The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-12-04
THE GHO$TLY SINGER.
BY ALICE E. IVES.

| ly fortunate to have her here to look
after things" he said.
Eleanor didn't agree with him, but
concluded that silence in this case
was wisdom.
"Mr. Burrows will take room, too,
so there will be the added protection
of man in the house," added Mr..
Masters.
Mr.. Berkeley Burrows was a nephew
of Mrs. Verlance; he had been intro
duced to the Masters family by his
aunt. Eleanor felt something of the
same aversion for him that she did for
Mrs. Verlance; but the Reverend
Masters considered him a young gen.
tleman Of great promise. Besides, he
had large expectations" as that gen.
tleman phrased it, and such things are
not to be looked upon as drawbacks in
a son-in-law.
No communication being allowed
between the young man in the front
window of the bank and the young
woman next door, Mr.. Jack Shelby
went off on his vacation without hay
ing had an opportunity to inform Miss
Masters Of the fact.
Shortly after he left she sailed for
Europe, having cast longing glance
into the front window as she entered
the carriage which was to convey her
to the pier. The glance met no re-
Spouse, and she was both piqued and
grieved, but gave no sign.
Mrs. Verlance came into possession;
and the bank clerk returned from his
vacation. His weary eyes watching
for Eleanor's fitting to and fro were
greeted only with the apparition Of a
rather stout blonde woman handsome
ly arrayed, and not disposed to look
his way.
He concluded she was visitor of
the Masters; and that perhaps Eleanor
was away for week Or two. He knew
nothing Of the departure of the family
for Europe.
One evening about half-past six, as
he was going to dinner, he discovered
that he had left in the bank two thea.
ire tickets, which he wished to use
that night. He turned back, wonder.
ing if he would be able to get in to find
them.
The deaf old janitor was just finish.
ing up his work; but he had some
trouble in attracting his attention, the
night Waterman not having yet come
on duty. He finally succeeded, and
the old fellow SGT down in a corner to
wait for him, and dozed of.
How quiet it was! The street traffic
and roll Of teams had, ceased, and for
the'frst time Shelby Heard the tick d
j tie clock on the wall. He had never
Il beenSin the bank before so late. This
strange silence made him feel aa
though he sat with the ghost of the
busting, noisy business place whose
features heknew so we'll. It was some
thing dreamlike and unreal.
The strangeness of it all seemed to
produce q peculiar impression upon
him. He felt that could he sufficient
ly master the occult forces of nature,
that in this great, quiet place, and so
near her home, he might make the
girl he loved feel his presence.
The silence became more profound
Suddenly he heard low, musical
sound. He could not tell from
whence it came. It seemed almost
under his feet. AS he listened it be-
came more distinct. There was O
strain very like q well-known air from
"Trovatore.
| Next he heard name which made
his heart beat fast.
20 Eleanora," sounded the soft,
mysterious voice, instead Of the
familiar words 30 Leonora" in the
opera.
Then it died out, and he heard no
more.
| The young man seemed under a
spell. For a moment or two he could
not move. When he had sufficiently
recovered himself, he started up and
opened all the doors into the various
apartments and corridors, trying to &C.
count for the mystic voice.
The more he searched the more he
became assured that the sound had
some occult significance, and came
either from the woman he loved, or
from some spirit who wished to warn
him Of peril to her.
AS he closed the door leading from
the president'sroom the sleepy janitor
awakened with start. He eyed Shelby
suspiciously.
"Was ye wantin' anything in there,
sir?" he asked gruffly.
"No; I simply opened the door be-
cause I heard strange sound. Do
you ever hear strange sounds about
here?" he asked.
'Don't hear nothin'," answered the
deaf servitor, crustily, and Shelby
took himself off.
The next day he thought of nothing
| jN,4 Tho l.