The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-15
The Friendly Foe.
a wierd story by Miss Coleridge. From
Cornhill's. In Six Parts.)
pAPTTy


to recollect that you are still subject to
cold-that you must on no account take
it off. Before we go any further, oblige
me by taking an oath-a solemn oath.
| First, that, whatever may happen, you
will attempt no resistance; secondly, that
you will never reveal the names Of those
| amongst whom am going TO send you,
nor any Of the circumstances which you
may be called upon to witness. Before
you swear, reflect! The possession Of a
secret of this kind implies considerable
danger. Is it worth the risk?"
A strange question for one of your call
| ing to ask" 1 retorted. Il am no priest,
but think it is"
| rs there anything in the world that you
| hold sacred?" said the Demonican.
| 1 drew the bit of swansdown from its
resting place, profaning the one true SEN
timent that was in me with a laugh. AS
for my friend. he never even smiled.
THAT will dor he said. Swear upon
that"
| 1 did so.
You are now a penitent before me. I
| have heard your confession. 1 am about
to absolve you. Take accurate note of
/ everything that I say, and reproduce my
words, as nearly as you can, when you
are called in to the death-bed."
You spoke to me as if 1 were a wo-
man." observed, when he had finished.
You are quite right" said the monk.
Now, let US reverse the parts. Do you
| absolve me, as if 1 were a woman
1 repeated the form of words which he
had just gone through.
"Evvivar' he said, when I had done.
You might have been born a cassock."
At the same moment 1 heard the boot
ing of an owl in the garden below. He
started, and looked at the clock.
Later he said. THAT is the carriage.
We have not moment to lose. Let me
recommend you TO keep silence from the
time you leave these doors to the time
when you are set down again. If you
say word more than is necessary, 1 will
not answer for the consequences. 1 shall
await you here on your return. Remem
Der your OATH" Then, bending forward,
as if he feared the very walls would hear,
he added in a whisper.
Take no refreshment in that house"
He touched the back of a volume OF the
Via Media" as he spoke; part of what
had appeared to be the bookcase sprang
open and disclosed a winding stair. With
out another word, he pointed down it,
taking a light to show me the way. At
the last turn of the steps he left me.
1 felt the cold breath of the night lift
L
and blindfolded; whether by two or more
persons 1 could not be sure, for 1 was
taken by surprise in the darkness. D e.
termined to adhere to the prescribed con-
ditions of the adventure, I made no sound,
and l heard a whisper:
mo need to gag him; he has his cue"
In a moment strong arms had lifted
me and were carrying me along-over the
grass, as 1 judged, for there was no ring
of footsteps. l was let down gently enough
upon the seat of a carriage, and away
we went like the wind. How long it took
which way we went, whether there was
any one else in the carriage, I have no
idea. A steady hand must have held the
reins. We were going at a break-neck
pace, yet we never encountered the small
est obstacle, nor did I even feel a jolt.
Thus was I whirled along through the
night, as little able to see as if l had been
sleeping.
We stopped at last. 1 was helped out,
and guided as 1 judged, by the mouldy
smell, into some cellar or disused passage,
at the end of which there were steps.
Presumably, they led up into house.
for when we trod on level ground again,
the atmosphere was dry and warm, and,
to my great surprise, I heard the tones
of a piano in the distance, familiar tones
at the sound of which my heart beat,
though it was a minute before recoIlect-
ed that heard them last as l was leav-
ing the ballroom. We went up many
stairs, down many more, and up again,
the sounds growing more and more dis
tinct as We advanced. They ceased alb
ruptly, the bandage was removed, and I
found myself standing alone in a tiny
room, lit by one small red-shaded lamp. I
door
ferrous, for 1 had heard no turning OF
the key! A piano stood open, but there
was no music upon it. A book lay on
the sofa, as If some one had just tossed
it there. On the outer side there was no
window at all; in the other wall was a
recess, formed by three little windows of
painted glass, through which a light from
below shone dfmly, by way of the Ma
donna and two attendant saints.
/ waited long time, but no one came. |
The stiffness grew oppressive. I threw
myself on the sofa, and tried to read, but
the air was heated anG magnetic-it SEEM |
ed to thrust itself between me and the |
lines. 1 looked at the first page, to see |
If there were any indication of the owner, |
but there was none. 1 then tried several |
others, all with the same i'll success. |
Clearly, they had been read with much |
affection, for they were often marked |
with a pencil; but there was never any |
name in the beginning, and from one or /
two of them the f1y-leaf had been re- |
moved.
OF a sudden the light reflected from be- |
low went out; the saints became indis- !
tinguishable.
My curiosity got the better Of me. I re- |
solved, come what would, to open one Of |
those windows; 70 have nothing but a |
of rrl1
known was too strong a temptation. |
pressed with all my strength against the
woodwork of the center one; there was a
slight, very slight, yielding; it seemed |
TO give on darkness. l moved the lamp
cautiously, so as to concentrate its beams
upon the chiuk, and pressed again For
an instant 1 caught sight of the dark
figure Of q man, bending over a table,
n front OF a fireplace, far down below.
Then the windowsgave an ominous creak.
closed 1t, and sat GREATNESS Whether
he man had heard? inclined to think
hat he must have. Presently there were
outside.
IN half an hour said a mans voice.
In half an hour said womans.
1t was music echoing a discord The !
KEY turned in the lock; the little LADY /
y the swansdown cloak entered. and shut /
he door behind her. I can not now con-
GIVE my feelings a that moment; but !
had just presence of mind enough to
'ecollect that 1 should be turned out if i
did not sustain my part. We salute6
ZACH other in the usual way. and she kneIt
Town before me. For the first time II
.arted through my mind that she was
,oing 10 make q confeSsion-and 10 met
strong repugnance to hear il cvercame
very other consideration. If could
mock that creature, / must be a feod in
.a rrara Va L. I