Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-02-16
The Haunted Chamber.
by THE DUCHESS"
duttor ~ 'Monicn," "Mona ScnilN,"
''rhyiiiz," etc, etc.
CHATTER /.

calm or coming nlgilJ are DNer EVERY
thing. The Shadowy twilight lies soft
~ oy sleeping flowers and swaying
boughs. on quiet foumtains-thc marble
basins Of which CLEAN snow-white in
the uncertain light-On the glimpse of
the distant ocean seen through the
giant elms. \ floating mist hangs III
the still warm air. making heaven and
earth mingle in one sweet confusion.
The ivy creeping mp the ancient walls
Of the castle il atling and whispering
as the evening pTerZc sweeps Oyer ii.
High up the tendrils climb, past null
lioned windows and quaint devices,
until they reach even to the old tower.
and Irvine lovingly round it. and push
through the long %apertures in the ma
sorry of the walls Of fine haunted cham
Der.
Ii is here that the shadows east their
heaviest gloom. All this corner of the
old tower is wrapped in darkness. as
though To obscure the scene of terrible
crimes of past centuries.
Ghosts of dead-and-gone lords and
ladies seem 10 peer out mySteriOuSly
from the openings of this quaint cham
Der. wherein no servant. male or fe-
male, of the castle has yer yet been
known to set foot. 1t is full of dire
horrors TO them, and replete with le-
gends of by-gone days and grew some
sights CHASTITY enough to make the
stoutest heart quail.
Ia the DAYS OF the Stuarts an old earl
had hanged himself in that DOM. rath-
er than face the world with dishonor
attached 10 his name: and earlier still a
beauteou3 dame, fair but frail. had
been incarcerated there. and slowly
starved to death by her relentless lord.
There was eve IN the last century a
barOnet-the carldom has been lost to
the Dynecourts during the Common
wealth-whO having quarreled with his
friend over a reigning belle, had smit-
ten him across the cheek with his
glove. and then challenged him to NOR
tai combat. The duel had been fought
in the luckless chamber, and had only
ended with the death Of both combat
ants; the blood stains upon the flooring
were large and deep. and To this day
the boards bear silent witness TO the
s%anguinary character of that secret
fight.
Just now. standing outside the castle
in the warmth and SOftness Of the dy-
ing daylight, n "a hardly think of
by-gone horrors, or aught that is sad
and sinful.
There is AN air of hustle and expect
anew within-dOOrS that betokens COM
ing guests: the servants are moving TO
and fro noiselessly but buSily. and now
and then the stately h~ousekeeper pass
es from room 10 y uttering COM
mandS and injunctionS To the maids rs
she goes. No less occupied and anX-
ious is the butler. as he surveys the
work of the footmen. II IS 50 long
since the old place has had a resident
80 49, 40 .,a.l l-.,gn..s Gin LiV..A
guests have been invited to it. that the
household are more than ordinarily eX-
cited al the change now about To take
place.
sir Adrian D%ynecourt, after "A pro-
longed tour ON the Continent and lin
gering visits TO the East. has at last
come home with the ayowed intention
of becoming astaid country gentleman.
and Of settling down to the cultivation
of turnips. the breeding Of prize oxen,
and the determination 10 be the NJ. r.
III. when old Lord Dartrec shall have
fulfilled his declared intention of retir-
ing in his favor. He is "A tall young
man. 1.-the and active. His skin, though
naturally fair. is bronZed by foreign
travel. His hair is a light brown. cut
very close To his head. His eyes are
large. clear. and honest, and of a pecu-
liar dark violet: they are beautiful eyes,
winning and sweet. and steady in their
glance. His mouth, shaded by a droop-
lug fair mustache, is large and firm,
yet very prone 10 laughter.
1t is quite the end of the London sea-
son, and Sir Adrian has hurried down
from town to give directions for the
reception of some people whom he had
invited to stay with him during the
g1aughtpr IF the partritQpS.
Now all is complete, and the last
train from London being due half an
hour ago Sir Adrian is standing on the
steps of his hall-door a~nXiously await
ing some of his guests.
There is even a touch of genuine i'm
patience in his manner, which could
hardly be attributed to the ordinary
longing of a young man TO see a few OF
his friends. Sir Adrian's anxiety is
open and undisguised, and there is
little frown upon his brow. Presently
his face brightens as he hears the roll
of carriage-wheels. When the carriage
turns the corner of the drive, and the
horses are pulled up at the hall door,
Sir Adrian sees a fair face at the Win
dow that puts 10 flight all the fears he
has been harboring for the last hall
hour.
"You have Gomez" he says delighted
", running down the steps and opening
the carriage door himself. Il am SO
glad! | began to think the train ran
away from you, or that the horses
had boIted."
"Such Il journey as il has been." ex-
claims a voice not belonging to the face
that had looked from the carriage ut
Sir Adrian. 1T has been tiresome to
the last degree. | really don't know
when felt SO fatigued.'
A little woman, small and fair, steps
languidly to the ground as she says this,
and glances pathetically at her host.
She is beautifully got up" both IN
dress and complexion, and at "a first
glance appears almost girlish. Laying
her hand in Sir Adrian's she let it rest
there, as though glad to be AT her jour
ney's end, conveying ut the same time
by IA gentle pressure of her taper fin.
gers the fact that she is even more glad
that the end of her journey has brought
her to him. She looks up ut him with
with a bewildercd expression in her
pretty blue eyes that adds to the charm
of her face.
ITS an awful distance from town."
saws Sir Adrian, as ii apol0gizing for
the spot OH which his grand old castle
has been built. And ii was more than
good of you to ONE to me. l can only
try to make up to you for the discom-
fort you have experienced to-day by
throwing all possible chances of amuse-
ment in your way whilst you stay
here"
BY this time She had withdrawn her
hand. and so he il r To go up to his
other guest and bid her welcome. lie
SAYS nothing To her strange to say, but
il is his hand that seeks to retain hers
this time. and il is his eyes that look
longingly into the face before him.
You are tired. too?' he says nj
length. Some into the house and rest
awhile before dinner. You will like Ia
go to your room at once, perhaps!' he
adds, turning tn his two visitors.
Thank yoli-yes. III You will have
our tea sent upstairs" replies Mrs,
Talbot plaintively, III will be such q
comfort she always speaks i'm u some-
what pouting tone, and with heavy
emphasis. -. :,
rian. There's nothing like champagne
as a pick-me-up. I'll send you tea also;
but, take my advice, and try the cham'
payne
sOh, thank YOU. / shall so much pre-
fer my teal Mrs. Talbot declares. with
"a graceful little shrug of her shoulders,
at which her friend Miss Delmaine
laughs aloud.
IL accept your advice, Sir Adrian
abe saws. casting "A mischioyOuS glance