Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-01-19

been wrested from their possession by foul
and treacherous means. She finds her.
self IN narrow gloomy turret with loop
holes of windows that give a bird s-eye
view of all the country round. So strik-
ing and beautiful does the scene look that
the girl stands in breathless admiration,
gazing before her with tireless eyes.
Presently she glances round. The tur
ret is quite bare, and desolate enough to
chill any venturesome spirit that has
wandered hither in search of adventure.
Just a place for ghosts" thinks Yo-
lande, and laughs aloud.
AS the pretty silvery 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 curdling, a fearful numbing
horror seizes her. She sees small door
opened in the wall, which reveals tiny
room, furnished more like prison cell
than aught else. But it is not the room
that holds her spell-bound. 1t is the sight
of a face looking at her through the door
way-a face bloodless, CHASTITY, with moth
ing human or lifelike about it-a face with
fierce, dark, cleaning eyes that hold her
own in a fascinated, horrible gaze-a face
with matted hair hanging in loose I'M
kempt locks over a haggard brow, and
around CHASTITY cheeks.
Suddenly the awful figure advances
the long claw-like hands are outstretched
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 by the awful be-
ing behind her; a shrek wild and agoniz-
ing bursts from her lips; then she is
clutched as in a wise, and horrible glib
ing, knocking 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 turret Her
brow is wet, her hair is Embossed, and
ripples over shoulders and half way to
her feet, like a shower of molten gold.
She starts and shivers. Her frightened
| eyes gaze wildly round and finally rest
| on the grave, anxious face that is bent so
tenderly over her. II is the face of Denzil
| Charters.
| Swiftly she withdraws herself from his
supporting arm and springs to her feet
What was it?" she asks timidly.
''What awful thing did l see? Oh, take
me away from here! l shall die with ter
ror if it comes again!
| He turns very pale at the words.
CTR to compose YOURSELF he says
soothingIy '"There is nothing to fear now.
Perhaps it was the bats you heard, or the
mice-the walls are full of Them
"Batsv' cries Yolande Indignantly. ''Do
! you think | am baby, to be frightened
by mere sounds? No, Mr.. Charters; bats
haven't faces and hands like claws, and
oh, take me away, take me away" she
breaks off imploringly. Il wish 1 had
never come here"
Without a word he draws her trembling
hand through his arm and leads her away,
speaking only soothing words to win her
| back to calmness once more. At the foot
of the staircase he pauses.
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 be turned
into show for idle curiosity. 1t would
be doing great favor if you would not
mention this to any one else"
Yolande looks at him in undisguised
| amaZement.
Il don't know why | should do YOU a
favor" she says slowly and defiantly.
You have but little right to ask it. What
is the mystery about that horrible place?
| 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; there is
mystery; but it is hardly fair / suppose.
to expect one of your sex to keep silent
respecting it. merely because l ask it as a
favor to myself. l cannot give any rea-
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 condescend to make such
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. l should be happier man than
/ am to-day
The words are so startling that Yolande
is speechless. Her eyes droop, the color
comes and goes with nervous speed in her
downcast face. Suddenly she remembers
her hair, and with crimson cheeks begins
to plat up the shimmering fleece that en-
folds her like mantle.
"Good-by" she says. "And now l am
going to retail my adventures in the tur-
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
Charters to himself. ooh. heaven, to
think that she, of all persons, should have
seen-that.'
His eyes grow dark with pain; heavy
sigh leaves his tight-pressed lips
How lovely she is!' he thinks. as his
unwilling gaze follows the beautiful little
figure. will day ever come when
shall be to you what you have all unwit-
tlngly become to me-my Lady Co
quette?"
Did he think | was in earnest?" says
Yolande to herself. an houSafter her adj
venture.
The whole party are sitting at luncheon.
1t is spread on the cool green sward, I'M
der the shade of group of beech trees.