The Washington times., 1901-12-08

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little touched. Bat he had no mind to
throw away military and other chance.
for the sake Of pretty woman. As for
pretty woman with fortune-that
might be another matter.
IF he we're only dead" she cried be-
tween her sobs. But he will never die.
believe he is sucking the blood out OF me
or-or something. l am afraid of him,
| Gilbert-so afraid"
Gilbert was thinking fast. in spite of
whatever emotional disturbance might
have been caused by the head on his
breast. He had mind 10 risk something.
Shall 1 kill him for you, sweetheart
he murmured in her ear.
Her sohs ceased and she looked up at
him with wide, terrified eyes. They gased
at each other for moment in silence.
Then, in a scarcely audible voice, she
whispered, Yes"
The next morning. having obtained
| brief leave, Gilbert went to New York.
What happened there nobody ever knew
| exactly. Wharue was set upon one night
by three men armed with knives and
! clubs, and was found mortally wounded
somewhere near the wharves He lived
only a few hours. and was buried, at his
own request. in New York.
That was the story about town. Some
thing like it must have been in note
which Mistress Dorothy Wharne received
some time afterward, and which she
kissed and placed In her BOSOM
She made n visit to her old home short
ly and her friends thought that they had
never seen her so beautiful. There was
brilliant light in her great blue eyes,
her hair shone more like gold than ever.
and her lissome figure had lost nothing
in it's maturity. 1t was the change from
the bud to the blossom.
In course of time a handsome young
English officer appeared at Faringdon
House. and with all due formality wooed
and won Mistress Dorothy, who put off
her mourning weeds and flashed out in
all the colors OF multiplied rainbow A
prettier couple than Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert
Home had seldom been seen in the little
village. and Polly Gregory. herself a hap
py wife. wept with Joy when she saw
them pass. Polly always cried easily.
They went back to Wharne Castle after
a three months honeymoon In the gayest
society Of New York and Philadelphia.
Gilbert. with his new fortune. had re-
signed his commission and the house was
in the heart of the country held by British
troops Dorothy seemed to have con-
quered her old aversion to the place; she
took positive delight in tearing down old
hangings and replacing all with new.
bright fabrics and dainty bric-a-brac. The
Wharne fortune was hers now, and right
royalty did she and Gilbert scatter 1t.
They had chosen for their sleeping
room a wainscoted apartment near the
turret. and the only article of all the old
furnishings which they suffered to re-
main was the huge four-posted mahogany
bed. which seemed to be screwed to the
floor All else was changed. No servant
who had been there in the old days was
allowed to remain. There were new men
and maids from the city.
But they did not stay. One after anoth-
er they shamefacedly came to the master
and told him that they had urgent busi-
ness elsewhere. This business seemed to
be proof against money, threats or coax
ing. Gilbert was troubled.
They had been there a month before
they found out what the matter was.
One of the men, less retieent than the
rest. told Gilbert story which kept him
Enawing his mustache for the rest Of the |
evening.
ut will be enough to send her packing
back to New York If she hears of it," he
''Deuced unpleasant, 1 swear" !
And he reflected on the probable waste of
money and possible 1irtations which
might result from the presence of Dor
othy Home during the coming season in |
the metropolis. So ne bribed heavily. and |
took pains to prevent Dorothy from grow
ing confidential with the maids.
But it was OF no use She came flying in I
from the garden one day, her cheeks |
snow-white with terror. and elung to her !
husband, shaking from head to foot
Gilbert" she said. Il nave seen him!"
He did not pretend not to know what or
who was meant, but he tried to persuade /
ler to be calm. 1t was impossible the
nan should be alive; he himself had seen
him laid out for burial. Nothing would
10 but she must gO-go away somewhere,
anywhere. Gilbert was finally obliged to
tell her the truth. They could not so; he
lad been playing cards too often. and
drinking too mu,h good wine in the last
lew months. So, borne down by his
will. she resigned herself to
waiting till his remittance should arrive
rom England.
But it did not arrive. The rebels
we're gaining ground. Communication was
And there was another reason
Why Dorothy should remain at home.
Two. three. four months passed. The
summer faded into fall. The dead leaves
,egan to whrI about Wharne Castle and
he wind was forever singing some song
Il its own through the great empty halls.
Then. one chilly November night. they
10Th awoke with a start, they knew not
Why or now. There was patch Of moon
light on the floor. He stood in it, smiling
1t them. And while they lay stilI. not
laring to moye-before Gilbert could have
cached for his pistols - the appariuon
vas gone
That was not the last time 1t happened.
some times a week would pass without an
Incident out OF the ordinary Sometimes
or two nights in succession. or even
hree. they would be startled out Of
lecp. sometimes by a cold draft OF air
which came from nowhere-this was on
noonless nights-sometimes by a noise in
he room, and once by the touch Of cold
lnnhs Aftnr that Inst cYnerian.a n,rn- |