The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-03-28


year for the shooting season, con-
sists Of an imposing central pile,
with two log WINGS extending cast
and west. The house was too biz
for our requirements, consequently
we only occupied the center and the
west wing. But it was into the east
wing that my husband had now
gone, the library being situated
there.
He had scarcely left the room
when / recollected that the book he
wanted was not in the library at all,
and to save him the futile task of
looking for it | ran after him.
| crossed the hall and plunged
down the narrow oak paneled corri-
dor leading to the east wing. My
course was unillumined save for the
dim moonlight that penetrated the
mullioned windows, but / knew my
way well enough and marched along
without hesitation.
| passed through the lofty pie
ture gallery, with its rows of old
world faces and grim guardian suits
of armor. Out into the second pas
sage | went, low, tortuous passage,
very dark and smelling of musty
tapestry.
Suddenly, as l was CROPPING my
way along, | saw slight movement
in front Of me, and there, but few
feet away, stood gray, silent hui
man figure.
"Felix, is that you?" | said, and
L won't be positive that there was
not the suspicion of a quoyer in my
voice.
There came no answer TO the
question, and the figure commenced
to glide away down the passage.
Without waiting to get thorough
ly frightened, followed it, quick
ening my pace Il little. The ilyste-
rious form did the same.
Along and along we went, twist
ing and turning among the laby-
rinth of passages, and then at last,
coming round sharp corner, there
was a shaft of light through a half
open door-the door of the library,
where my husband was.
! darted forward. feeling quite
brave, now that | was in the vicini-
ty of Felix But was too late. The
form ghded into the room, silently
closing the door, and | heard the
key turning in the lock.
| stood there for a moment or
two, puzzled, doubtful, alarmed
All at once there rushed upon me a
horrible presentiment Of impending
doom and with it a wild, irresistible
desire to learn what was going on
in that room.
l tried the door 1t was securely
locked. A few yards down the pas
sage, high up in the wall, was a
small window looking into the libra
ry. Directly underneath ii was a
heavy oak table. On to that table
l scrambled and glued my eyes to
the dust dimmed pane.
Shall | ever forget what ! saw?
l have dreamed Of it a thousand
times and awaked shuddering in an
agony Of terror.
Felix, Felix! Turn round
Lookp
Those were the words | ahric!;ed
as / dashed my bare hand through
the window and withdrew it, bleed
ing,
And my warning was not mo-
ment too soon. AS my husband
knelt in corner over pile of
books the tall, white haired figure
was already close on him, an up
raised, weighted stick in his hand,
the raging fire of insanity cleaning
in his eyes.
But | was just in time. On hear
ing my voice my husband sprang
round, caught the descending stuck
on his arm and closed with his ad-
versary in a fearful life and death
struggle.
Which was worse, wonder, to
grapple with that madnian. to have
his eyes staring into yours, to feel
his hot breath on your face and to
know that gradually he was over
powering you, or to be the one who
looked on, to see the being you low
ed best on earth fighting desperate
ly, fighting for very life, and yet to
stand there utterly impotent?
But no. Thank heaven, | was not
entirely impotent. With cry OF
encouragement to my husband, !
sprang down, punched up my skirts
and raced back along the passage.
| ran as | never had run before. !
knocked against furniture in the
darkness, | stumbled and fell, but
still, impelled as by supernatural
force, | rushed on.
Through the picture gallery ]
went, down the second corridor,
across the hall, into the drawing
room,
/ must, have looked a remarkable
figure as rushed in among my
guests. My hand was bleeding, and
the blood had stained my white
-