The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-23

Silence was deep. and vigilance found
no expression in any movement of the
sleepless guardians. Why were they
there beyond the time for churchyards
to give up their sheeted wraiths? Yet
they would remain a little longer-Say
till 1870 o'clock. Not quietly. however.
for just as this conclusion was reached
a tremendous scream came TO them from
one of the upper rooms. and there was
q loud cry for help. The demonstrations
was in Mrs. Wards chamber. She had
retired at an early hour, attended by
her nurse. in the hope that she might
make up for the broken rest of the pre-
yious night. Assurances that she would
not be again disturbed had quoted her
nerves, and she slept. The nurse re-
manned up, understanding the continued
need of watchfulness, and, after repose
had enwrapped her mistress, made the
chamber radiant with additional lamps.
Three were alight when the catastrophe
came. She sat in thought. looking at the
door she had locked with her own hand
some four hours earlier, when il swung
open noiselessly and the tall. emaciated
young man of the previous night looked
In with startled gaze, hating at the
threshold as II dumfounded. He looked
intentIy at the watcher for a moment
and then his eyes wandered to the lights,
which he regarded with evident displeas
ure. He advanced suddenly into the
room and extinguished them all in a
fash. The nurse recovered her voice in
the darkness and uttered n terrified
shout, which Immediately brought all the
watchers to her rescue.
When they arrived Mrs. Ward was
hysterical from fright and in an alarming
condition. Something had whispered
startling message in her ear. the words
OF which she could not recall. but they
N-E. I'll
beyond control. Another MESA GEM
formatio about murder. she thought
had reached the ears of the nurse from
unseen lips. and she was also in great
confusion regarding IL and would not be
cOmfOTted. 1t was an hour later when
Case asked for full description of the
intruder, and he obtained it from the
housekeeper and nurse in fragments,
each remembering the general points in
unison. with details recalled by one or
the other which were not remembered
by both alike. The man was intensely
interested and gave evidence of consid-
era BILE excitement when the description
was finished.
I'm now forced TO believe something I
didn't want TO believe at all. said he.
It's rough on Gorman''-the former pro-
prietor-''but / think 1t best TO tell II so
that YOU may take your own course. Cor
man was the uncle anu SudIuicn % tiA@
boy James Nelson, who inherited this
property from his father about eleven
years ago. Both made their home here
and were surrounded by every comfort
They had a steam launch and spent
much Of their time on the mainland-the
boy 10 complete his education. the uncle
TO enjoy himself with boon companions IN
drink and gaming. The uncle was
graceIess spendthrift, but he was rich
10 he .
was still richer. yet abstemious and saw
ing. When within a year of his ma
iority he had a sweetheart and wanted 10
marry. but German opposed the project
and threatened punishment for disobe-
dience. Nelson fretted under the re-
straint thus imposd, and in two or three
months the young people were united
clandestinely. BY accident German soon
learned this fact, and then he did
strange thing.
He invited the nephew to bring his VIE
home and promised that they would live
together in peace, but TO this the boy de-
INJURED unless the uncle would first SEND
away two yellow girls which he deSig-
mated and insure their absence from the
plantation This was agreed TO and the
girls were banished-
Case continued by telling how James
Nelson and his young wife arrived at the
Dl2ntatiOn one pltdStttAA ciAtNAii'D+-f 49,
took possession of their home apparently
under the happiest auspices: how per-
fec-lv they were engrossed in each 9TH
er as they idled the time away riding
over their domain during two or three
of the succeeding weeks; how one day
the uncle announced that they had gone
abroad on their honeymoon trip. and
would not return for a year; and how
the Objectionable yellow girls We're again
afterward. German. he said now drank
deeper and became more reckless than
ever. and he employed Il man named
Moon to care for him iwhile in his cups
He had exercised sufficient judgment to
place himself in charge of q temperance
man. and one whose honesty was above
question. One night this drunkard's guar |
dian was watching over his charge |
when the room door opened quietly and /
James Nelson stepped within the cham /
Der. Moon was well acquainted with /
the young gentleman. and was much sur /
prised at his unreasonable appearance /
and wan aspect; but there was a cordial
mutual inquiries as to
health, and then the question arose as to
the Whereabouts Of Mrs Nelson.
'She is here with me, replied James.
"Dovustairs with her maid?' suggest
ed Moon. inquiringly.
NO: right here. Can you not see her.?
Moon afterward stated in relating the
incident that he then saw a shadowy
form encircling James Nelson in its arms
eft the same time uttering sObs and signs.
and then il fitted to Germans bed and
stood in a menacing attitude. Matters
were in this condition till Moon had con-
Guided he was in the presence of super
natural beings and had become speech
less from fright, when German awoke.
He leaped from the bed with n shrek OF
horror and a demand that that woman
be sent away 10 her abode in hell; then.
turning, as if to escape from the room.
he encountered James Nelson, and was
overcome. He halted as IL
frozen by panic. stood motionless as Il
statue for one brief moment and fell 20
the floor heavily like one suddenly be-
reft of life. The fall aroused Moon to
action. and he lifted his charge and re,
placed him upon the bed When he
again looked around both Nelson and the
form had disappeared. and he
went TO work with all his strength for
he relief of German
In tie morning il was found that the
lick man was suffering from a danger
JUS attack of brain fever. 1t carried
i'm near to death. When in his rawlings
he deeds he referred to were full of hor-
hought he saw were sufficient to freeze
he marrow in human bones Moon pro-
ested that he could not be induced to
are for another such case for the
wealth of the world. and it was no easy
natter TO tempt him 20 discuss it. Cor
mans recovery was slow. He was bed
idden for seven months. When he was
well. however. il was found
hat all taste for intoxicants had left
i'm, and he had become thoughtful and