The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-10-25

oil the walls Of the castle; q scream not
of rain, but OF triumph think It must
have lasted half a minute. and then came
silence, but still no one moved; we
waited as II after lightning for the
thunder.
The first person I saw was the earl.
His face was not white, but gray. His
teeth were fixed and he was staring at
the door, waiting for 1t to open. Some
men FASTENED to the door and he cast
out his arms and drove them back. But
he never looked at them. The heir saw
with his hands over his face. Many of
the men stepped in front of the women.
There was no whispering, l think. We
all turned our eyes to the door.
Some ladies' screamed lone, l have
heard, swooned. but we gave her not
glance) when the door opened. 1t was
only the African servant who entered,
man most Of us had heard Of. but few
had seen. He made a sign to the earl,
who drew back from him and then step
ped forward. The heir hurried to the
door and some of US heard this con-
versation:
mot you. father-me."
"Stay here, my son: entreat. I COM
mand.s
Both" said the servant authoritative
ly. and then they went out with him and
the door closed
The dancing was resumed almost i'm
mediately. This Is a strange thing to
tell. Only a woman could have forced
US to Seem once more as we were before
that horrid cry; and the woman was our
hostess. As the door closed, my eyes met
hers, and saw TINT she had been speak
Ing TO the musicians. She was smiling
graciously, as II what had occurred had
been but an amusing interlude. saw her
take her place beside her partner, and
begin the waltz again with the music.
All looked at her with amazement, dread,
pity, suspicion, but, they had to dance.
docs she know nothingW asked my
self, overhearingr her laughing merrily
as she was whirled past me, or was
this the woman's part In the tragedy
while the men were doing theirsf What
were they doing7 1t was whispered In
the the ballroom that they were In the
open looking for something that had es-
capped from the castle.
An hour dare say passed, and neither
the earl nor his son had returned The
dancing went on, but 1t had become an
uncanny scene, every one trying to read
the others face-the men uncomfortable,
as IL feeling that they should he else
where, many Of the women craven, only
the countess In high spirits. BY this
time it was known to all of US that the
door of the ballroom was locked on the
outside. Guests babe our hostess good
night. but could retire no farther. One
man dared request her to bid the serv-
ants unlock the door, and she smiled
and asked him for the next waltz
About 2 O'Clock in the morning many
Of us heard a child's scream, that came
as we thought from the hall Of the
castle
A moment afterward we again heard it
this time from the shrubbery. l saw
the countess shake with fear at last,
but it was only for moment. Already
she was reckoning to the musicians to
continue playing. One of the guests
was the child's father.
"You must bid your servants unbar
that door," be said TO the countess
sternly, "or will force 1t open"
"You cannot leave this room, sir" she
answered quite composedly, and then he
broke out passionately, fear for his child
mastering him, something about the dew
lis work, he said.
that door who would not hesitate to kill
you." she replied. and we knew that she
spoke OF the native servant.
"Order him to open the door,"
81 will not"
In another moment the door would
have been broken open had she not put
her back against 1t. Her eyes were now
flashing. The men hooked at each other
IN doubt, and each of them, know, was
for tearing her from the door. 1t was
then that we heard the report like gun.
1t is my belief that the countess saved
the life Of her guest by preventing his
leaving the ballroom. For nearly another
hour she stood at the door, and the serv-
ants gathered around her like men ready
to support their mistress. ,
We were now In groups, whispering
and listening, and ! shall tell what l
heard, believing n TO be all that was
heard by any of u.s. though some of those
present that night now tell stranger tales.
l heard child laughing, and doubt not
that we were meant. to hear it. to appease
the parents fear: heard the tramp of
menain the hall and on the stairs, and
afterward an unpleasant dirge from
above.
A carriage drove up the walk and stop
ped at the door. Then came heavy noises
On the stair, as of some weight being.
slowly moved down 1t. BY and by the car
riage drove off. The earl returned to the
ballroom. but no one was allowed to leave
It until daybreak. lost sight of the
countess when the earl came in, but many
say that he whispered something to her,
to which she replied. THANK Cod and
then tainted. No explanation of this odd
affair was given to the company. but it is
believed that the Thing. whatever It was,
was shot that night and taken away by
the heir and the servant to Africa, there
to be buried