Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-08-08
doubts ana expectations rendered neces

maj Tor though the bolted door be
tween me and the hall promised III
personal safety there presently rose
some faro1f place a smothered repeti
tlon OF that same RAT, tap tap whic
had sent the shudders over rae upon M
sudden entrance into the house early i
the morning Heard now, it brought
weakness upon me which ! did no
know existed i'll my nature and Will
with this recognition Of MY tominin
susceptibility To impressions there cam
certain pride III the stanchness Of pur
pose which led me to restrain all ."
my whistle | was more than glad whel
even this sound ceased and | had only
to expect the sWisling noise Of = Skin
down the hall, and that stealthv lock
ing Of door ! had taken the precau
ton Of leaving
1t came sooner than I expected came
just in the way it had the previou,
night, only that the person paused q
moment to listen before Mastering back.
The silence within must have sati SIZED
her, for | heard low sigh like that OF
relief before the steps took themselves
back. That they would turn my way
gave me a momentary concern, but no,
| had too completely lulled their sus.
piciuns, or let me be faithful TO all the
possibilities Of the case, they put per
haps too much confidence in the powder
with which they had seasoned my
nightly cup of tea for them TO doubt
hat | was soundIy asleep in my own
quarters.
Three minutes after | had followed
those steps as far Down the corridor as l
dared 70 90. for since my last appear
ance in it candle had been lit IN the
main hall. and faint as was its elimmer
il was still glimmer into the circle Of
which l felt it would be foolhardiness
for me TO step. At some 20 PAGES then
from the opening l paused and gave
myself up to listening. Alas, there was
ple,.ty now for Inc to hear
You have heard the sound; we all
have heard the sound. but few of Us III
a Giesolate structure such as ! stood lis
tening in and at the hour and under the
influences Of midnight. The measured
tread Of men struggling under a heavy
weight and that weieht-how well l
knew it; as well as if had seen it, as
really did in my imagination.
1t came from the adjoining corridor,
from the room | had found no oppor-
tunity Of entering that day, and il APP
preached surely and slowly the main
hall near which | was standing, but il
such a position it would be impossible
for me 10 see anything if they took the
direct course to the head Of the stairs
and 20 down, as there was every reason
"a expect they would. did not dare 10
advance. however. so concentrated my
faculties anew upon listening, I'LL sud
denly l perceived on the great white
wall in front Of me-the wall Of the
main hall. mean, toward which the
opening looked-the outline Of shadow
pass and realized that the candle had
been placed il such a position that the
wall must receive the full shadow Of
this passing cortege. And 80 II was
saw it. huge, distorted and suggestive
beyond any picture ever beheld, the
passing Of body TO its long home, car
ried by six anxious figures, four Of
which seemed TO be those OF women.
But that long home! Where was that
likely TO be: 1t was question so i'm
portant that for moment | could think
of nothing but how could follow them
without running the risk Of discovery.
They had reached the head Of the stairs
l. ~, i h,arI Nf5rr L-pI1iy--f
low, firm voice enjoining silence. Then
they began to descend.
Ere they reached the foot a doubt
struck me Would it be better TO follow
them or to take the opportunity Of every
member Of the household being engaged
in this task to take peep into the room
where the death had occurred: l had
not decided when l heard them take the
forward course from the foot Of the
stairs to what to my strainlng ear
seemed to be the entrance to the dining
room corridor. But as in my anxiety to
determine this fact slipped far enough
forward 10 make sure that their destlua-
ton lay sums>here within reach Of the
flower parlor, | was so struck by the adj
vantages To be gained by cautious use
OF tho trapdoor in William 5 room that
l hesitated no longer. but sped with
what ,wiftness l could toward the spot
from which l had SO lately heard this
strange procession come.
a narrow band Of light lying across
the upper end of this long corridor
proved that the door was not only ajar
but that "a second candle was burning in
the room was about TO 50 daringly III
wade but this was scarcely to be regret
ted since there could be no question Of
the emptiness Of the room. The six fig
ures l had seen go by embraced every
one who by any possibility could be
considered as having part in this trans
Mr.. Simsbury, Miss
Lucetta. Hannah and Mother
Jane. No one else was left 10 guard
this room, so l pushed the door open
quite boldly and entered.
What | saw there l will relate later,
Or. rather, l will but hint at now
There were a bed with a sheet thrown
back, stand covered with yials, bu-
reau with a mans shaving parapher-
MALTA upon il. and on the wall such pic
lures as only sporting gentlemen delight
in. The candle was guttering on a small
table upon which, to my momentary as
constituent, a Bible lay open. Not hay
ng my glasses with me, l could not see
What portion Of the sacred word was
hus disclosed. but / took the precau-
ion to indent the upper leaf with my
.humh mil lint miCht lind II agaln in