Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-17
CHAPTER XXI.

| CHAPTER XXI.
We must return to AStrea and take
up her history from the moment at
which, attended by her French maid,
she entered her bridal chamber. She
laid off her elegant evening dress and
threw on graceful robe-de-cnambre Of
white India muslin. seated herself in
the easy chair and took the little Bible
from the toilet table to read chapter,
as was her invariable custom before Of
fering up her evening prayers.
evil madame require anything
more?" asked Fitiine. as she arranged
the footstool under her mistress feet.
Nothing; you may retire; will ring
when I want you in the morning" an
swered Astrea.
Goodnight. madame" said the girl
curtsying.
Good Knight" kindly replied the lady
| The Frenchwoman retired, and the
bride was left alone.
| Why did Astrea replace the unopened
Bible upon the dressing table. rest her
! elbow upon the arm of her chair and
bow her beautiful head upon the palm
of her hand. while sigh after sigh broke
from her bosom?
| She had every means and appliance
of enjoyment at her command. She
was blessed with youth. health and
wealth: with beauty, genius and good
ness; she had realized the one bliSsful
dream of her girlhood's life: she loved
and was beloved; she was happy
wife.
Why, then, when left alone for a few
moments, did profound signs burst
from her bosom, as though it We're
overcharged with woe?
WHO can tell? For why does the
young bird, secure in it's little nest. yet
shudder at the passing shadow of Il
hawks wing? A deep gloom, like the
shade cast by the pinions Of descend
| ing demon, settled heavily upon the
young brides soul. In vain she tried
TO cast it off. In vain she called up all
the dark scenes of her past life to COM
pare them with the brightness OF the
present. and to assure herself how
great cause she now had for graft
tude and joy. In vain! for the dark
shadow would not depart.
At length. however. with bound of
relief from the wierd nightmare, she
heard Colonel Greville ascending the
stairs. enter his dressing room. and in
Il cordial. cheerful tone of voice. dis
| ILLS W l1iSl1 lllc iItSIlc L>s.S VIII iQN lCG
and instructions to husbands and wives.
miss his servant to rest Now, she
thought that in few moments she
husband would rejoin her She
breathed freely and with a smile at her
But she read with Il divided attention
frequently lifting her eyes from the
book ard listening for those expected
footst. rs. that seemed so slow in com
ing. Useless vigilance! all was pro
foundry still in Colonel Grevilles apart.
mentS!
But she heard the sound of painful
breathing near her door. 1t was Miss
Hits painting and blowing, as, with ne1
bridal apartments and went up into the
Shestole in reverential silence past the
attendant nymphs, Mandy and Sephy
third story.
With a gesture of petulant impa.
thence. Astrea glanced at the ornolu
recent childish weakness. she once
clock upon the mantlepiece. 1t was on
the stroke of midnight. Then, with 1
sigh. she resumed her reading OF tho
Scriptures, and read on until she had
finished her chapter. Finally she laid
more took up her Bible, opened it. and
began to read that chapter in Ephes
the book aside and listened.
But as yet all continued perfectly 81
lent in Colonel Greville's apartments
What wHs tie meaning Of this silence
her every sense was strained to it's ut
most tension Of vigilance. She listened
until her ears became so acute that sht
heard the distant sounds Of the kitchen
servants retiring to rest in remote por
tons Of the house. At length these
also. ceased. and not a motion Gis
turbcd the deep silence Of the night
Again she glanced at the clock; it wa!
On the stroke Of one; and her lamp wa!
burning dimly, as though presently i
must expire. The shadow that hat
fallen upon her grew blacker and heav
Ter until to her profound depression o
spirits was added an excessive nervous
ilritability. q strange terror Of bein,
left alone. and wild dread Of impcnd
ing ruin. She would willingly have re
tired to bed, but some awful spell
seemed to rest upon her. to hold he
fast to her seat, to deprive her Of ;h
power to move and the courage to look
Yes. in this strange. unexplainahle pan
ic of the nerves. she dreaded even t.
glance over her own shoulders.
And we'll she might!
What dark form is that lurking ahov
the shadows of her bed curtains! It
clothed in female apparel, yet seem
cealed in Il black mask, and it's hcn,
wrapped in II black handkerchief! 1t
long. black gown descends to its feet
l