The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-05
CHAPTER TX.
A SHREK AT MIDNIGHT.


Mr.. Matthews. starting from troubled
sleep. sprang hastily out of bed and Inn
medateiy lost his bearings.
He had forgotten in the first frightened
moment that he was sleeping In a strange
bedroom. His surroundings baffled him. He
could not ind a door. The location OF the
matchbox. IL such thing existed in his
old friends chamber. was an unsolvabie
mystery He struck his head violently
against the corner of an old fashioneu
arnor and recoiled against an unfamiliar
table Finally he stood stock still where
ne was dreadng other collisions. Where
was Olivia. and who had screamed?
Presently matters cleared themselves TO
his fully aroused brain lie had been sent
for by Tom In wild haste. Clarence west
over himself had gailoped after DR. Go
van. The two men had reached BroNtoh
within a few moments of each other'
They found ollie seated on the sofa IN
the library soundlv berating Tom Tor
having raised such TO do about moth
ing and incidentally for having abused
Clarence Westover
II am not hurt OF all. papa. 1t Is too
bad to give you such scare. | was Just
little stunned by the fall, but never
WAS unconscious. / heard. but could not
talk. Tom was really quite rude TO poor
MIR Westover when he was not at all 10
blame for my riding the horse nor Tor
that stupid mans shooting on the other
side OF the hedge. He even told him ne
had no brains. ! wish people would some
times try 10 be more just 10 other peo-
pie"
II do. too" said Tom. turning angrily
on his heel and leaving the room.
Then DR.. Govan came and searched all
igently for broken bones without hnding
any. but he pronounced her distinctly re-
versh and badly shaken up. She had
best stay where she is for the night. Put
her TO bed at once and keep her there
ufftii I can see her again in the morning
was his decision
So while the sun was still staining the
western sky a vivid red. picked out with
glorious purples and Colds. Simons wife
had spread the great four poster in Miss
Lucetta's room with sweet smelling
sheets OF fine old linen and thrown wide
the shutters so that Olivia, lying under
the blue brocatelle canopy, might gaze
out at the sunset glories of the dying
day. She had protested violently.
There Is nothing the matter at all
with me, papa. | can perfectly well go
home. I would rather after what ! have
said to Tom. for can't possibly stay
Tom who found II impossible to keep
very far away from the library door,
heard her and here put in rueful face
to say kindly:
II wish you would not worry so TO get
away from here, Ollie. II is not as IL
Your anxiety to get away is rather rough
on me. II you are angry because l told
westover he did not have any brains to
blow out. I'll ride over there and apollo
gize to him tonight. I'll do anything you
want dope, Ollie. I'll even go down to
Simons house to sleep and efface my
self
This humble apology was received loft
ily.
.It is very good Of you 70 make such
large promises. Thomas, I'm sure, but L
don't want to stay on any terms"
.She must said DR.. Govan with au-
thority.
she shall" said her father with de-
cision.
And, the matter having taken that
shape. Tom had torn down TO the care
takers cottage to impress his wife Jessy
into service as lady's maid. Between
them all Ollie was treated like queen
temporarily disqualified from reigning.
But TO come back TO that scream
Horace Matthews first thought was
for Olivia. Something had frightened
her. Cad. would ne never find a door?
He did finally and groped his way
through II into the large dark central
hall. Absolute silence enwrapped the
house. He tiptoed across the hall to put
an ear 10 the keyhole of olivia's door.
Everything was quiet inside He had
distinct recollection of how dismally
that particular door creaked ard groaned
OF It's hinges. II would be scarcely
worth while TO arouse ollie just To tell
her that she had had a nightmare. Doubt
less she had been dreaming OF the run
away or perhaps OF the many who had
died in this gloomy old house. Per-
sonally he found IL most depressing
spot.
The soft thud of slippered feet broke
the deathlike stiffness. Glancing nerv-
ously over his shoulder. he saw Tom.
fully dressed. advancing with a lighted
candle held high over his head,
Hello. Mr.. Matthew'S
''Weil. Thomas?
II thought heard noise. a scream"
How many times?'
"Only once"
"I heard IL. too. / imagine olivia has
been having bad dreams"
But IL came from down stairs. My
room H. Immediately over the library. you
know"
clammy sweat broke out on tho law
yer's forehead and bedewed the backs OF
his hands.
"A-h-er. what do you make OF a.,
Thomas7' he asked nervously
Nothing at all until / investigate a..
] am going down stairs. win you come
with me7'
''why-well. Of course. " you think It
worth while. But | am quite sure u
came from my daughters room. She Il
sleeping very quietly now. and I do not
care 10 open her door because II creaks
30 Internally"
lie had much 10 do 10 keep his teeth
from chattering and displayed no con.
spicuous ardor for the expedition. Ton,
advanced resoluteiy toward the stair
case.
II think I shall feel better satisfied for
looking the house over
lie was strongly minded 20 tell his
guardian OF the unpleasant experience
that had befallen him on the memorable
watch night. Ills guardian had an
equally strong impulse To give his ex.
perience on the eve OF Ollie's fete. Moth
Ing came. however. OF the heeting incli.
nation on either side.
Thomas proceeded TO descend the steps
nIDfE