The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-07-22

nocent man bear the consequences of a
crime he knew nothing Of?
Just before retiring it occurred to me
that the lights of Mr.. Morley's house
might be seen from the attic window.
It seemed as though sleep would be
sweeter after glimpse of those lights,
some of which were casting radiance
over Florence's loved form.
left my room and quietly assembled
the stairs. Arrived at the attic, I
grouped my way to the small window
through which had gazed that morn
ing. I stood for few minutes con-
templating the lights of the Morley res
idence on the hill opposite.
A brisk breeze was piping down the
valley. Through cracks and crevices
it crept into the old attic with soft wall
ing and moaning. There was homesick-
ness in the mournful tones, and sad
ness, as though the spirits of the de-
parted were signing for return to old
familiar scenes.
What was there about my old place
that produced such depressing effect
upon my spirits?
The happiest moments of life have
slight shadow to them, as though to
warn us that all joy is feeting. Per-
haps it was only this shadow which
caused the undefinable feeling of in
security. But there was quality, also,
which breathed of events to come of
dire import. seemed like the mariner
on a dark sea, conscious of breakers
ahead, and knowing not which way to
steer. Even my dreams in the restless
slumber of the past night seemed pre-
monitions.
That vague forebodiugs should come
when my mind was filled with thoughts
of the beloved one who had given me
her heart, was most strange. I could
not shake off the depression. The dark
ness of the attic deepened it.
I was about to retrace my steps to
the stairway, when sounds reached my
ear which caused me to pause and listen
"a series of raps, alternating with a
rasping noise, but SO feeble and indis-
tinct that was unable to form an opin
ion of the cause. All could determine
was that they seemed to come from
above.
a loose single or piece of timber,
rafting in the wind, would have made
dull, heavy sound, while the gentle
raps heard had a clear, mellow ring,
like that produced by the vibrations Of
a tuning fork.
After lighting all the matches had
with me and making as thorough an
examination of the roof as the brief
Pickering lights would allow, CROPPED
toward the stairs.
Probably half the distance to the
landing was passed when upon my ear
fell the voice, the unearthly voice, the
weird tones of which I had first heard
in my room downstairs.
It could not possibly be heard up in
the attic, when speaking in my cham
Der. So then it must have the faculty
of being able to change from one apart
ment to another Just as the whim seized
it.
Like the voice which had sounded
downstairs, the tones were intermit-
tent; in the present instance they al
ternated with the rappings.
After standing motionless, with hear
ing strained to the utmost, I noticed
rappings sound together.
The few detached words I distin-
guished had no possible reference to
myself; nevertheless the voice seemed
to follow me. I was unwilling to at
tribute the sounds to supernatural
causes, for was not a believer in the
supernatural. It might be that the par
ties who had walled up the cellar found
some of their plans, whatever they
may have been, upset by my advent,
and had taken this way to frighten me
and cause my departure.
On second thought the idea did not
appear tenable. For if the purpose was
to brighten me, fercer and more ter
rifying demonstration would be used.
Was there only one voice which in
some way sounded both in my room and
in the attic, or were there various voices
all over the place, each independent OF
the other?
I fastened downstairs, but when I
reached my room no sounds were heard
there.
While in my bedroom, had no way
of knowing if the voice in the attic was
still sounding.
The remainder of the evening I spent
in rushing from my room to the attic
and back again, and quietly stealing
through the vacant rooms, in the hope
of laying hold of some explanation of
the strange voice. I did hear it again
:, the attic but there was no sound in