The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-02-24
Miss Marvale's Danger.

very wide open.
''You heard your own breath,
answered, negligently.
"You know, Dode, my room is the
last in this part of the house. Well,1
always thought it odd that the folks
should be SO stiff about til" south
wing, and | have kept nv "r", open
to what went on there. Lave found
out that there certainly Is some one
up stairs, whom they are keeping sly.
l have heard noises from the upper
floor, and have seen both Mr.. and
Miss Markham go up there. They
won't go if they see any one looking,
but l have seen them go. Then, yes
terday, when ] didn't come down to
breakfast, / heard after while n step
in the hall and rattle OF dishes, ms il
some one carrying tray had STUN
bled. l opened my door, thinking
that somebody was bringing me my
breakfast, and there was Miss Mnrk-
ham and the old hired man, jacob,
going toward the upper stairs, she
carrying waiter with breakfast and
he with coil of rope in his hand.
Bessie stopped in her low-voiced re-
cital and glanced appr extensively
about; but there was no one within
hearing. Miss Markham was off ht-
tending to household affairs. Mr..
Markham was out in the fields now
ing with his men, Miss Marvale was
sitting under tree in front of the
house, her arms thrown up over her
head as she leaned against the great
bole, her eyes half shut in some de-
licious summer reverie; Frank was
off trouting and Mr.. Afford was in his
room.
Bessie drew little nearer to me.
81 got up very early this morning"
she said. "lt was hardly light,
and must have been about three
o'clock. I felt nervous aud could not
sleep. All night / had been thinking
of who and what might be up in that
story, and had got myself into II per-
feet fever. l wanted to go to Clara's
room, but was afraid of disturbing
her. thought that l would try and
find out if she were asleep, and if not
1 might venture in. / opened my
door and looked out, aud, gluncing up
the hall, saw that the door at the foot
of the upper stairs was open. had be-
fore thought it was left open at night.
Well, frightened as | was, coullt
help creeping along up the hall toward
that door. trembled least some of
them should hear me as passed their
doors, but all was still. But as / came
near the stairs heard whisper from
the upper story. / stopped and lis
tened, for dnred not go stop nearer,
and l dared not at first retreat, 1t
seemed to be some one whispering to
himself, for there was only one voice,
and no answer. 1t was an awful whis-
per. sharp and as though the person
wanted to be heard nt distance, but
deep-toned, too. Aud, Dode, it said
as plain as plain could be, Il will kill
them! l will kill themr"
''Well, what did you do?" 1 asked
81 crept back to Clnra's chamber
and went in, Bessie said. "She was
awake, and l told her the whole story.
But you know Clara is cold, though
she is splendid. Her theory is that
We should never Try to find ont what
people try to keep from MS, unless it
IL more our business than theirs. So,
of course, she only cautioned me to
go no more beyond onr own hall, and
to try to think nothing Of the matter.
She was good, though, and let me lock
her door and get into bed with her.
and when she found that was really
shaking with fear she invented all sorts
OF plausible explanations to soothe
me. Clara is an angel; but the plain
fact is, Dode, am nfrnid."
l considered. really was little
impressed by Bessie's story. / had
noticed some trihing things which
made me think that our host and host
ess had trouble on their minds, though
did not doubt their honesty.
"What do you think, Dode?" Bessie
asked, after waiting a WHILE .
IL think l don't know anything
about the NATTER" 1 said. "Of
course We can't pry into their affairs.
The best thing to do is to keep quiet,
have as good time as we can aud
fssten ourselves into our rooms when