Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-28
CHApTER XvL-QContinued.i

'fhe ghost, Of course" said Madge,
"Don't you see the sublime justice of the
affair? The priest came up the stair to
kill the ghost-hy the way, she wasn't
ghost till afterward. but that's a mere de-
tail-the ghost corues Up the stairs and
kills the priest
.'1'he corridor is not haunted now,
suppose?" said Beryl
"Oh. yes. The good prior still takes his
walks abroad in and out Of season, and
always in that same corridor"
Beryrs lip curled with faint contempt.
HAS anyone pl ofessed to see itY'
81 do most solemniy assure you, Beryl,
that actually did see it once"
MY dear child" exclaimed her friend,
don't try and impose on me any fur
Their"
ITS not imposing on you" sid Madge,
gravely. ut was some years ago now.
In fact-why should l mind saying it,
1t was when you were staying here that
Christmas. and--and Iyca Grant You
know what a number of people were
here? And one night | was looking at
some rooms with the housekeeper that
I wanted arranged for some coming
guests. had never heard this ghost
Eidor quite unconcernedly, when | saw
before me a tall figure in an odd sort Of
black robe | wondered who 1t was, and
called out. At the sound of my voice it
turned. and | caught q glimpse Of pale
face and glittering eyes UNDER the shroud-
ing eow' l can't tell you for moment
what horrible feeling il gave me, l
stood quite still. ! was so frightened, and
then. quite suddenly, it seemed to melt
away, and there was nothing"
Fancy" said Beryl, laconically.
Fancy. indeedr' said her friend, with
an indignant glance. 'It was nothing of
the sort; and nothing would induce me
to go through that corridor at night
nothing in the world"
Wouldn't you come with mey' asked
BeryL. smiling. II really feel very much
Inclined to brave the ghost"
Il hope you won't" said her friend,
energetically. Its all very well to make
fun OF ghosts aud supernatural things,
but I'm sure there's something in them
for all that"
AIR" remarked Beryl, concisely
''Skeptic, beware! Perhaps you'll say
there's no such thing as magnetism or
clairvoyance. or feelings that come by
inspiration. like NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that
warn US of something to be avoided, and
which. IL dlsregarded, invariably lead to
harm. Did you never feel such an an
tipathyT
yes" said Beryl in a low voice,
"tonce"
And who was it gave you the feel
IngT
Count Savona."
"Ah," said Madge, quietly. "You SIZE
my theory is right. You have seen very
little of that man, yet you felt he was
repugnant to you, and he has worked all
the harm of your life. do wonder what
has become of him." she added abruptly.
81 would give anything to know"
1--WE are leaving the field Of mysti-
cism," said Beryl. After all the Count
has done as much harm as lies in his pow
sr Why did you bring him up, Madge?
IL always makes me feel uneanny."
well, let US drop the subject" said
Malge. rising with laugh. and pushing
back her low chair in order to stand be-
side her friend ut is about time for
me to dress. You might come down to
dinner for once" she added, "and help
me entertain the county fogies.'
Beryl shook her head.
Don't ask me to break my rule, dear.
Besides, am much happier here. l can
always work best at night"
Madge was silent for a moment. A
step sounded outside in the corridor, aud
she was listening to 1t, wondering wheth-
err Col. Dunbar was coming for her, as
ne often did. A knock, and then the
door opened, and she saw her husband
standing there with the post bag in his
hand his usually bright face clouded and
troubled.
4Letters?" she said. aud stretched out
her hands lazily.
He gave them to her in silence. He
was looking at Beryl. and she. catching
his gaze, felt her heart give strange.
sudden throb.
''You--you have heard sometLipg?'
she said, hurriedly.
Madge, looking up from her letter at
the sound Of the sharp. troubled ring in
her friends voice, read. too. that strange
expression in her husbands face.
what is it, CosmoY' she asked, tim
Idly.
He held an open newspaper in his hand,
and at their joint questioning be pointed
TO paragraph contained in It,
shipping List" murmured Madge,
vaguely. as she left the room. What Of
thatT"
But Beryi Marsden's face grew like
stone She saw plainly enough what was
printed there. Only list of passengers
homeward bound in the mail steamer
from Madras. and midway in that list
was her husbands name, John Mars
den"
How distinctly she remembered when
last they parted How. in frenzy. and
terror, and Wild grief. she had accused
him OF being the cause Of her children 5
danger. and scarcely paused to say fare
well. in the agony OF mind caused by
tvor Grants message.
The fall OF the wood-ash, the tick OF
the clock, were the only audible sounds.
and she rose from her chair at last with
4 faint, nervous SILVER. and stirred the
logs into brighter blaze.
81 can do no more work tonight" she
Thought to herself. as She put the scat
tered sheets together, and wheeled the
sued the door, and went out into the dim
y lighted passage.
The little study set apart for her use
was far removed from the reception and
mcrnjng rooms. As she moved slowly
along. her eyes turned half-unconsciously
10 the staircase leading 10 that disusci
suite u rooms opening on the north cor
eidor. Her thoughts were far enough
AWAY from any memory Of Madge Dun
bars story. Yet suddenly a deatlly chill