Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-06

| 20 one tiny and expiring spark. OedIn
| Is a sleuth hound that tracks down the
great and the small alike Barbara
! glanced fearfully around, as if she heard
| mis- breathing behind her-aS II the grls-
| " presence might be crouhlnS 1or inc
spring IN all the shadow OF the o'd ares
/ ser.
The bell had pealed out imperiOusly'
impatient;y. as the old lord was wont
20 ring it when his summons was not
answered oniths Instant Barbara start
I'd upright. her hair stirring and her
flesh creeping from fear. Could II be
the Young master who had found MS
way in unheard and unseen? Could ID
be the dead father who needed help?
Still the bell changed loudly.
With shaking fingers the brave old wo-
man lighted the candle and retraced the
dark messages. In the hall she took down
from It's nail Vivian Blackadder's sword
and approached the closed door of the
dining room.
From behind il came q noise like the
soft rustling Of skirts against the hoor
and the walls: then strange inarticulate
cry OF anger or Of terror. Barbara hesi-
tated for a moment. then turned the
abndle and pushed open the door. She
stood on the theshold with the light held
IN one hand in front OF her, and the
sword grasped in the other.
The room was in darkness, but across
the narrow space Illuminated from the
door there ioated noiselessly vague
black object on a level with her eyes.
Again the shapeless thing came and is
appeared. a third time il returned from
it's circuit but now it came swiftly to-
ward her. disclosing horrible white
face in which were two round and fam
ing eyes. that seemed to scintillate yellow
sparks.
The light was blown out. and Barbara
Rankin. still holding the blade pointing
az the intruder, fell with a crash on the
stone floor I'm a dead faint
Long after. she came to herself; she
was cold and stiff. and she crept to her
bed. where she lay trembling and wonder
ING until dawn.
Morning brings light and comfort. It
brought the explanation of the mystery
of the night. An owl had found its way
down the open chimney into the dining
room. one could see where the terrified
bird had chung desperately TO the eX-
posed bell wires.
Barbara stepped forth into the morning
air. and. making her way TO the spot
where the IIndeau burn breaks from UNI
der the cover of the wood, stood shading
her ewes with her wrinkled hand and gaz-
ing wistfully along the road that wound
down into the plain.
The first snow of winter had fallen. II
lay IN the hollows Of the wood In long
swathes. like winding sheets. which the
descending leaves had spotted as with
blood
With the stream floated pale and paint
ga argosies. and below the surface the
water was fun Of sodden and rotten leaves.
all on % downward voyage. Nature was
v.sibly dying from age and exhausted
energies.
out of the mist. making his way to-
ward the house of Lindean. emerged q
man on horseback. A flush of JOY came
into Barbara's withered check. and she
made several swift steps towards the
/ house.
She stopped to look again. and light
faded from her eyes and color from her
face. This was not the riding of a Black
| adder OF Linden. The men Of that blood
rode with straight back and free rein,
whether they were following their king
20 battle or hunting the kings subjects on
! the MOSES of the Lammermuirs.
Barbara waited rs If frozen to the
ground until the horseman came up. He
was a messenger from the nearest vii
| lage. and he held out 10 her a letter. It
was addressed 70 her. and she opened IL
mechanically and looked at the writing
/ within.
It was a telegram from the neighboring
/ marke, town. and It told in its summary
/ way that Lord Lirdean was on his way TO
/ his own house-dead He had come so
/ far on the previous day intending 20 ride
\ home the same night. But. changing his
mind. he had gone 10 his bedroom in the
\ inn.
He had his gun case with him. and the
piece may have exploded by accident in
] his hands; or-heaven only knows, a
: shot was heard. and he was found with
/ his brains spattered on the floor.
/ How much Of the message old Barbara
/ comprehended no one may say. She knew
, that the last prop of the house of Lindean
I had fallen. and her heart stood still for
I ever
She sank to earth with the letter
/ clenched in her grasp and the dead leaves
doated down on her white head. There
was none 20 receive the last word Of lin
dean.-Blacl and White.