Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-04-15

tient at the intrusion, and in the pale
moonlight / recognized the face of Miss
Lacroix.
"Miss Lacroixl'' exclaimed.
"Yon here!"
ooh, Mr.. Unwin," she began, in
evident tension of feeling, 81 could not
rest indoors, and SO came down to see
Uncle Jaques; I could not remain with
him, and so came out here to look at
this, which always fascinates me-
'Lookl'
I stood by her side and looked; this
is what 1 saw: An inverted reflection
Of the tall chimney of the chemical
works which was emitting. as it often
did late in the evening, its strange
pinkish vapor; this vapor in the refec-
tion looked as if it were slowly rising
from the bottom of the pond, and, as
its color blended with the tints the
water somehow took as the breeze ruff
fled it this way or that, produced the
impression of slowly simmering caul-
dron of red, green, and copper-brown
fame. This was so wonderfully weird
a fancy that I confess 1 felt my skin
creep. I turned my eyes away, and
then looked again, and again, but the
impression was ever the same.
otis indeed very strange!" said.
els it not?" said she. 'You see it
also? Mr.. Unwin," she went on, turn
ing suddenly to me, and speaking with
a vehemence which increased as the
words came, "I have wished to tell you.
You are clergyman, and must hear
me make my confession; and you will
keep it secret to yourself. You have
heard, perhaps, that my father-my
dear father!-is thought to be dead.
now just a year ago?'
"I have" said 1.
''He went to London and to Paris
On business, and he never came back.
1t happened while he was away that I
lived all by myself at home. I slept
sound that night without dreaming,
when suddenly had dream. I saw
vapor or flame slowly rising just like
that saw man plunge into it, and
I knew the man was my father-I felt
he was. awoke at once all trembling
and did not go to sleep again. That
was all my dream"
care you sure" said, f'that you
had not heard some one-Mrs. Stein
hardt, for instance suggest that he had
been drowned, and then you went and
dreamt of the peculiar appearance of
this pond?"
"No, no, MOI" she protested with
rapid vehemence. 'Did not say that
I dreamed it the very night on which
all trace of him was lost from his hotel
in London? Nobody thought then that
he was not coming home soon. And I
do not think had noticed this pond
then. I have dreamed the same dream
several times since. but that may be
nothing at all. I shall very likely
dream it tonight
turned away from the pond and
she followed me. We walked along in
silence for some distance.
"Ohr" she exclaimed, at length, "I
do long SO very much to know what has
really happened to my dear father-my
poor father"
81 wish 1 could help you to find out, 1"
I said; "indeed I do. You may be
sure 1 shall think of all you have told
me, and shall try to discover anything
more. 1 have friends in London who
may be of use, if may mention it to
them"
"Oh, certainly, "she answered. "You
are very kind. Bacon's Hotel, Great
Queen Street, is where he was last
heard Of"
At certain corner where the lane to
Timperley Hall diverged from the way
through the village, she insisted on
parting from me. let her go with lit
tie hesitation, for knew there was no
fear of her being molested.
1t may be presumed that while I
smoked my post-coenal pipe thought
over the strange scene at the pond, and
all that Miss Lacriox had said. It was
certainly very mysterious, but all the
conclusion could reach concerning it
that night was resolve to go and look
at the pond by day.