The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-05
THE ADVERTISERS DAILY SHORT STORY

1 common. in his tastes since I,had denied him wife; ! wonder If he knew what
 Mss Reynolds laughed outright when she heard my order. You can't make | mo believe that you will 20 into that su- icide's room, with its horrible associa. tions. and sleep tonight. You'1l get out | high spirited girls always do in the end. safe.''
 jury bv. adding that there was probably secret passage built for adventurous
 And then Tom and Tea talked of the steel industry. and Tom asked me about to be enticed into giving him any oi the thousand and one delightful messages that had been sent him. Mi6 Reynolds and finished our dinner in delightful commonplaces, while she took In every detail of my costume. She had been Tn Halifax four months. and her neck nx- from morning til night. She was always
 As we passed out of the dining room Theodore asked me if I really meant what I said. Miss Reynolds laughed doubt. ingiy. and I heard Tom say to her: T Sen e do 0isvs M ees snas Whn Ana them hs stopped. for I was watching him, straight and level. with blazing eyes.
 I picked a piece of lint from my gray am going to sleep in Number 59. 'Teddie Coulson. and you know it. without ask ing E me-" me- ,,,r.. x.r. sent to Number 50: and we all followed the boy. through the old-fashioned parlor, and the queer little conservatory. and out the long hall. over. looking the harbor. The boy slammed open the door. and threw my bags down in Number 59. while I stood idly at the eye In the mouth of the ocean. soft voiced maid brought us chairs, and we sat at the broad window in the hall until Il o'clock. Every time that I forgave and call me Peg. the light would glint on that hateful little ring. and something in my soul would shut with click.
 I was drowsily weary when at last three faces; one scornful. one tenderly so- licitous. and one full of dumb pleading. But the hand which held open the door for . last glance was marred by gold band How hated that girl!
 Number 59 was a match for the heavy, old silver in the dining room, the quaint, carved furniture in the parlor, and those weird works of art adorning the mantels. corner of the room. At the side was a small fireplace, now clean and brushed of tell-tale ashes. Over by the window. where the grey light from the sea strug- Sled through III the carry udWu, StoOu d huge bureau. I went and looked at my self in the glass. And then a horrid fear crept upon me. Under my feet stretched a great rug. much too large. for the room, and pushed under the legs of the bed to get rid of the extra corners. did not dare look under that rug. Instead of my own face. young and heavy with sleep. seemed to see the wretched coun- tenance of another woman. alone. mate less because of her too great love. and sinking to an agonized death by her own hand. I moved from the spot. If the mirror had helped in the doing of the evil deed. the rug was guilty of hiding
 I remember thinking of everything in hazy way. was very unhappy, but l fell asleep at my prayers, ana nnally climbed into the bed, to slide through 3,e00 miles of heavy, stolid slumber.
 It was early in the morning when I awoke. Too early for the dawn to show. It was raining. too, and the wind howled about the corners of the roof. like an enormous man. who was i'll. It was a ed, and keen-eared to my senses. A gurg- ling, slop. slop. something thick like blood. Weird and bubbnng the noise grew nearer.
 Then sudden, uncanny, horrible. heard my heart beats-in twos and threes-with startling jumps. My hair stood on end. my body laid helpless In the great bed. For there. moving in that tiny room
 
 and lean, coming nearer and nearer. with beastly slop. slop. gurgle and bubble of blood. l remember of wondering why there was so much blood from a bullet coming toward me. It fumbled with the covers, trying to turn them up from the bottom. Livid fear held me. tongue-tied and trembling. to the bed. And then the figure's voice. Clear and golden. English all over, came the beautifully modulated tones: Dear me, but have had the trouble this night. My feet like ice, and never a bit of hot water. This water will never get them back to their proper state. have a mind to rouse the proprietor" l sat bolt upright with a scream of laughter: The old lady. for me. Sheer horror tied her tongue, that had but moment gone, been so Timber. Do you know where you are?" said l.
 You are in Number 59."
 I shall never forget her face. The prin- ciples of a lifetime were forgotten. She thought l was ghost, and the ghost or an American at that! With terrible screech she was gone down the hall. spreading her fright like disease through the hotel l moved in the bed. and the gurgle again fell upon my ears. picked up lukewarm gum water bottle. and [ was still bowling and hugging that awful instrument of torture when Theodore and Tom Merrill burst into my room. have always told Tom since that he &C., tuaily patted me on the back that night and called me darling" while he was attired in a bathrobe and pajamas, and l in most fetching nightdress, covered, alas, with a blanket. I couldn't make them understand. They wanted to soothe me and quiet my nerves, and those two idiots of men actually spilled half pint of Overholt before could get anything into their heads. They might have known that 1t was huge joke instead of mysteries, though I never, never told how that mistaken old English woman did really scare me into a fit. At last, aided by my faithful water bottle, I got the story out and was left alone. But not before Tom had whispered: "You'il have to marry me the first thing in the morning, Peggy love. to save my repu. tation." And that's why went to sleep the second time that night the happiest girl in the world, and the sunshiny dawn of my wedding day streamed through the