Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-06-02

1 NhNAh ONCI lCE ulSOTuGIGu OAlr IN an
| easy, graceful attitude, stood leaning
carelessly against the window, while
/ the woful expression of the lovely
countenance gave way to one of curl
/ osity.
What is sheT' I painted breathlessly,
turning to my escort. But the terrible
pallor of his face brought me to an
8 involuntary pause, such a storm of
, conflicting emotions as 1t betrayed
! recognition, amazement, pain, and in
finite aversion. He seemed irresolute.
as If about to turn back from a loathe-
some object; but even in the midst Of
this overwhelming discovery 1 was
able to command an answer from him.
saw shudder convulse him as l re-
peated my question.
] What is sher' he reiterated. with
! his eyes still fixed upon what appeared
to me really exquisite picture, one
! quite devoid Of cause for this horror
! which 1T seemed to arouse in him.
| linen suddenly his voice changed from
exceeding harshness to n most exquis-
! lite gentleness as he transferred his
gaze TO my awe-struck, wondering face.
| L cannot tell you what she is. Il ia
enough for you to know that she is
one who is unworthy to touch the hem
OF your garment. 1 must go to her.
but, God willing, you shall never come
In contact with such as she. Turn
1 PACK, turn back, Miss. Lothrop, I beg
/ of you, and wait for me in the dog
| cart"
Il cannot" replied firmly. 'T do
not know, nor do care to know what
she is. She is suffering and in dis.
tress, and needs Mt least womanS
sympathy. Mr.. Chester, my mind -
made up. shall go with you--corhe,-
He looked at me a moment i'm n man.
ner that made my eyes fall in confuS
Ion, and then, seeing my determine.
ton, he took my hand and placing %
on his arm, walked swiftly toward III.
back Of the house with directness ans
purpose that showed his entire famiS,
iarity with the place. AS we moves
out OF sight Of the solitary figure ut tho
window her cries recommended. ana
there was such n ghostly vibration =
the sweet beseeching tones as tn, y
! echoed through the dense woods that.
| rs we mounted the cliff leading 10 Il :
| rickety old platform, which Mada-a
had described so lovingly, tremb' q
and shuddered despite my efforts &
/ eelf-command.
We reached the rough landlng-p 81.
and Mr.. Chester tried the door 1t WA
lay he picked up n stone and broke
one OF the side-lights, thrust In his
arm and slid back the bolt which alone
locked the entrance. Then, throwing
the door quickly open, he drew me
within the house. 1t was dark as mid
night. No moonbeams penetrated the
obscurity, and 1t seemed that the
shadows were almost palpable. How
ever, Mr.. Chester was prepared for the
emergency; he had brought with him
one Of the dog-cart lanterns and this
he proceeded at once to light, for the
brightness of the night had rendered
this hitherto unnecessary.
As the flame cleaned through the
darkness, 1 discovered that we were
standing upon the MISUNDERSTANDING
with which 1 had become acquainted
through Madam's description, while
about us gloomed the dismal atmo-
sphere of e deserted, long-disused,
damp and dreary dwelling. The scene
was chill and depressing beyond des-
cription.
However, urged onward by our con-
Germ for the girl whose cries had sum-
moned as to her relief, we wasted no
time in idle inspection, but pressed
hurriedly on up the stairs and along a
narrow corridor until we reached the
room at whose window had appeared
that wild and distraught vision.
A brief but convincing search showed
as that the girl was no longer within
the apartment. 1t was quite vacant.
barren even of furniture, and so dis.
piriting was its effect upon me that I
was glad when my companion led M.
hastily from it. We made q rapid in
yestigation of the other apartments
upon that floor, but with no better
success. Then Mr.. Chester hesitated
for a moment in the hall, undecided
whether to go up or down in further.
ance of his purpose.
AS we halted there, In the same stern
silence which had accompanied our en-
trance and research up to this instant.
a signal came to us through the night.
sad and distressing signal which
wrung nay heart; although 1t wrought
no softening OF the rigid lines in my
companions face. 1t was the sound of
sobbing, hushed and pitiful, like that
Of little child who had been forbidden
to weep. However bitter a mans feel
ings towards a woman may be, such
sounds impel him to her aid. Darra-
colt turned to me.
''She is below there" he said shortly.
"Once more-wil you not remain here
and avoid meeting her? You shall
have the lantern"
His intonation, hurried as it was, in
dicated what his own wish in the mat
ter was, but / negatived it promptly.
All my sympathies were with that des-
olate creature whose wailing still
smote upon the air.
go on-hurryr' I cried; and so we
passed down the stairs and, still led
by the mournful sounds, wound our
way in and out OF narrow passages, |
through kitchen and servants offices.
until we came to a sort of a cellar in
the back of the house. AS the light fell |
into the place the weeping ceased, and |
more terrible picture Of misery and
despair than that which met our eyes
cannot well imagine.
Two walls of the room were OF the
rough, unfinished stone OF the cliff, on |
which green, Shiny edampness had
formed, and down their dark and slip 4
perry sides tiny streams of black ooze /
trickied upon the earthly floor beneath.