The Jennings daily record., 1902-05-29

as mild as IL it had been autumn. rath-
er than a December day. The sun had
advanced just high enough in the
heavens to pour down his m1ldest and
warmest beams, and the near village
and the distant hills were bathed in
the golden light, as. of old. the fair
Eden spread its beauty forth for
Adams admiring eyes.
1t was a blessed day. The most
careless heart could but drink in its
beauty in thankful mood; the fresh,
sweet air brought color to the most
pallid cheek. 1t was hard to look out
upon the glorious scene and realize
that world so lovely and so fair
should be the home and haunt of all
that was contemplate and base-that
the serpent Slander and the gaunt
fiend Care, and the demon of Murder.
with his red right hand, could fling a
shadow over all this beauty and cause
each heart that had loved it once. al
most to curse its memory in after
years.
And yet even the singing of The
blithe birds on that lovely winters day
seemed to say that this might be So
seemed to say that the little children
sporting joyously in the village street
might live to feel that biighting sco-n
which worldly spirits only understand;
that those pleasant rustic homes, scat
tered like visible blessings here and
there, might bn the haunts of fends in
human form, and the burial place of
the hearts best affections.
For the singing of the birds. in some
strange way seemed to speak that
morning of one sorely tried and tempt
ed in her earthly pilgrimage, but now
at rest where no earthly malice could
disturb her-of one whose sweet eyes
would have sazed in calm contempla-
tion on that lovely scene. had no false
words ever kindled the flame of love
within her breast, and then left il to
go out in darkness. in bitterness. in
tears and death.
Yet on that lovely day. deed ap-
Sarently unsufted to the sylvan love
1iness of the scene, was about to be
done. On that day. the record OF the
past was to be rudely searched-the
grave made to give up its secrets and
its dead
Having underta ken the task. Mr..
Cowley was determined to accomplish
It; and yet. he would have given
worlds, as the hour drew nigh, tha,
he had never meddled with the mat
ter-never come to Hollow Ash Hall.
His nephew also seemed nervous
and i'll at ease. AS for the ladies.
they scarcely spoke, but sat huddled
together over the drawing-room fire
all except Rose, and she was wander
Ing over the house like an uneasy
spirit, till at last they missed her en-
urely
away. and at last Mr.. Cowley rose
from his easy-chair with the air OF
man who had made up his mind be-
yond the power of change.
Come. Charles. let ns get it over"
he said. gravely.
They went out into the hail Rose
met them there. and by her side stood
q tall and handsome gentleman. with
a foreign air and appearance.
Father" said the girl eagerly. come
back into the library for a moment.
This gentleman knows the secret of
the haunted house. and is about to
tell it to YOU
MIR. gCowley started as we'll ne might.
And who may this gentleman be-"
he asked somewhat stiffiy. ..
"A friend of the Vernons." was the
quick reply. Let him tell you the
story of the haunted room"
They went back into the library to-
gether and this was the substance
of the story which he told them of the
dead girl. the ruined family and the
deserted house:
Marion Escourt had been a favored
child from the very hour of her birth.
True, her young mother died that she
might live. but sister of that mother,
good and pure as she, took the infant
to her heart, and cherished it for the
sake of the dead Marion's aunt was
one of earth's saints, and. under her
loving care the child grew mild. and
good and gentie-beloyed by every one
who knew her. Her father was an old
man, and being the possessor of great
wealth, he chose to indulge his only
and darling child in every wish she
expressed. He seemed but to live that
he might please her; yet. strange to
say, in spite of all this injudicious
fondness. she was quite unspoiled.
A slight touch of haughtiness there
might have been in her manner. bur
she was no more to blame for that
than that her eyes were so large and
dark, or her form so reed-like and
graceful. With the beauty of her
mother, she had inherited the stately