Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-06-10
CHAPTER TX.

axe me away, whispered COnsuelo
to Uncle Wilfrid, with sob catching her
voice This dance-I-I must go-I
have promised it."
Great heavens l heard Haynes-Hav-
Hand mutter, aud l turned on him. His
very lips were white and hung apart.
while his eyes were riveted on the hand
under the sheath Of pearls.
Everybody said that the ball was a
great success. Lorn Abbey had been
transformed into fairyland. But ] went
through it all as one who has been hyp-
Noticed. After II was all over | was in
my own room-the haunted room of the
tower | had dressed hastily for dinner
in the evening, and had scarcely had
time to bestow a moments thought on
my new quarters until now.
The old-fashioned furniture and that
dreadful canopied bed. where the muir
dered woman had lain, had been replaced
with modern and artistic fittings.
| could not sleep. Strange shadowy
shapes doomed fantastically across the
wall with the wavering glow OF the FIRE.
An eeriness that was a part of the night
and silence and remoteness crept over
me, chilling my flesh.
Suddenly | gave a great start, and
yeaped up to my elbow. The fire had
hickered for the last time, and a pail of
darkness curtained the room. Something
was moving and breathing stealthily over
the head of the bed. l could hear a
board creaking family under a slight
football; yet | was positive that l had
locked my door. and there was &c other
mode either of ingress or egrCSs.
In another instant. it seme,l, the pres
ence-whatever it might be-,vould have
touched me. ] should be feeling those
hong, signing breaths tanning my very
face. With a shudder of something near
er supernatural horror than l had ever
known before. i sprang out of bed, and,
feeling through the darkness for the
nantel, struck q match.
The flame OF the wax vesta fiared up
brightly for an instant. making a circle
OF light for a few yards around me; and,
as the ftful flicker broke into the gloom,
/ had an impression-rathert than actual
ly saw-that some small object moved
along the wall. halfway between the
floor and ceiling. l took a couple OF
quick steps toward il. and as l did so it
disappeared. actually seeming to melt
into invisibility.
waited moment or two. motionless.
and then, as the match burnt my hand,
l involantarily blew ii out before light
ing the dressing table candles. as l had
intended to do. No sooner was l once
more in darkness than u sound, between
q sigh and grOan. Jared the silence.
/ was not a superstitious man. and in
such crises as had so far come to me
during my twenty-nine years OF lie |
had not shown myself a coward. l was
certainly not afraid OF danger. and yet
the thought OF that gray, cropping hand
crawling Spiderlike along the wall. and
the sibiant hiss of that long-drawn
breath in the darkness. did check the
healthy current OF my blood.
My bed stood In the place once occu-
pied by the other, and as l lighted the
candles for second more thorough in
spection OF the place could not forbear
glance at the pillows l had so lately
Quilted with a thought in my mind OF
the bleeding wrath OF the unfortunate
Hannah Haynes.
All across the laee-frilled pillows on
which I had uneasily sought slumber q
Few minutes ago lay stain Of crimson
which had not been there before. Great
round drops. biz as those which fall in 3
summer thunder shower. were hespatter-
ed over the white linen, in some places
having run together. | held my candle
above the place. staring at it, almost
ready 10 doubt the evidence OF my own
eyes. and the spots gliStened wet IN the
wavering light.
There was no sleep for me during what
remained OF that night.
was fally dressed before 6 o'clock
xad stepped out into the sweet air or the
morning. Mechanically | took the way
which led to the water. aud as l nearei
the shining exlanse my eye was attract
ed by the new boat house.
Ii was not completed as yet, and ne
boats were supposed TO be kept there.
But some one had used one yesterday;
and Il had been left. fastened insecure
\. IS though challenging the honesty Of
the neighbOrhood. | took up the scuiis
and pushed gently out from under the
shelter Of the roof.
My eyes wandered over tae meadow
and suddenly they were arrested by 8
moving figure. dressed in white or paleSl
gray. Ii was Consuelo Hope. There
was no mistaking that slight. supple
form. taller than the generally OF won
en-.
As my eyes d-velt upon her. / began Al
last 10 realize that she was goias
straight. with an air OF assured deter
mination. towards the grave OF Florencs
HAYNES, the white hesdstone guarding
which I could just see from where | SAT
What was there. l wondered. about tbs