Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-02-10

| then returned and went away again.
She was yelled and cIoaked so that |
| could not see her face"
An instant conviction came to me that
1t was Miss Van Lew who had played
ghost, but did not betray her to Elsie.
l said with bitter chagrin:
81 am ashamed to think that / was so
easily made the dupe of designing wo-
wan, but my nerves are stronger from
my rest last night, and shall go back
TO the cave tonight and give my lady
ghost welcome when she appears.
"Oh, Max, l am frightened at that
strange woman! Do not go back into
the cave again, l implore you," cried
my darling in tears.
But l would not allow her to dissuade
me from my purpose, and that night l
went again into the cave, and resumed my
search, glancing about from time TO
time for the temperance OF the un-
earthly vistant
All was silent as the grave for
awhile, and presently began to think
that she had given up the game.
turned TO retrace my steps, and the
next moment l recoied in momeutary
diSmay.
1 was suddenly confronted by the
same hideous apparltion OF the former
night-a tall, sheeted figure cleaning
i n pale green light "a chemical illu-
sion) and breathing flame from mouth
and nostrils, while a sepulchral voice
mnttered ghostly maledictions.
1t was certainly a clever get-up,
enough 10 make nervous persons hair
J stand on end, but though startled by
the suddenness of my enemy's appear
! ance, | did not this time lose my pres
ence of mind.
But pretending a terror I did not
/ feel, / cried out in alarm, and embol-
I dened the ghost 20 press nearer to me-
with menacing gestures and sounds.
This gave me the opportunity I
wished, and with sudden
dart forward, enclosed tho
| CHASTITY figure in the tight grip Of two
| stalwart arms.
There was q loud shrek of fear and
dismay, aud woman's rounded form
struggled wildly In my clasp, biting,
/ kicking, tearing to get free.
But her puny strength was no match
/ for mine. l held her fast, tearing the
fimsy coverings from her head and
face.
By the light of my lantern on the
floor she stood revealed in all her angry
beauty, her face death white, her eyes
blszing-Miss Van Lew!
Release me-" she cried, angrily, but
held her fast.
Not till you explain this masQuer-
I ade, 1 answered firmly.
/ Sac began 10 sob ia wild alarm:
Tit was only practical joke.
beg your pardon. Mr.. Wentworth. Now
let me GO"
She struggled fearfully, but did not
relax my iron grasp on her white
/ wrists.
This freak has deeper meaning than
/ a joke" | said, sternly. Now confess
the whole truth. Why did you at
tempt this infamous thing?"
she was stubborn, and muttered:
~ will confess nothingm
VERY wall. shall blazon the affair
abroad to morrow" l returned cody,
she cried out in terror, all her defiance
melting in deadly fear.
"Oh, for Gods sake, Max Went
worth, do not betray me, and will con-
Tess my tfue reason"
Il will keep your secret. Now, go
on"
With a sulen toss of her proud head,
she Kissed:
81 did not want you 10 find the Tory's
treasure 10 enrich that hateful little
rustic"
Then it was you who sent my little
Elsie that anonymous letter-for
shame, Miss Van Levi" l cried, indig-
nantly.
Eyes, sent it. I hate the girl;
I wish she were dead" she
stormed, hystericslly.
Elsie has never harmed you" | eX-
posUuated, aud Miss Van Lew burst out,
pAssionagely:
She stole your heart from me Max
But for her you would have loved and
married me. Oh, how bitterly l hate
her, the little, low-born beggar, nur-
tured in cabin that my servants
would disd&in to occupy"
Wrenching herself from the loosened
grasp in watch held her, she fell
upon the damp ground, writing and
groyelling in fury OF blended wrath
/ and despair. The situation was most
embarrassing.
STILL crouching on the ground her
| fierce rage began to melt in stormy
tears. Suddenly she extended her jew
eled hands to me beseechingly:
at is my love for you that makes
me Jealous OF her" she cried, wildly,
"Oh, have pity on me, Max
! give me your love ard they will make
me good, noble woman. On,
think what splendid life you
would have, rich, prosperous, beloved
by beautiful high-born wife" All,
/ Max, for your own dear sake, do not
! let thas wretched girl drag you down TO
poverty and sorrow. Turn from this
mad infatuation, and come back 10
mew
While I gazed at her in panied sur
| prise she read on:
You are engaged ia a hopeless
quest for this hidden treasure. | be-
! lieve that someone else has found and
carried 1t of long ago. Yet you are
wrecking your health, prowling about
! this damp, noisOme cave every night,
when a fortune greater than that you
seek. lies in my hand awaiting your
acceptancel Oh, blind fool, TO sacri-
iice all that is best a life for pair OF
/ blue eyes,
cease. for your own sake!" I urged,
frantIcally "Do not forget your
womanhood Ike this. Do you believe
me so mercenary That l could marry
Won while my heart belonged
10 another woman? That would
( be cruel injustice TO you,
for your beauty ought to win you
true hearth
She rose to her feet her superb eyes
/ flashing through Burning tears.
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