The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-25
THE LATCH CLICK.

It was about dusk. Carl and Nora were
sitting by the glowing fire. with bright,
happy faces, nlking of their prospects,
when they distinctly heard the latch rise
and fall Nora turned pale and sank back
in her chair faint and trembling
"What ails you, darlingf" asked Carl
anxiously.
"Carl." she gasped, Ego to the door
SOC If there Is any one there-quick,
eckW
Carl hastened to comply. He searched
he hall, but there was nothing to be SEEM
and he returned to her, saying:
"Thero Is nothing there, dearest. Did
1t brighten you
Before he could finish the sentence the
click of the latch was heard again.
Nora sprung 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 fainting When he told of the strange
clicking of the door the father exclaimed
| vehomently:
what new danger now hangs over my
unfortunate houseS What have I 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 a time succeeded
"what is it, Norap" repeated Carl who
was greatly mysti1ed at the unaccountable
behavior Of Nora and her father.
az can't tell you now. Come tomorrow
and l will explain"
Carl bent and kissed her, and then he
Went away.
ooh, father, what do you think it
meansp''
81 do not know, but something dreadful
is going to happen. We have never bad
tho warning without calamity. You
will hear 1t again" moaned the wretcbcd
father. "You will hear it again. ~
1t was miserable night for tine fathe'
and daughter, and morning found them
looking haggard and worn. The day PASS
ed, and tho fatal click was not heard again.
In the evening Carl came, impatient to
hear of tho strange event.
Mr.. Rive began:
ut has been a 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 it, 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 immemorial
we have known of near death by the click.
, ing of the latch. I"
"Mr. Rive, such superstitious stories
ought not 10 be credited by an educated
gentleman like yourself, " exclaimed Carl.
~ am not suporstitious, but this know
: to be true. 1t has never failed and l am
! convinced that some terrible peril over
shadows Nora, and on her wedding day ii
, will appear. We know it, and am re-
: signed
Carl was deeply impressed with the story
, though he strove to cheer the father and
divert his attention from the painful sub
ject. He had distinctly heard the cl!cb
and knew that no visible person had made
l It, for he had himself searched the premise:
8 and found no trace Of any one. Mr.. Rive
( attributed 1t to supernatural agencies ana
was positive in his assertion that some
danger threatened Nora, and that thu
warning would be fulfilled on her weddin;
day.
The day dawned bright, and the wed
T ding was celebrated in the little chapel
The breakfast eaten, The young coupi
Y were ready to start Friends remarked OF
{ the paleness of the lovely bride, but sup
posed it was duo to excitement. Thoy dit
not know of the worm which was eatinl
her life away or with what terrible sus
= pense she waited for the click which sh
knew would come sooner or later.
The father stood by with clouded face
Il for his thoughts were not of the happ.
r scene around him, but of the awful warn
s ing. He loved his Nora as father love
s his only child, and to lose her, so youn
and fair, was almost maddening to him
q He was convinced that she was doomed t
an early death, for that "click" mean
nothing else.
: What made the young wife suddonl
Il SILVER and utter a half suppressed shriel;
a Alas, that fatal sound! After the first In
:, voluntary cry she made no exclamation
@ but stood, pale and calm.
l. At last the farewells were spoken, an
q the young couple were in the train speed
> ing away from friends and home
y Carl" said Nora, "the latch clicke
for the third and last time. Did you nc
hear it?'
"No, dear, did not. You must hav
been mistaken-at least, hope you were
Cheer up. Try and forget this strange al
Is h,ir. l was by your side, and If you ha
n heard that latch l certainly, too, must hay
heard it. -
81 cannot feel cheerful she replied. 81
II keeps sounding in my ears, and l kno'
. that we shall meet with some terrible mil
IL fortune"
r Don't talk SO, Nora dear, and don
h keep thinking of evil presentments
II have no faith in them. Your ancestor
= might have supposed such thing to
= the forerunner of DEATH but you will |
:. spared to me, hope and trust for man
. years "
s. "Wait said the firm voice of Nora. An
that one word, uttered in SO stern IA tom
+ struck chill To the husbands heart.
4 A shrek of the whistle, a terrible shocl
3 and Carl knew no more.
a. On coming to his senses he found hin
n self on cot in little cabin and heard Il
. groans Of the sufferers around him. j
= was weak, and his arm ached Violent
= He found himself unable to rise. His fir
L words were:
g "Nora, Nora!'
l. But Nora did not reply, and her for
IL. 4 II