Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-03-03

about it, save that in bygonc wears ii had
belonged to the Charteris family, and had
been wrested from their possession by foul
ana treachcrous means. She finds her
self in a narrow gloomy tu.rct with Loom
holes of windows that give a bi-i's-eyc
view OF all the country round. So stYik-
ing n beautiful does the scene look that
the girl stands i'll brcathless admiration,
gazing Leforc key with ~tircless eyes.
Presently she g!anccs round. The tur-
ret is quite bare. and desoiatc enough to
chill amy venturcso:nc spirit that has
wandered lit!icr in search of adventure.
".Iust Il place for ghosts thinks Yo-
iandc. and laughs aloud.
As the pretty silvcry sound echoes
through the silent space, She starts. The
echo has scarcely died away when she
hears a strange noise behind her. She
turns swiftly. Her cheeks blanch, her
blood seems curd!ing. a fearful numbing
horror seizcs her. She srcs IL small door
opened in the wall, which reveals a tiny
room. furnished more like a prison cell
than anSllt else. But it is not the room
that holds her spell-hound. Ii is the sight
of Il face looking mt her through the door
way-a face hlondlcss. ghastiy, with moth
ing human or life!ikc aboat it-a face with
fierce. dark. cleaning eyes that hold her
own in a fascinated. horrible gazc-a face
with matted hair hanging in loose un-
kelnpt locks over a haggard brow, and
around shastly checks.
Suddenly the awful figure advances
the long. claw-lihc hands are outstretchcd
as if to seize her. The sight gives her
back some faint strength amid this fear
full paralysis of horror. She makes one
frantic spring, pursued hy the awful he
ing behind her; II shrek Wild and agoniz-
ing bursts FROM her lips: then she is
cl'itchcd AS in n wise, and a horrible glib
ing. mocliin. voice CRATES on her ear. She
feels herself falling. falling. she knows
not whittier. Then all is blank.
When Yolande RECEIVERS consciousness
she finds herself still in the tnrrct. Her.
brow is wet. her hair is Embossed. and
ripples ever shoulders and half WAY to
her feet. like a shower of molten gold.
Size starts and %sliivcrs. Her frightened
eyes gaze wildly round, and finally rest
on the grave. anxious face that is cent so
tendcrly over her. 1t is the face of DenZil
Charteris.
Swiftly she w;thlraws herself from his
supporting arm and springs to her feet.
what was it:" she asks timidly.
"Wlat awful thing did 1 see? Oh. take
me away from here! l shall die with ter
ror il it comes again."
He turns very pale at the words.
"Trs to compose YOURSELF" he says
soothinsly. There is nothing to fear now.
Perhaps it WAS the hats you heard. or the
mice-thc walls are full of them"
Bats cries Yolande indignantly. "Do
YOU think l am ii baby. to he frightened
by mere sounds: No. Mr.. Chartcris; bats
haven't faces and hands like claws. and
oh, take me away. take me away" she
breaks off imploringly. II wish / had
never come hcrc..'
Without Il word lie draws her trembling
hand through his arm and leads her away,
speaking only soothing words tn win her
back to calmness once more. AT the foot
of the staircase he pauscs.
Pardon me-" he says. but do you not
think it would be better to be silent as re-
CARDS your-your alarm-to the others?
l should not like the ruins to he turned
into a show for idle curiosity. 1t would
be doing a great favor il you would not
mention this to any one else"
Yolande looks ut him in undisyuised
amaZement.
II don't know why l should do you a
favor" she says slowly and defantly.
You have but little right to ask it. What
is the mystery about that horrible place?
1 am sure there is something, or you would
not be so anxious for me to conceal it,"
He draws . long breath; his dark face
grows strangely white and stern.
You are right he says: "tlcre is q
mystery: but it is hardly fair, l suppose.
to expect one of our sex to keep silent
respecting it. merely because 1 ask it as a
favor to myself. 1 cannot give any rca-
sons. can only trust to your generosity
If YOU have any," he adds bitterly.
".As you have such a bad opinion of me.
wonder you condesccnd to make such a
request" she says coldly.
"A bad opinion of your he echoes, look
ing with burning. passionate eyes down
at the white. proud beauty of her face.
IF [ had, I should be a happier man than
l am to-day.w
The words are so startling that Yolande
is speeclless. Her eyes droop, the color
comes and goes with nervous speed in her
downcast face. Suddenly she remembers
her hair, and with crimson checks begins
to plait up the slimmering fleece that en-
folds her like Il mantle.
"Good-by," she says. ".And now I am
So.AS W e.i NY NNNSAituASS All Az luI-
ret to everybody"
She flashes one provoking. brilliant
glance at his offended face, and then hur-
ries off to join her sisters.
Does she mean it?" mutters Denzil
Charteris to himself. "Oh. heaven, to
think that she, of all persons, should have
seen-that!"
His eyes grow dark with pain; a heavy
sigh leaves his tight-prcssed lips.
How lovely she ISL he thinks, as his
unwilling gaze follows the beautiful little
figure. will a day ever come when /
shall be to you what you have all unwit-
tingly become to me-my Lady Co
quette?'
Did he think I was in ~carnest?' says
Yo!andc to herself, an hour after her adj
venture.
The whole party are sitting at luncheon.
1t is spread on the cool green sward, I'M
der the shade Of a group of beech trees.
Coming mp the glade are Denzil Charleris
and a lady-a lady whom Yolande never
remembers to have seen before. hut who