The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-03-31

row."
AS though not to be 0utdonc in
politcncss. the gentleman in velvet
made me deep bow.
as monsieur. the captain rcady?" he
answered. Tell him that am wait
ing!''
Those were the very words, uttered
in q beautiful voice, but with a strong
foreign accent. put ont my hand
and tried to grasp the sleeve Of his
embroidered coat
"Who are you?" | demanded,
THAT sends this message to Captain
Pctcr!'
There was no reply. | grasped
nothing but moonlight The figure
had dissolved in thin air-yanshed. as
if by magic. | looked around. Yes.
| stood alonc-absolutely alone, with
the moon and the shadows of the trees.
outside the Barrow gate.
What had | scen?-what heard:
With a cold sweat starting from every
pore of my body, | pushed back the
gate for once embarrassed-and flew
up the tagged walk, deep in dead
drifting leaves. to the old house.
onnpoI tbo loor mo Tko
hall, as / entered, looked like a black
cavern, with single tluttering candle
set in its gloom. The negress led the
way up bare stair, where my breath
was blown out before me like a cloud
in the bitter cold, and along an empty
corridor, to Captain Peters chamber
TO my great relief, found that the
doctor had reached the place before
me. He was pouring medicine in a
glass, and did not notice anything
strange in my appearance, as crossed
the threshold
"We have bad case here, Miss
Cole" he said, briefly.
"Any bones broken?" | gaspcd, for
was a good deal shaken by what |
had seen at the gate.
"No-internal injuries, answered
the doctor. II have another patient
waiting for me, Miss Penny, so must
leave this one to your care for awhile.
He is sleeping quietly now, and
promise to look in again before mid
night"
He instructed me how to give the
medicine, and went away down the bare
stair. looked around Captain Peter s
chamber In one corner stood four
posted bed, and there the old man lay
breathing heavily. By his side sat
Ninon, pale as snow-drop, and trem-
bling with apprehension. At his feet
crouched black Sappho, beating her
withered breast at intervals, and NUT
tering, dare say, to her heather gods.
The hearth was bed of ashes, in
which two or three sticks smoldcrcu
while brass-bound and much-5attered
sea-chest stood against the wall. Over
the bed hung rusty cutlass, and a
sword with silver hilt | could hard
ly repress scream as my eyes fell on
the latter weapon. clutched Ninon' S
dress and pointed to the wall.
"That sword!" I gasped; "where did
it come from. my dear?-whose is it,"
My fathers" she whispered; it
hangs always by his bed. do not
know its history
She looked greatly terrified, and l
did not wish to frighten her still fur
ther with strange stories; so | said,
very gently: "Has all been well with
you since | saw you last"
NO, madam, ill-very i'll And
now look at my poor father-he is going
to die
Every likely, and 4 good thing for
you! | was tempted to say, but
checked myself and made answer: at
is the common lot. | will watch the
night with you, my dear. | am sure
John Graham would like to have me
here at this time.
She gave me an eloquent look. The
patient was still sleeping heavily. |
found some wood, and mended the fl re;
then sat down with Ninon to wait.
a full hour went by. Neither of us
spoke a word. The wind whistled
through the lcafless trees of the gar
den-we could hear the waves crashing
on the beach. Presently solemn
clock, somewhere near, struck eleven
| felt no lar in the room, but at the
last stroke the two swords hanging
over Captain Peters head dropped
with sudden, great clatter. One fell
to the floor; the other-that with the
silver hilt-tumblcd straight across
the sick mans pillow. His eyes open
ed. With yell, he started up in bed
he graspcd the weapon round its shin
ing hilt.
"lIoist sail, and stand to sea? - he
shouted. "Wcll stop at the Isle OF
May, and take the whole salt fleet and
we'll strip and lash the commander
and pickle him in his own salt :!
saw that the man was wandering in
his mind. | tried to take the SWORD
away, but he held it fast. Then | of
fered him dose Of the doctors medi
cine. but he dashed it from my hand