Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-05-06
CHAPTER i

pause aiHioSt SOieInn, at the AOoL OI q
broad staircase leading up to the tower
room.
The Abbey had its history-its mystery,
as well. 1t was a remarkable pile, but
its recent assC citation with tragic and
thrilling events was what made it II
closer interest to the towns people near
by, to the country at large. The gloom
and horror of a curdling happening were
just beginning TO fade away. | had been
sent down by my uncle, Sir Wilfrid
Amory, to look over the pace with a
view to repurchasing. Now, my mission
was executed. | had certain. improve
ments to suggest. various IDEAS that il
would take mopey to carry out. | was
thinking over al this, whea l started
back amazed
For the first moment I was aware that
some one else besides myself was in The
building. 1t was woman. She stood
at the entrance to the tower room where
the great clock was-the ancient time
piece that faced its dial from the arts
tic front of the great hall. / could see
her hands against the clock works There
was whirr. Then she came down the
stairs. Calmly. naturally, she met me.
et at her as | had never looked at any
woman in my life before. She was very
beautiful, surprisingly beautiful, with a
strange. unearthly loyeliness which might
have belonged TO Undine.
She was as slim as she was tall. and,
as she stood featlessly answering my
gaze, she swayed a little, like a lily in
the wind. Her face was pale and pure
as the rich petals Of ma ynolia. Its
only color lay in the lips, which cleaned
out from the whiteness of her skin, moist
and crimson as carnations after rain
and the long, dark arch of the brows and
the lashes. Her dress was of a light
shade of pearl-gray cloth. or serge, made
simply in modern fashion. A gray straw
hat to match. with two or three soft
plumes, | now observed that she held in
one hand. 1t was the hand nearest the
window, therefore more distinctly visible
than it would otherwise have been. and
was so curiously gloved that, even in that
moment of bewilderment, l was addition
ally puzzled.
Though | had been guilty OF much star
ing-as was Tut natural, perhaps-it had
somehow not. on the instant, occurred TO
me to speak. Drawing the hand with
the hat in it quietly out of M sight, the
Woman in Gray said:
Il suppose you took me for a ghost?"
Her voice was a sweet. low contralto,
Of curiously haunting and penetrating
quality.
For a few minutes. must confess. 4"
l returned, you certainly had me ut a
disadvantage"
and yen consider me mysteeious?" she
went on.
Even more so than most women"
Perhaps, if feel inclined. shall puz-
Ele you still more. But | am not tramp,
1 am not thief. and | am not a ghost"
Il could scarcely have taken You for
either of the former. But may l ask
you one question. even though you may
intend TO remain a mystery? Did you
wind the clock just nowY
Il did"
with any particular object?"
Naturally. But that | am not bound
TO explain"
Perhaps l can guess it, ] said, fas-
cinated by her beauty, her Unexpected
ness, her odd yet dainty manner, into
forgetting our gruesome surroundings.
Il am sure you cannot. But | can
guess what you would guess. You would
fancy | had wound the clock out of pure
mischief--a freak rather youthful for my
years-for the sake of surprising and
startling the superstitious villagers who
haven't heard it strike for many years
perhaps"
II confess something OF the sort was
In my mind
She went down the steps, and | fol
lowed, with subtle fragrance OF an un
known flower waited back 70 me from
her hair and from her draperies. Some
strange and indefnable magnetism seem
ed borne from her personality to NEAR
electricity which thrilled and startled me
you came here she said. Ito lool
over the houseT"
Yes" I answered; but it is so darl
thet-
'You would fain leave it to the ghosts
You will come again tomorrow morn
ing, them"
Yes, it will be better. / shall stay a
the inn in the village tonight"
Ant was breath rather than al
exclamation-''yOu will stay ut the inn
l, too, am at the inn. | would be glat
IL we might walk there together. il yoI
have no objection"
If l dared" | began. hut she Gu
me short in matter-of-fact manner as
sumed for the occasion.
Would you be very much astonished.
abe asked abruptly, If l told you thar
was a mind reader?"
MY power OF being aStoaished ha,
been slightly numbed for the present,
l returned.
THAT is all the better; it saves trou
Die. Well, then. l read your mind.
see why you have cone to the House O
Fear, and l can tell you your name
Do you believe thatT'
laughed eourteously, evasively. An,
by this time we had reached the from
door, which | had left open when l en-
tered.
Your name is Terence Dsrkmore."
After all. could still be astonished
Ny thoughts travelled to the village inn
but l had not told my name there, an,
so far as | was aware. no one knew M,
in the neighborhoOd.
When you are not at your uncle
place in Essex. you are with him in Lon
don. az Portman square. can ever
tell you the number. But now you sc,
that l know you. l know that you ar,
gentleman. and that 1 can safely aSl
favOe Of you"
"A hundred" | murmured. staring a
her half dazed.
One viii be enough-for lie moment
There is grave somewhere near III
house. that l must find before l return
60 the village VIII you 80 with mey'
"A grave" l echoed vaguely.
YES. on the Abbey land. J hope tina
won't put You off buying tho placer
/ murmnred something. aud added tina
I should feel she had paid me an homo
IN allowing me TO be her COMPANION. Blu
as guiding her
Il know you cannot do that" she said
Il ought 10 be able to lind the spot. No
that l have ever seen il BEFORE, yo'
saow. hut have been told. And-here
little l,,=ss OF the house and ground
which may help me. hope"
Il must now have beer nearly s o'clock
aud, as the last day OF October was ap
preaching. the twilight had already deep
ened almost 20 darkness. We could stil
eaSily $50 orr way itaf,ra s1S-tha SiSfan