Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-23
THE SECRET.


"But bow is 1t that you know more
than tho rest OF the world"
II was there when it happened" Miss
| Artois qrietly replied, "but to this day
they have not tho slightest suspicion that
| Hiss Artois Is an acquaintance"
Belle Hampton opened her eyes wide.
What on earth do you mean.
Blnnche?" she exclaimed.
"Only that was't there as parlor-
maid" Miss Artois coolly responded. her
naughty eye sweeping the magnificent
width OF the handsome conservatory
through which they were sauntcring.
"As pnrlormaidw echoed Belle, upset
ting rare exotic as she hastily turned
to look Mt her companion. "A parlor-
maid What would mamma say?"
At this little ripple Of laughter part
ed Miss Artois' handsomely curved lips.
But the next moment she said gravcly:
You need not tell her. j am in the
confessional to you alone, remember"
And then she continued abruptly:
when the world said was rusticat-
ing among the Yorkshire hills i was
playing parlormaid Mt Red Moor.
Wherefore? That is my secret.
"The three old ladies of Red Moor re-
minded me more OF three little sprites
than nught else. When properly dis
guised. aproned and capped, was pre-
sented for their approval. But, fortu-
nately for me, their keen, bright eyes
rested favorably upon me, and with my
good star In the ascendant / entered
upon the somewhat promiscuous duties
assigned me.
II had not been in the house three
weeks before / discovered that 1t con-
cealed mystery. 4s,
1.-The discovery was made by me In
this way: One night, after restlessly
tossing for hours with an aching face. I
rose. intending to 60 down to the library
FIRE. Ns,
~ softly crossed the upper hall. always
kept dimly lighted. and was about pro-
ceeding downward when the weird sight
OF old Mrs. vasser, the eldest Of my
three mistresses, suddenly arrested me.
'Instinctively paused and gazed. She
was standing with her back toward me
In dark, narrow angle of the building
Mt the extreme end of the hall, her splen-
did waves of snowy hair floating in wild
disorder over the blood red dressing
gown sweeping far behind her. But the
spell binding me was broken by what ap-
through the solid wall.
Strange! exclaimed under my
breath. The servants told me that part
of Red Moor was fearfully haunted and
consequently had been walled up and
rendered wholly inaccessible
"Of course l was curious, but re-
turned to my bed and fell asleep.
"A month later l was passing along
one of the many narrow. winding cor
ridors with which the house abounded.
when at sudden turning l came upon
the old. gray headed butler bending un-
der the weight Of large tray filed to
overflowing with all the luxuries of the
season. f
"Jasper" involuntarily exclaimed,
where in the world are you taking that
repast? Everybody In the house has
been served
"Silent and motionless he stood gazing
at me In blank dismay. The next In
stant there WINS a soft rustic of silk, and
the old housekeeper's voice rang sharp
and stern from the other end of the cor
ridor:
Jasper. attend to your business.
Myra. come here! adding still more
sternly as ! obediently approached. and
do you attend TO yours, girl. What
brings you here at this hourT
'She listened to my excuses and then
sharply dismissed me.
'"Two days after, as Bradley and
slipped our tea together, we were startled
to our feet by the sudden clankipg Of
heavy chains In the adjoining room. and
the next instant the door flew violently
open. and an old man Of herculean pro-
portions dashed In upon us, his trailing
chain. wild. bloodshot eyes and disor-
dered apparel proclaiming too plainly the
frightfui truth.
"'Not here, eitherv he shrieked,
stamping his foot In foaming rage ns
his glance rested upon us. Not here!
Not here!
Bradley. apparently paralysed with
horror, looked nppenlinsly at me aud
, said:
"'Your mistresscs! Save them! Run"
II got to the drawing room door when
the creature seized me by the shoulders
and sent nc whiring to the floor. | was
on my feet again In an instant. but his
wild ego had caught sight OF poor Mrs.
Vasser, who. with her sisters, had start
cd up and stood gazing at him In petl-
6ed horror. Tho pext instant he caught
her. with fierce shout OF triumph and
delight, in his arms.
Swift as lightning. he bore hcr out to
the great winding staircase. You know
| the rest. In a seconds time she lay dead
below. and he. In leaning over the balus-
trade to gloat over his fearful work,
lost his balance, ana before the hurry
Ing servants could reach their poor
mistress he lay with broken neck upon
| the stairs.
HE was Albert yasser. her husband,
but pride kent. and still keeps, tho Rcd
Moor secret well. To this day the world
thinks the maniac was wanderer from
come sylum."-Exebangc
Oystcrs nnC str.vyberries.