghost TO me, If she heard Il; that
was dcSirou5 OF making its acquaint-
ancc.
Being n lover I own 7 should have
remained awake i'm fond vigil. / am
ashamed TO say feel asleep but some
time In the night started. and found
my self sitting up in bed. The window
near me was open, the night cloudy
Something struck my ear quite diff
fercnt from the hum OF insects
spraDB 10 the window and leaned out.
could have sworn that In the dlrec-
tion OF the chapel / heard n human
voice chanting THE MarseiIlalse" No
words reached mo. only the stirring
infections Of the tune. 1t wns faint
and smothercd. 1 had 10 listen with
every sense stretched 20 its utmost
lfnqign I
step at my door. UnaccountabIy
enough. had not bolted it. / opened
IL noiscleHBly and peeped out. There
wos faint light at the end Of the
hall, and n figure going down the
stairway. / knew by the bent head Il
was Rothelan.
remembered seeing in the ward.
robe where I hung my cont n long
black camlct cloak. Hastily snntch-
Ing this and putting on my Ilst Slip
pers, ] stole through the hall down
the stairs, through the winding pas
snges, Keeping far enough behind him
30 elude his sight 81 he should turn the
lantern suddenly. I saw him pause at
the chapel door and take survey
Of the last hall. Then he waited in
terminably. j thought, but finally un-
locked the door, took the key out. on
tered, and relocked it on the inside
I went down and listened. There was
certainly sound. ~ ftfuI. qucrtilous
voice. now high, now low; but whether
70 was Mr. Rothelan or another person
or dog, ] could not tell Fearful at
length Of being discovered. / tried 10
grope my way back.
This was no easy task 90 stranger
= followed the wall until 7 felt certain
/ had gone all around Elk times az
least, before I found the stairway.
Then an agony Of fear seized mo
I Suppose I should enter tire wronf,
roOmY ] knew mine must bo nearly
OF the end Of the hail. 20 went
along, tried two doors that were
boited md came 90 one standing aiar.
4 did not feel satisfied until 4 had ex-
amined nearly every article OF furnl-
Cure. ana found my boots and travel
in~ bag.
There was no further adventure that
night neither any sleep for me.
ransaokad ms brains Tor af lhc sin
gular stories that had ever found
Judgement there and last 0f an Jane
Eyrr's ghost fitted across rrv mental
vision fu an instant the fabric roso
complete. Do was evident to- me ftat
there waa some one confined iI the
chapel Mr. Hotholau might have
formed some dlacrc3itabla connection
that refused 90 be- shook on at tiq
pleasure. shc SO was "a woman ~
L