The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-23

premeditated one-or why had my door
been locked?
Alive to my helplessness, and recalling
for my comfort the parting assurance of
Miss Knollys that nothing which might oc-
cur would have any reference to myself. l
sat down in my clothes and waited with
mingled hope and dread for daybreak.
but had miscalculated my amount CT
nerve. l could not sit thus passively for
hours, and jumping up at last l pushed
my bed aside and laid my hand on the
knob of my door to see II the latter was
really fastened. found that 1t was. and
not knowing what 70 do with myself L
leaned against the Intel and listened.
counting my own heart beats and vaguely
hoping that somewhere in the house
clock would soon strike, telling me the
hour.
but no such relief came; on the con-
trary. the leaden moments went by with
out a sound to relieve them, and was be-
ginning TO query whether II would not he
better for me to avail myself of the
warmth OF my bed than to stand
any longer shiyering on the bare
floor when faint noise. the first l had
heard in some time. came from without.
and the stealthy football returned TO my
door, paused a moment. during which
held my breath and almost stopped my
hearts beating; then the key was again
mo again in communication with the
family.
my first instinct was to open the door,
call out to the person who was gliding off.
and ask what had happened But natural
timidity restrained me. and not till the
step had quite disappeared did L venture
to open the door and give one quick look
down the tunnel-like hall.
Darkness and darkness only met my
Ia4 hn of
what chat darkness inclosed. and the
phantoms Of dread and horror with which
nv room was peopled. / stood hating on
the threshold, when a sound OF distant
sobbing reached my ear. sounding so
pitifully in the dismal silence that, for
getting my own fears, forgetting the cause
I had 10 dread that stretch OF shut-up
rooms before me, I dashed lightly into
the darkness and sped. without thought
or reason, in the direction from which
these tokens of grief had seemed TO come
"Rut this strange house Is anything but
sfmpie in its construction. and before had
gone many steps I realized that | had
left the main hall and was lost in an
other and a smaller one. from which did
not know how 70 emerge in the
profouud darkness. The sobS had
ceased, so had nothing TO guide me. ana
a nrey once more TO the horrors of my
situation. I turned and fed back as fast
as a complete ignorance OF my where
abouts allowed. With one hand on the
wall at my side. I fastened on TIL came
To a turn. and taking 10 for the one had
Inadvertently made a few minutes before.
whirled 70 the right and Eroped on,
hr-eathless and painting TIL came 10 an
open door.
"As this was located Just where | had
expacted 20 find my own, | rushed In and
shut IL behind me: and stin cropping. found
the he'd which seemed long way from
the door 0onger than il had when |
sought II before), and was In the act OF
feeling for the pillow. when my hand
came in contact with something so dread
rul. so blood-curdling and unexpected,
that my lips opened in Mortified shrek.
which terror nevertheless stifed in my
throat
81 rad touched the clay-cold face OF
corpse.
HOW T found MY way OUT OF that room.
ard how 7 al last stumbled into my own.
&c Of small Importance. What l should
tell is that f1lst as I crossed my darkened
threshold 7 caught, far down the hall,
nasslng glimpse OF Lucetta carrying
iigh-ed candle in her hand. After that
sort view l remember nothing Yet
must have undressed myself and gone to
bes for when I woke IN the morning /
r.as ha,,gAen the sheets and the bed was
pushed back in it's place against the wall.
1T was a maid who woke me. had
ss.u this woman before. and had rather
uked her appearance. which was that OF
a s.ronv and kindly woman. She was
building the fire. when I opened my eyes.
ar-f the cheerful glow produced quite
grange effect upon me. The visions ~
ire night seemed TO recede. and for mo-
mont believed myself 70 have been mere
" the victim % horrible nightmare Her
s.ca as she turned towards me, added 20
this feeling. II was so frank and cheerful
"sAh. Miss Grant she cried Miss
Knolivs sends her love and hopes you have
naSsea a pleasant night
II was durfounded. Either her assur-
srca was great, or my Imagination had
,rSeats Waved me fearful trick. De-
ta,,-,ir Al 20 settle the matter az once,
t,cuirsd as lightly as I could what had
happened in the night 10 keep the family
ar 20 which she responded that Miss Lu-
cef4a had been ni "a paipable falsehood. Il
7 RAD really seen her passing down the
hau With a lighted candle in her hand),
aA.flus. as / showed surprise IN my man
Chamberiain's
Ca1fc- Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy.
Th;. i the best medicine in the world for
bowel complaints Ii acts quickly and can
-. l. .I..vsv,Isd rgysszl " hon reduced