The state herald., 1897-05-14

profligate." The voice reverberated
through the room. The walls echoed
back "ProAigate," and his own lips
under his breath, Mary Clifford" and
the sound was as water to thirsty
man. THE pure love that she alone
was able to wake in you. and that still
lives in your heart, though you stiile
1t under the clogging weeds of gross
passions, has kept burning the flame of
your spiritual life" lie leaned for
ward. Another woman here would
stiiie it this time forever, and would
kill her you have wroHged; but" he
ended with shrug, you will die to-
night"
Rali sat still long time. trying to
| guess how knowledge of tho details of
his own life had reached his compan-
| ion. Was this mad philosopher a
| friend of hers? And even so, how had
he OWNED that she still held the great
er place in his heart, though he had
been wantonly falthless to her? Would
she mind were he in truth to die? Had
he any right to hope even that she
should? Would she care? he said.
Your hour is passed"
Ralf started and turned pale to the
| lips. He saw his visitors aspect had
changed: he had become a phantom
creature with living face. terrible,
awful human physiognomy stared at
him with preposterous. hideous hxity,
He writhed and wresteled. but the eyes
deiled his movements, he could not
look away: all the nerves of his body.
the consciousness Of his mind, the very
vitality OF his system, were absorbed
| by paralyZing fear. Time brought no
relaxation, every moment seemed an
eternity. PITY! PITY! he cried. but
the gray eyes watched him. Help!
help, help!" The impotent words
echoed back on his hearing. His voice
was a whisper He tried to listen for
the sound of footsteps he knew would
not come, then again, struggled with
superhuman effort to release himself
from the power of the phantom figure.
the ghastly face-and the eyes,--the
eyes that watched without mercy! But
|
his wearied frame. He sank on the
ground, clutching at the rug with dis
tended fingers. Mary" he murmured,
and the eyes still stared.
|
Susan Swift felt herself awakened by
a hand on her shoulder. Recollection
of the haunted room kept her listening
to the throbbing of her own heart, with
eyes firmly closed. II was a moment
which necessitated the staring OF real
live apparition In the face. She did
so, however, at last, and behold moth
ing more frightening than Mary Cliff
ford; pale, indeed, as a ghost. and her
great eyes wide open as if 1t were not
the middle OF the night and time for
reasonable beings at least to feel
drowsy.
Get up. Miss Switch! quick.
quick"
is it a nrc?" said Susan. sitting up
suddenly.
moi" said the girl. You must come
with me to Mr.. Scgwell's rooml"
The American was fairly aghast. 81
think not" she said. deliberately Miss
clifford, you must he considerably
scared about something. but nothing
could justify such a prepostcrous no.
ton"
A look OF despair crept Into the girls
face. She turned away. II thought
you, being an American. would be
brave and kind. thought l could trust
you but | must go alone"
And In a moment she was Mt the door.
Susan leapcd from her bed She
didn't see why an American should be
expected not to mind prowllng about
Ia the middle OF the night In mans
bedroom. but she knew she wasn't go
Ing to let Mary Clifford 30 alone. any
how. As to feeling brave-shc simply
felt terrified! They stole together
along the gallery. down winding
staircase. and thence through an inter
minable corridor. Susan Swift began
to feel very miserable sensation Of
fear was growing over her. when sud
denly they both stopped each affected
by some unaccountable emotion. Mary
turned round and said gently. You are
not airald?"
rs there anything about me that
looks nfaid?" the American answered.
her heart In her mouth. Then they
went on through a great swing door
which seemed to cut them OF from the
habitable part OF the house Neither
had ever been there before. yet Mary
hGstoned as one who knew the way by
instinct. Al last they stood stlll. a
sense of imminent calamity oycrpow-
cred them both, then In moment Mary
Clifford opened a door. A keen draught
eNtIngulshed her candle as the two
entered the room. a door opposite
them inside was open. and on the floor
In food Of light lay the body Of Ralf
SoFwoll.
Tho unhappy glrl knolt down and
chnfod the dead hands. "Rnlf. Rnlfl
como backl" size cried. dcspalrlngly,
Anything. anything. only come back'"
Then the click Of turning lock VI
brhted through the room. The door
that led nowhere had closcd.-Franees
Forbes Robertson In Westminster Bud
get.