Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-12-15

She took II as quietly as going to
church.
| had not seen Mrs. Blakesley since
she had told me that the young earl
and countess were expected in about
month; else | might have learned one
fact which it was very important !
should have known namely. that
their arrival had been FASTENED by
eight or ten days. The very morning
of our intended departure, | was look
ing into the court through little
round hole | had cleared for obServa-
ton in the dust of one of the windows.
believing | had seen some signs of un-
usual preparation on the part of the
household. when a carriage drove up.
followed by two others. and Lord and
Lady Hilton descended and entered.
with an attendance of some eight or
ten.
There was Il great hustle i'm the house
all day. OF course | felt uneasy. for
if anything should interfere with our
hight the presence of so many would
increase whatever difficulty might oc-
cur. | was also uneasy about the
treatment my Alice might receive from,
the newcomers. Indeed. il might be
put out of her power to meet me ut all.
1t had been arranged between us that
she should rot come TO the haunted
chamber at the usual hour. but to-
ward midnight.
| was there waiting for her. The
hour arrived the house seemed quiet;
but she did not come. l began TO grow
uneasy. | waited half an hour more.
and then. unable to endure ii longer.
crcpt to her door. ! tried to open It,
but found ii fast. At the same mo
ment | heard light sob inside. | put
my lips to the keyhole, and called
Alice" She answered in a moment:
They have locked me in
The key was gone. There was no
time to be lost. Who could tell what
they might do tomorrow. if already
they were taking precautions against
her madness: | would try the key of
ii neighhoring door, and if that would
not iii. | would burst the door open
and take the chance. AS ii was. the
key fitted the lock. and the door open
ed. We locked il again on the outside.
restored the key. and in another mo-
ment were in the haunted chamber.
Alice was dressed ready for flight.
One or two lights dancing about be-
low detained us for little while We
were standing near the window, feel
ing now very anxious to be clear of the
house; Alice was holding me and lean
ing Oh me with the essence of trust.
when. all at once, she dropped my
arm. covered her face with her hands.
and called out: "The horse with the
clanking shoet' At the same moment.
the heav door which communicated
with this part of the house. flew open
rying along the passage. A light
cleaned into the room, and by it saw
that Lady Alice. who was standing
close to me still, was gazing, with
flashing eyes, at the door. She whis-
pered hurriedly:-
Il remember 1t all now. Duncan.
My brain is all right 1t is come
again. But they shall not part us this
time. You follow me for once"
AS she spoke, saw something gilt
ter in her hand. She had caught up
an old Malay creese that lay in cor
ner, and was now making for the door,
at which half-a-doZen dOmesties were
by this time gathered. They, too, saw
the glitter and made way. fol
lowed close, ready to fell the first who
offered to lay hands on her. But she
walked through them unmenaced.
and, once clear, sped like n bird into
the recesses of the old house. One fel
low started to follow. | tripped him
up. l was collared by another. The
same instant he lay by his companion,
and | followed Alice. She knew the
route well enough. and | overlook her
in the great hall. We heard pursuing
feet rattling down the echoing stair.
To enter my room and bolt the door
behind us, was moments work; and
a few moments more took us into the
alley of the kitchens garden. With
speedy, noiseless steps. we made our
way to the park. and across it to the
door in the fence, where Wood was
waiting for us, old Constancy paving
the ground with lmpatience for n
good run.
He had had enough Of 1t before
twelve hours were over.
We rested no more than was abso-
lutely necessary; and. in as short n
space rs ever horse could perform the
journey, we reached the Scotch bor-
der. and before many more hours had