Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-19

AUDIBLE.
"Dorothyr'
"Yes, Madam"
81 have missed you. child. The SUM-
dial marks no hours while Dorothy 10
absent"
raised her hand to my lips.
us not this too long a stroll for you
without companionship, dear Madam 20
Il have brought trusty staff with
me, you see" She held up a stout.
gold-headed ebony cane, OF which she
frequently made use. Besides. though
he does not dream / suspect 1t, have
shrewd idea that my good Franklin
exercises a vigilant watch upon nv
from the veranda." And, sure enough.
looking round, L espied the old man
lodging among the poplars as he made
surreptitious way back to the house.
safe In the thought that / was with
his mistress.
May 1 wait for you, MADAME
Certainly, though 1 am about re-
turning"
she paused an instant, and a visit
full shadow crossed her beautiful face.
After moment she resumed her
speech.
Dorothy" she said, ''this is an an
niversary. Forty years ago to-day 1
came, happy, Joyous bride, to that
house yonder." Again she turned her
poor blind eyes upon the melancholy
pile Of masonry. my child, 1t is an
unlucky house, a house of sad Disaster
and misfortune TO all whom If has
sheltered; but, ahi / would like to see
1t again. l would give much to look
once more upon the walls within which
l spent so many happy hours"
was well aware that she lived.
when alone, almost wholly within the
memories OF past events, and I felt it
distinctly gratifying that she should
give evidence of being so much at one
with me as to address me In tones or
retroSpection.
i said no word to disturb the cur
rent of her thoughts, but softly with
drew the ebony stick from her grasp,
and slipped the hand which held It
Tim my strong young arm. We
waited thus in silence a little, and
presently she went on.
Dorothy, l must see It; mustr' she
cried, and there was deep, uncontroll-
able yearning in her voice. Look at
IL, child; look closely at it, until il
seems us familiar to you as the face of
friend. Then describe 1t to me; but
describe 1t faithfully, for its image is
craven on my heart, and l shall know
If your observation is at fault"
l halted a few minutes, earnestly
scrutinising the prospect before me,
for l was anxious to fulfil her re-
quest to the very best of my ability,
and 1 was afraid lest she should de-
tect carelessness or slovenliness in my
description.
Il see," began at length, "a gloomy,
grey mass of rubble- stone, rising cold
and grim against a background of dark
woods. 1t forms house of unattrac-
tive and even forbidding exterior.
7 his house is three storied, with a
balcony across its front, enclosed and
supported by heavy wrought-iron brac-
kets and balustrade. The windows are
without blinds, and white inside shut
tiers enhance the nakedness of their
appearance. There are two doors of
entrance, that upon the ground-fioor
opening upon neglected, grown
drive'--here felt Madam shiver as IL
with cold land appearing to have
been of but secondary Importance to
the architect OF the dwelling, for n
larger and more imposing doorway ex-
lists In the next story, access to which
is gained by means OF flight of brok-
en- and moss-stained stone steps. The
house is square and of uncompromising
regularity of outline, and seems to be
built against a cliff or ledge of rocks"
I felt sudden movement of Gag
erness from my companion, and Mad.
am interrupted me abruptly.
Yes, yes, it Is So. 7 know It well.
that ledge. 1t FERNS the back Of the
lower. half OF the house, and its sur
face Ia covered With 4 rude platform,