The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-22
THE LATCH CLICK.

i
It was about dusk. Carl and Nora were
sitting by tho glowing fire, with bright,
happy faces talking of their prospects
when they distinctly heard the latch rise
and fall Nora turned pale and sank bach
in her chair faint and trembling
what ails you, darlingf" asked Carl
anxiously.
"Carl," she gasped, Ego 10 the door
see II there Is any one there-quick,
| quickp'
Carl FASTENED to comply. He searched
the hall, but there was nothing to be seen,
and he returned to her, saying:
There Is nothing there, dearest Did
| 1t frighten you
Before he could finish the sentence the
click Of tho latch was heard again.
Nora sprang to her feet and, with q
shrek, fell to the floor, swooning. Carl
soon brought the family to his aid and ex-
planned all that he knew of the cause of
her faintipg. When he told of the strange
clicking Of the door the father exclaimed
vehemently:
"What new danger now hangs over my
unfortunate house? What have done to
merit IT,"
The old man wept, while Rina and
Carl, with white, scared faces, attempted
to rouse Nora from her deathlike swoon,
and after time succeeded
"What Is 1t, Nora2" repeated Carl, who
was greatly mystifed at the unaccountable
behavior Of Nora and her father.
II can't tell you now. Come tomorrow
and will explain"
Carl bent and kissed her, and then he
went away.
"oh, father, what do you think 10
moans2''
II do not know, but something dreadful
is going to happen. We have never had
the warning without calamity. You
will hear 1t again." moaned the wretched
father. "You will hear IT again"
1t was miserable night for the father
and daughter, and morning found them
looking haggard and worn. The day pass
ed, and the fatal click was not heard again.
In the evening Carl came, impatient to
hear of the strange event.
Mr.. Rive began:
sit has been legend In our family for
ages and ages that when any one connected
with us was going to die or some accident
happen warning was invariably given by
the sign which you have heard. My grand
father heard 1t, and the next day he was
drowned. My elder brother was forewarned
in the same manner of his approaching dis
solution. In fact, from time fmmemorial
we have known Of near death by the click
ing of the latch"
"Mr. Rive, such superstitious stories
ought not TO be credited by an educated
gentleman like yourself, 4" exclaimed Carl.
lam net superstitious, but this I know
to be true 1t has never failed, and am
convinced that some terrible peril over
shadows Nora, and on her wedding day 1t
will appear. We know 1t, and I am re-
signed"
Carl was deeply impressed with the story,
though he strove to cheer the father and
divert his attention from the painful SUBJ
ject. He had distinctly heard the click
and knew that no visible person had made
it, for he had himself searched the premises
and found no trace Of any one. Mr.. Rive
attributed it to supernatural agencies and
was positive in his assertion that some
danger threatened Nora, and that the
warning would be fulfilled on her wedding
day.
The day dawned bright, and the we'd
ding was celebrated In the little chapel.
The breakfast eaten, the young couple
were ready to start. Friends remarked on
the paleness Of the lovely bride, but sup
posed 1T was due to excitement They did
not know Of the worm which was eating
her life away or with what terrible sus-
pense she waited for the click which she
know would come sooner or later.
The father stood by with clouded face,
for his thoughts were not Of the happy
scene around him, but Of the awful warn.
ing. He loved his Nora as father loves |
his only child, and to lose her, so young
and fair, was almost maddening to him.
He was convinced that she was doomed to
an early death, for that "click' meant |
nothing else.
What made the young wife suddenly |
SILVER and utter half suppressed shriekp
Alas, that fatal sound! After the first in |
voluntary cry she made no exclamation,
but stood, pale and calm.
At last the farewells were spoken, and |
the young couple were in the train speed
ing away from friends and home
Carl" said Nora, "the latch clicked
for the third and last time. Did you not
hear itp"
"No, dear, did not. You must have
been mistaken-at least, hope you were.
Cheer up. Try and forget this strange af-
lair was by your side, and if you had
heard that latch certainly, too, must have
heard it,
II cannot feel cheerful, she replied. "It
keeps sounding in my ears, and l know
that we shall meet with some terrible mis-
fortune"
Don't talk SO, Nora dear, and don't
Keep thinking Of evil presentiments. l
nave no faith in them Your ancestors
night have supposed such thing to be
The forerunner Of death, but you will be
pared to me, hope and trust, for many
1ears.
wait, )" said the firm voice of Nora And
hat one word, uttered in so stern a tone,
truck chill TO the husbands heart.
A shrek of the whistle terrible shock,
md Carl knew no more.
On coming to his senses he found him
elf on cot in little cabin and heard the
,roans of the sufferers around him. He
vas weak, and his arm ached violently.
Ie found himself unable to rise. His FIRST
words were:
''Nora Norar'
But Nora did not reply, and her fore
'oding came to him wildly A man an
wered his agonized cry by lifting him up
nd pointing to small figure lying mo-
ioDless on a couch. The face was ashy
ale, and blood trickled down from
Wound in her forehead.
"Dead!' he cried wildly as he foil back
York News
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