The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-24

Won't you give us some of your act
ing this evening, dear Mrs. Steriing?"
| The time was p. m. Through the
window We could see the rain sweeping
over the lawn, it had never ceased TO
do for the last forty-eight hours. and my
guests lounged about the big. uncomfort-
able hall in various stages of ennui.
\ They had been discussing the vital
question of how the evening was to be
got through. Music, suggested by our
Wagner enthusiast; dancing, by the
waltzing girl, had been gloomily reject
ed. And then suddenly as though by an
inspiration. the little blonde widow had
| turned on me and burst out:
Wont you give us some of your act
| ing this evening. dear Mrs. Sterling?"
| You see, the truth was. in the days OF
| her maidenhood, the wife OF the Hon.
Felix Sterling had toured three years as
| leading lady of a well-known provincial
| comedy company. And now, having re-
| signed the plaudits of the tickle multi
| tude for the love and admiration of one.
she still occasionally amused her friends
/ with such snatterings of the histrionic
art as she possessed.
| On this occasion the request that i
| should employ my poor talents to divert
my guests was received with acclama-
| ton.
"Oh. yes Please act for u.s." came in a
chorus from all parts of the hall. And
| young Charlie Fleetwood excitedly
| sprang up and offered to improvise a
\ temporary stage If l would consent to
| perform on It.
| l would not make any rash promises,
| being doubtful. indeed. whether my some
| what limited repertoire included anything
| that would serve as a monologue. And
| the subject was still under discussion
when tea was brought in, and with its
| fragrant presence carried our thoughts
| away from things theatrical to the more
| important matter of satisfying the crav-
| ings of physical nature.
Over the lawn, battling with the wind
and rain. half a dozen eager-looking men
| advanced and steered straight for the
entrance porch
We watched their progress in mild sur
prise, and then suddenly my curiosity
was whetted by recognizing the foremost
of the six as one Of the keepers at the
big lunatic asylum which stands, grim
and silent. about league from Win
ston Lodge.
This man-burly. hard-faeed Yorkshire
man-walked straight into the hall and
asked to see Mr.. Sterling. My husband
door
The keeper Immediately commenced to
talk to him in a loud, excited voice-so
loud in fact that we could not avoid over
hearing part OF what he said. And that
had the effect of throwing my guests into
something of panic. for the keeper spoke
Of lunatic who had escaped from the
asylum that morning after nearly murder
ing an attendant The lunatic was still
at large, and had been seen. not half an
hour ago, lurking in plantation near our
house.
Mercy on us, He may come here at
any moment exclaimed my Aunt Marge-
ry in a state of high terror.
Hadn't we-hadnt we better have all
the doors locked and bolted?'' the waltz !
ing girl suggested, with shudder.
II shall certainly look under the bed |
and in the wardrobe tonight asserted |
the blonde widow; whereupon Charlie |
Fleetwood expressed his firm belief that |
Ladies always did that which sally !
only raised rather feeble laugh.
What sort of chap is hep we heard |
Felix asking the keeper.
Tall chap. sir. Thin. snow-white hair, |
face deadly pale eyes like fire
''Umphi Wen. from what you say ] |
fancy the sooner you get him under lock |
and key again the better it will be for |
heard anything of HIM. Ii we do we will
let you know at once.
1t was with rather grave face that |
my husband returned to us. But he spoke |
some words to allay our alarm. Nothing .
to be frightened about. He would soon !
be caught. There were now securing the .
countryside In search of him
But, nevertheless. it was some time be- I
fore the more nervous of our circle quite
recovered their equanimity, and when the
time came for retiring, and dress for
topic of conversation.
well. have you prepared your pro-
gramme for tonight, Mrs. Sterling?
Charlie Fleetwood asked when We met in
the dining-room.
Don't ask questionsi' I answered |
Let is be a pleasant surprise for you
Afterward both question and answer
proved to have a strange significance.
We were sitting in the drawiug-room |
after dinner. Felix was talking to the
blonde widow about a curious book of
heraldry he had been reading. He said
he would show her the volume in ques-
ton, and rose to go to the library to fetch
it.
Now, Winston Lodge. which we have
been accustomed to ;eake each year for
the shooting season, consists of an i'm
posing central pile, with two long wings
extending east and west. The house was
too big for our requirements; consequent
ly We only occupied the centre and the
west wing. But It was into the east wing
that my husband had now gone, the Ii
brary being situated there
He sad scarcely left the room when l
recollected that the book he wanted was
not in the library at all, and to save him
The futile task of looking for II / ran
after him.
l crossed the hall and plunged down the
narrow oak paneled corridor leading TO
mined, save for the dim moonlight that
the mullioned windows. but
Knew my way well enough, and marched
ilong. without hesitation.
I sod toh Z In loft Ns4ft L
cry. with its rows of Old World faces and ,
grim guardian suits of armor. Out into !
he second passage l went-a low tortuous ,
,assage, very dark and smelling of mus :
Y tapestry.
Suddenly as 1 was cropping my way !
long l saw slight movement in front
4 me, and there but few feet away i
TODD gray. silent human figure.
Felix. is that your L said. And I I
Won't be positive that there was not the 7
uspicion of a culver in my voice. +
nd the figure began to glide down the I
assage. :
Without waiting to get thoroughly :
frightened 1 followed II. quickening my +
ace a little. The mysterious form did +
he same. :
Along and along We went. twisting and :
urning among the labyrinth of passages. | I
nd then at last, coming round a sharp | f
orner, there was shaft OF light through | IA
half-open door-the door of the library. | n
here my husband was. r
L darted forward, feeliug quite brave, | Q
ow that l was in tho vicinity of Felix. | h
tut | was too late. The form glided into ri
ne room. silently closing the door, and 1 -
card the key turning In the lock. n
| stood there for a moment or two n
uzzled, doubtful, alarmed. All at once n
here rushed upon me- the horrible rre- a.
of impending doom. and with II
a wild. irresistible desire to learn what a.
as going on I'm that room. o
| tried the door. IL was securely locked | :.
few yards down the passage high up In y,
lie hall was a small window looking into "