The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-09-26

to be neglected.
With a feeling of mysterious terror
upon her she sprang out of bed
struck a light, thrust her feet into Il
pair of slippers, wrapped herself in a
dr~essing-gown and descended he
stairs which led to Mr.. Medlicott's
room.
His chamber was upon the first floor
and since his illness he had slept with
his door upon the latch in ease he
should require assistance in the night,
for he would not have a nurse.
When she arrived at the door she
paused; all was quiet throughout the
house. 1t must have been Il dream.
But might it not have been Il warning
as we'll? Would ii not be best to call
up one of the servants or the Secre-
taryg
Yet to alarm the household without
D cause would be silly.
She had but 10 gently turn the han
die and peep in upon him; if he We're
awake he would be angry, but she
must brave that.
With trembling fingers she opened
the door. crept in, and, raising her
taper. looked toward the bed.
Mr.. Medlicott vas lying upon his
side. with his back toward her. and
apparently in a deep, calm slumber.
One glance sutticed TO reaSsure her,
and she at once hastily retreated.
In shutting the door the lock slipped
from her hand and in the deathlike ST.
lence awoke the echoes OF the house.
Very much veXed at the accident,
she was making her back to her bed
xIA., .,llarl,r t1n ln1y nnS-n
figure of the secretary stood before
her.
What is the matter?' he asked in n
hurried whisper. Il heard a noise.
What has brought you down, Miss
ROSamOnd?"
Flurried by the noise she had made
and feeling the StrangeneSS of her
position. trembling from head TO foot
with nervousness and the chill she
had experienced on leaving her warm
bed, Rosamond could only stammer
out that she thought she heard ONE
thing. and try to hurry past him, but
he barred her way.
Excuse me. Miss Rosamond." he
said, but l must have a witness to
your presence here at this hour"
His voice sounded strange and muf-
fed his lips seemed scarcely able
to frame the words. and his features
We're drawn and CHASTITY white.
Standing facing one another, with
the dim light of the tapers falling upon
their white. agitated visages, they
looked like two guilty creatures fresh
from the commission of some dreadful
crime, so like at times are guilt and
innocence.
Too overwhelmed with confusion to
comprehend the meaning of his words,
Rosamond made no reply.
He now turned and assembled the
stairs, and she followed until she
came to the landing upon which her
WI room was situated.
Twill you wait here q moment,
p~leaSe?" he said.
Mechanically she obeyed him, and
he sprang up TO the next landing, on
which the servants bedrooms were
situated, and knocked loudly at their
doors.
Dawson was the first TO awake. and
came out In a great state Of alarm.
"Mr. Dawson" said Luke. lust look
over the balusters and tell me whom
you see just below"
Dawson, h~alf-stupified by sleep and
fear, did as he was bid.
Good gracious. there is Miss Rosa
mond," he cried.
You recognize herr" said Luke,
make quite sure, let there be no mis-
take"
"Oh, l couldn't mistake Miss Rosa
mond,' answered Dawson, wondering
lN.
IL ft,rnaI % Dnen WOOD ..h1 ,ra,
still standing where he had left her.
Il will not detain you any longer,
Miss ROSamOnd.' he said. "GoOd-
night. You had better get to bed, or
you will take cold"
A marvellous change had come over
the mans manner; the humble, soft
spoken secretary had vanished, and
his manner was excited and masterful.
Finding her hesitate. he took her by
the hand, led her to her room door.
which stood open, gently thrust her
in, and closed it behind her.
Then he called out:
Dawson. put on some clothes and
come down with me to your masters
room. | am afraid something has hap
pened."
By this time the female servants
We're aroused, and. with scared and
terrified faces, had come out of their
rooms with petticoats huddled round
their shoulders.
You can remain where you are I'M
til you are called.' cried out the secre-
tary. peremptorily.
They afterwards remarked that the
nan seemed wild with excitement.
that his eyes stared and glittered upon
them like those Of some beast of prey.
What is the matter, Mr.. Aber-
shaw faltered the cook.
Il cannot tell" he answered, excit-
edly. II dare not think. We shall
soon know. Come Dawson; come,
Gomez
namSnn Shnaiod out of Tia Al