The Opelousas courier., 1903-01-17
The Turret Chamber.

1t wassa cold cherries evening, ant
the entire ~houseparty was gathered
round the wide blazing fireplace in tht
hall at Ashley Court. 1t was at tina
improbable hour just before the dres
sing bell rang for dinner; but we made
a cosy merry circle in the darkenet
sombre hall. l had only arrived thai
afternoon-arrived very unexpectedly
| fear; but having come down to some
near assizes / had taken advantage Of
a permanent invitation and had drop
ped in to take pot luck" To be can
did with you, which fear I was not
with my hostess, l was well aware that
a large party al already staying for
the shooting, but a minute inspection
of the names afforded by a voluble 10.
cal grocer, disclosed one which decid.
ed me, even if l had to sleep on the
billiard table. 1t was not the name it.
self, mark you, that attracted me;
for that name, although the sweetest
music in my ears, I had a great desire
to alter. The owner was at present
sitting two or three PAGES away from
me in the firelit circle, talking vivaci-
ously to a tall, dark young fellow,
g~ood-looking, but yet I did not seem
to admire him. Isabel herself was
dressed-well, then-there, l have to
tell you all about the story of the tur-
ret chamber, and my brother Dick has
given me many fatherly lectures about
boring people with Isabel's descrip-
ton.
She seemed rather inclined to avoid
me, but since our last meeting at the
Morton's dance, she doubtless guessed
what was coming.
After the dressing bell had rung, my
old school friend, Bob, the heir-appar-
ent to Ashley Court, accosted me.
"Stratton, old man." he said, 81 fear
you have arrived rather unexpectedly,
and the house is full. Well have to
fix you up a room in the turret. I
hope you don't mind it's being unused
for a long time and rather. out of re-
pair"
Don't mention it, old fellow" I said
lightly; Il came expecting nothing
more than the billiard table," and /
stopped, fearing I had rather given
things away.
Bob looked at me and laughed. "All
old man." he said, "I'1l see you
take her in to dinner" And | did.
During dinner I told Isabel I was to
sleep in the turret chamber. She said
nothing, but slightly raised her eye
brows. This was expressive enough,
as she has eharming-well, well,
must remember Dicks teaching; and !.
let me see, | was telling you about the
room.
After dinner I was one of the first
to head the procession of men from
dining 0 to join the ladies. AS
| passed behind a long screen l heard
the following words-"said to appear
carrying a lamp with a little glowing
dame. She gives three warnings be-
lore. Hush, they come! Don't tell
him, girls, for worlds!"
All the ladies were clustered in an
circle round our hostess.
OF course it was perfectly clear to
ne that ! was to pass the night in
he haunted chamber of the family
mansion, but | did not give the matter
much consideration for the moment.
We men adjourned to the billiard
for another hour or SO. When
We departed to turn in Morton wished
ne goodnight with his s~ickly-leer, and
aid he hoped I would sleep well. Bob
escorted me upstairs somewhere to the
op of the old house by narrow, steep
ta1rcases. The room to which he
conducted me was of medium size,
With only one little curved window in
little turret or recess leading out of
room. It must have been very
.loomy in daytime, but now, the night
eing dark and stormy, it was pitch
lack. There was an old-fashioned
rooden bedstead and other p~onderous
urniture. 1t was not such a had room
fter all, except q trife sombre, and
he ceiling low, with the peculiar
lusty smell of disnsed rooms.
Sleep seemed impossible. | was ter
IDLY afraid, of what I did not know.
omething seemed to have snapped in
~ nervous system and left me a shiv-
ring, spirftless creature, crouching
nd prespiring among the bed clothes.
nee or twice / tried to pull myself to-
and sat up. straining my eyes
mid the darkness and listening for
slightest sound. Not the faintest {
Ieam Of light found its way through
lie tiny curved uncurtained window ]
the other end of the room. and even {
le more or less comforting sound of |
le driving rain against the window
ane had also died away.
Some yards away from me upon a t
bile ratified the busy metallic atic' {
q small travelling clock, which, to /
distorted senses, seemed to echo /
refrain, q shrill threatening voice t
which shrank In terror, pulling a
q bed clothes well over my ears.
Suddenly through the darkness out +
the other side Of the room away 6