Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-06-07

Don't ask questions!" / answered.
"Let it be pleasant surprise for you"
Afterward both question and an
swer proved 10 have q strange signifi-
canoe.
II.
We were sitting in the drawing
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 question, and rose to go TO the Ii
brary 10 fetch it.
Now, Winston Lodge, which we have
been accustomed TO take each year
, for the shooting season, consists Of an
imposing central pile, with two long
wings extending east and west. The
house was too big for our require
ments; consequently we only occupied
the center and the west wing. But il
was into the east wing that my hus-
band 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.
I crossed the hall and plunged down
the narrow, oak-paneled corridor
leading to the east wing. My course
was unillumined, save for the dim
| moonlight that penetrated the mul.
! honed windows, but | knew icy way
well enough, and marched along with
out hesitation.
/ passed through the lofty picture
gallery with its rows of old-worlC
faces and grim guardian suits OF
arnor. Out into a second passage
wcnt-a low, tortuous passage, very
dark, and smelling Of musty tapestry
Suddenly, as | was groping my way
along, ! saw slight movement in
front OF me, and there, but few feet
away, stood a gray, silent human fig
ure.
Felix, is that you?" I said. And
won't be positive that there was not
the suspicion Of a culver in my voice
There came no answer TO the ques.
ton, and the figure commenced to
glide away down the passage.
Without waiting TO get thoroughly
frightened | followed it, quickening
my pace a little The mysterious
form did the same.
Along and along we went, twisting
and turning among the labyrinth OF
| passages, and then at last, coming
round u half-open door-the door OF
the library, where my husband was.
l darted forward, feeling quite
brave. now that l was in the vicinity
of Felix But 1 was 100 late. The
form glided into the room, silently
closing the door, and l heard the key
turning in the lock.
stood there for a moment or two
puzzled, doubtful, alarmed. All a.
once there rushed upon me n horrible
presentiment of impending doom, and
with il a wild, irresistible desire &c
learn what was going on i'm that room
/ tried the door. IL was securely
locked. \ few yards down the pas
sage. high up in the wall. was a small
window looking into the library. Di
rectly underneath il was a heavy GAL
table Onto that table I scrambled
and glued my eyes to the dust-dimmeC
pane.
Shall | ever forget what | saw?
have dreamed Of il n thousand times
and awakened shuddering in an agon,
Of terror.
"FeliN! Felix, turn round, Look
Those were the words / shriellcd a
! dashed my bare hand through tn
window and withdrew it, bleeding.
And my warning was not momen
too soon. As my husband llnelt i'm
corner over pile Of books. the tai
white-haired figure was already clos
: ON him. an appraised, weighted stick il
his hand, the raging fire Of insanit
cleaning in his eyes.
But / was just in time On hearin
my voice my husband sprang round
caught the descending stick on hi
. arm, and closed with his adversary i
, a fearful life and death struggle.
I Thank heaven, / was not cntirel
impotent. With cry of encourag,
. ment to my husband I sprang dowr
2 pushed up my skirts, and raced bac
along the passage. ran as ! neve
had run before. | knocked agains
, furniture in the darkness. / stumble
and fell but still. impelled as by
supernatural force, | rushed on.
T. Through the picture gallery wen
y down the second corridor, across tn
{ hall. into the drawing-room.