The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-01-25
I was not as much frightened as you

ler ua~t Deeu talhluS 3DOut. 1t SeSLAeo
only SAtural, and matter of course,
that something unusual should
happen.
The rustic of my train, as let it
fall, attracted the cavaliers attention.
He turned aud saw me there in mar
row strip of moonlight that fell
through the hall window, and in an
instant he was coming down again to-
ward me.
Iretiretl before him farther and farther
till l was back again iu the moon
lighted parlor. But still he came on.
could see him quite plainly then-such
handsome young man, though wild
ar.l daring! 1t seemed as if l had
always known his face must be like
that only his auburn love-locks were
gon:.
II was told this house was
haunted," he said, under his breath,
looking at me with his dark eyes.
I had vague impression in my
mind that it would be a good thing il
l were safely back again in my own
room with the door | cked; but since
1 was downstairs 1 mightas we'll make
the best of it. Perhaps it was only a
dream, after al, so I looked at the
cavalier steadily.
'.Are you alone?" I asked. 'Where
are the others?" I spoke softly be-
cause 1 did not wish to wake Aunt
Augusta.
He did not answer, but came step
nearer, amazemeat in his face.
II suppose the taller is still asleep" I"
I said casually. The cavalier gave a
tremendous start and looked over his
shoulder. ''If you were trying to
escape" I said, ''there was no use in
going upstairs.
The cavalier came nearer still and
caught me by'my wrist, but he did not
look any less puzzled.
"Flesh and Llood," I heard him
mutter, and certainly there was moth
ing nnsubstantial about his grasp
But suddenly his brow grew dark.
"What do you mean?" he whispered,
fiercely. SIS this q trap to catch
me?"
"No," I answered. I began to get
frightened, aud spoke hurriedly.
Escape, if you want to-quick, be-
fore he wakes up"
"Whore is he, upstairs?" frownias
still, but could tell by the way he
looked toward the window that he
meant to &C.
mo; he is in there"-pointing to
the room across the hall. ''But
won't wake him up; only let go my
arm. You hurt me!'
''Do you give me your solemn word
of honor that you will not scream or
make any sound or attempt to leave
this room for half an hour?" demand
ed my captor.
promised readily enough, and he
motioned me to sit down in Aunt
Augustus big chair, and then. with
out a sound, he opened the window.
I thought he was gone, but no. he had
stopped, and was looking back at me
as sat there in the moonlight, grayely
watching him, and then he came back
and stood beside me.
81 don't know who or what you
are," he said; ''rut you are the
strangest girl I ever saw-and the
prettiest. Did I hurt her poor little
wrist?" And then suppose he re-
membered the gallantry of the days to
which he belonged, for he bent his
dark head down low and kissed my
arm as it rested on the chair beside
him. Then he vanished like shadow
and closed the window softly behind
him.
I sat motionless in the big chair
and waited. The moonlight slipped
down from my bridal veil and across
MY satin lap down to my shining
shoe buckles, and at last was gone al-
together; but still the jailer did not
wake mp, and all the other pictures
stayed quietly in their frames, and I
leaned my head back in Aunt
Augustus great chair and went fast
asleep while I waited
The clock was striking two when I
awoke, and then / was frightened.
Ny mind was full of vague, half re-
mem bered terrors. I was afraid Of
myself, in my ghostly dress, and few
upgtairs as if pursued. ] had to get
candle from my room to see to put
away my tinery-the great spare room
had grown so dark-and there were
queer noises in the wardrobe, and in
every corner. I remembered then
about the burglar, and shook from
head to foot with fear. It did seem
as if I never should get those things
put away.
But it was done at last, and oh, the
Joy when I was safely back in my
room with my door locked fast behind
me!
There is the story, you can call it
what you please-a ghost story, or a
burglar story, or dream. There
was nothing next morning to prove
which it was.
I went down as soon as I was
dressed to look at the pic ure in the
sittingroom, but the cavalier was there
still, noiselessly climbing the weary
stairs past the sleeping jailer.
couldn't help being sorry for him, that
he hadn't escaped, after all.
I put La:k my aunts keys directly
after breakfast. 1 didn't care about
keeping them any longer, and to this
day I sin not altogether sure whether
I lever tried on my great-grandmother'
wedding dress or not.
Philadelphia Children.