The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-07-12
The House on Beacon Street
BY Kate p. Hampton.
"kHY STORY Is that of a life's sacri-
lvl fee in the name of the greatest

"Yes, love-" answered Col. Darcy.
We were sitting around wood fire
in the small parlor of famous water
ing place in the mountains of Virginia.
1t was the season that turns the
leaves to red and gold and robes the
mountains in deeper azure. We had
each told a personal experience, until
it was now Col. D'Arcy's turn.
AT the time my story begins" con-
tinued Col. Darcy, III had just re-
turned to America after an absence of
more than 25 years. was a complete
stranger. l had lost sight of every hui
man being | had ever known. But as
if coming by accident across familiar
picture in an old attic, recalled man
| had known at college. lie had then
lived in Boston, but whether he was
dead OF alive | had not the slightest
idea. l sent telegram on the posi-
biity when | landed in New York, and
received the answer: Will be glad to
see YOU There was not another word,
but | went.
THE cab set he down before large.
handsome Brown stone house on Bea-
con street. Every shutter to the house
was closed.
Except for the strong hand clasp
Dr. Rossiter gave me | should have
thought myself unwelcone. Some
thing in his voice, however, wen: to my
heart, and l put my arm around him
as | would about woman. We walked
to the library in this way.
ITO my establishment l found it
illuminated, as was the hall, with in.
Vulnerable electric lights. 1t struck
me as curious and not pleasant, for
though it was the month of February.
it was only three O'Clock in the after
noon and the sky outside was as clear
and blue as turquoise.
DR.. Rossiter-he had intended being
a doctor when last saw him-made no
allusion to the light nor to his changed
appearance. 1 saw only too plainly that
he had suffered, and as only a strong
man can suffer-silently His hair was
white as snow, and his hands trembled
as if he were three score years and ten.
time had not a gray hair in my head.
Llewellyn Rosster had been the hand
soonest, cleverest. richest man I'm col
lege.
'IIe asked of my travels, and an
swered readily to all my Questions
about the men we had known, but
never in the slightest way alluded to
himself. When later ! was shown to a
room, | followed an old man up the
stairs, which were covered with soft
est velvet carpet. Flowers blooned
everywhere, and electric lights dazzled
me from numerous chandeliers. 1t
seemed the preparation for a ball. 1t
was evidently not loss of money that
had wrought the trans formation In his
appearance.
"The room was even more sumptuous
than anything | had seen.
''Paintings and statuary OF the
rarest were everywhere. curios were in
richly inlaid cabinets. folds of crimson
velvet hung over the tightly closed
windows, mirrors reached from ceiling
to floor, and electric lights shone down
from a myriad of softly tinted globes.
The bed, cushions and easy chairs
alone made il habitable as a sleeping
room.
when dinner was announced Dr.
Rossiter led me into handsome room
where table sparkled with silver and
glass. Flowers were in such profusion
that the perfume almost sutfocated me.
The table was laid for three persons.
| expected every moment some other
guest, or member of the family to APP
pear. but dinner passed, no one came,
nor was any allusion made to the va
cant seat.
at was after midnight when went
to my room A cold wind sighed about
the house like lost spirit. and | got
into a dressing gown and slippers. de-
termned to enjoy cigar before turn
ing in for the night. tried to shut
off the light. l tried again and again.
| looked behind ever piece OF furniture.
every picture, | even examined the
floor, but all TO no use. 1t was impos
sible to shut it off, and. believing 1t
some Yankee invention could not I'M
derstand, | was about to settle down
again when / remembered | had not
locked the door.
This time my surprise was beyond
all reasoning. There was no key, no
place for key, nor fastening OF any
sort,
at was strange" | thought, "if this
was a usual Gust ON in such n large town
as Boston, but there was nothing to do
but accept the uncanny situation, and
II would have been unreasonable to
have called my friend at that hour Of
the night.
~ drew up an easy chair and |
stretched out my feet to the tempting |
blaze | was quite unconscious of fall |
ing to sleep, but | must have done so,
for when opened my eyes started in
bewilderment al the strange figure be- |
fore me- | rubbed my eyes, believing | |
dreamed, but there, in nctual presence |
stood the most weird embodiment a |
wild imagination might picture. a
Young woman was leaning toward me
with unnat urnlly large dark eyes fixed
IN my face. There was not n culver of |