Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-04-19
CHAPTER I


cent grounds. Now I had come to
pause almost solemn. at the foot of
broad staircase leading up to the tower
room.
The Abbey had its history--its mystery.
as well. 1t was n remarkable pile. but
its recent association with tragic and
thrilling events was what made 1t Uf
closer interest to the townspcoplc near
by, TO the country at large. The gloom
and horror Of n curdling happening were
just beginning to fade away. ! had been
sent down by my uncle, sir Wilfrid
Amory. to look over the place with
view to rcpurchasing. Now. my mission
was executed. I had certain improve
ments to suggest. various ideas that IL
would take money to carry out. | was
thinking over all this, when | started
back amazed.
For the first moment ! was aware that
some one else besides myself was In the
building. IL was n woman. She stood
at the entrance to the tower room where
the great clock was--thc 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 a whirr. Then she came down the
stairs. Calmly. naturally, she met me. l
was amazed, startled. perplexed. look
ed at her rs I had never looked at any
woman In my life before. She was very
beautiful, surprisingly beautiful. with n
strange, unearthly lovelincss which might
have belonged to Undine.
She was as slim as she was tall. and.
IS she stood fcarlessly answering my
gaze, she swayed little. like u lily In
che wind. Her face was pale and pure
- the rich petals Of Il magnolia. Its
only color lay In the lips. which CLEANED
out from the wilderness 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 light
shade Of pearl.gray cloth. or serge. made
simply In modern fashion. A gray straw
hat to match. with two or three soft
plumcs, ] now observed that she held in
one hand. 1t was the hand nearest the
window, therefore more distinctly visible
than II would otherwise have been, and
was so curiously glovcd that. even In that
moment of bewildcrment, I was addition.
ally puzzled.
Though had been guilty Of much star.
ing-as was but natural, pcrhaps--it had
somehow not, on the instant. occurred 10
me to speak. Drawing the hand with
the hat In II quietly out Of my sight the
Woman In Gray snid:
II suppose you took me for ghostT'
Her voice was q sweet, low contralto.
OF Q curiously haunting and penetrating
quality.
For a few minutes. l must confess"
! returned. you certainly had me ut
disadvantage"
And you consider me mystcrious." she
went on.
Even more so than most women"
perhaps, II feel inclined. I shall puz.
Sic you still more. But am not q tramp.
am not thief, and am not ghost"
II could scarcely have taken you for
either OF the former. But may I ask
you one question, even though you may
intend to remain a Mystery Did you
wind the clock just now!"
II did"
with any particular Objcct!"
Naturally. But that am not bound
to explain"
"Perhaps can guess It," I said, fas-
clnatcd by her beauty, her unexpected
ness, her odd yet dainty manner, into
forgetting our gruesOme surroundings.
II nm sure you cannot. But l 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 1t strike for many years,
perhaps"
II CONFESS something of tho sort WINS
In my mind"
She went down the stems. md I FOL.
lowed, with subtle fragrance OF nm nm.
known flower waited back ~ mo from
her hair and from her drapcries. Some
strange and indefinablc magnetism secm.
ed borne from her personality m mean
electricity which thrilled ana startled mo
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