The Holly chieftain., 1901-07-26

I = CHAPTER XVIII. y
Il was > beautiful mornins ainpst
n uaiiA % II Il had bean autulhn. rathl
er than December day. The sun had
advanced Inst high enough IN the
heavens to pour dawn his mifdest and
warmsst beams. and the near village
and the distant hills were bathed In
thief golden light. as. OF old. the fair
Eden spread its beauty forth for
Adams admiring eyes.
It was a blessed day. The most
.careless heart could but drink in its
beauty In = thankful mood: the fresh,
|sweet air brought color to the n,ost
bald cheek. 1t was hard to look 0uk
EA the glorious scene and realizs.
ldat . world 30 lovely and 20 fair
should be the home and haunt OF all
that was contemplate and base-that
the serpent Slander and the gaunt
and Care. and the demon Of Murder,
Ew4lh his red right hand, could fiing i
shadow over all this beauty and cause
each heart that had loved 1t once. al
most to curse its memory In after
years. Fi
And yet, even the singing Of the
blithe birds on that lovely winters day
seemed to say that this might be So
seemed to say that the little children
sporting joyously in the village street
might live to feel that blighting scorn
which worldly spirits only understand;
that those pleasant rustic homes. scat
tered like visible blessings here and
there. might be the haunts OF fiends in
human form. and the burial place of
the hearts best affections.
For the singing OF the birds. in some
strange way. seemed to speak that
morning Of one sorely tried and tempt
ed in her earthly pilgrimage, but now
at rest where no earthly malice could
disturb her-of one whose sweet eyes
tion on that lovely scene. had no false
words ever kinder the fame of love
within her breast. and then left 1t to
go out In darkness. In bitterness, In
tearzeand death!
W, on that lovely day, deed ap-
oltness Of the scene, was about to be
done. On that day. the record Of the
past was to be rudely searched-the
grave made to give up its secrets and
dead. #
nNying undertaken the task. Mr..
Cowley was determined to accomplish
1t: and yet. he would have given
worlds. as the hour drew nigh. that
he had never meddled with the mat
ter--never come to Hollow Ash Hall.
His nephew also seemed nervous
and Ill at ease. As for the ladies'.
they scarcely spoke. but sat huddled
together over the drawing-ro6m fire
all except Rose. and she was wander
ing over the house like an uneasy
spirit, till 1t last they missed her en-
tirely
The morning was rapidly waning
away. and at last Mr.. Cowley rose
from his easy-chair With. the air OF
man who had made up his mind be-
yond the power OF change.
Come, Charles, let us get 1t over...
he said. gravely.
They went out into the hall. Rose
met them there, and By her side stood
= tall and handsome gentleman, with
a foreign air and appearance.
Father" said the girl eagerly. come
back into the library for a moment.
Tbia gentleman knows the secret of
q haunted house. and is, about to
tell Tito you
Mr.. Cowley started. a. well he might.
And who may this gentleman be?'
She asked, somewhat stifhy.
friend Of the vernons," was the
duicK reply. Let him tell you the
&story Of the haunted room"
They went back into the library to-
sethsr, and this was the substance
of the story which he told them Of the
dead girl. the ruined family, and the
deserted house: "a sgS 81
- 500
Marion Escourt had been favored
child from the very hour Of her BIRTH.
True. her young mother died that she
might live. but . sister OF that mother,
good and pure q she. took the infant
to her heart. and cherished II for tbeb
sake Of the dead. Marion's aunt was
ono Of earth's saints. and. under her
loving care the child grew mild. and
1pod ana gentle -belovtd by every one