The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-11-12
err medieval and rigidly repellant, 7

satin, that had for Its neighbor a yer
table Sleepy Hollow of warm-huet
plush and carven ebony.
| pleasant room, truly, beautified
with those exquisite trifles which in
our cultured day make perfection.
But the blaze which upleaped in the
somber dusk fell on picture faireI
than any which hung on the proud
walls of Blackcastle.
For just now the old place was
packed with guests from cellar to at.
tic faded Icndoners. most Of then.
who had come to spend Christmas in
hearty, authorized English fashion.
1t was the hour for kettledrum, and
! about a dozen of the lady visitors
| lounged around the bright, good-tem'
pered fire, in the vague enjoyment OF
the discomfort without, and in dim
satisfaction of the gracious security
| within.
"And now we can't have our skat-
ing party tonight" said Miss Lennox,
| as she turned from the window, with
a slight shudder. This wretched
snow"
Lets ring for lights!" suggested
practical Miss Cassard.
She was plump, pretty little
blonde, who passed for beauty. She
had a nice complexion, innocent blue
eyes, and a cable of soft, fair hair.
Her proposal was received with Ian
guild but decided disapproval.
What" cried Della Dent, tall,
dark-browed, sentimental young lady,
"shut out--or rather, stare out-the
cleaning? What is prosaic,. critical
gaslight to this? Just look at those
distant corners! How mystically
-dim!"
yes pityingly, "you rather like
this sort of thing, Della!"
This sort of thing!" in low-voiced
disgust. ooh, you little Goth-you
Vandal!"
what shall we do? How shall we
amuse ourselves this dreary night?"
asked Miss Lennox, coming across the
long room to her seat by the fire.
Let us tell ghost stories!" cried
Baby Earle, rising, to lay aside her
fragile morsel of Sevres.
A slender, impulsive, willful sprite,
this child of sixteen-this young heir
ess of Starbury. She had a dark,
saUcy, mignonne face-a crop of crisp,
short curls. like a boys, and pair
of big, mutinous, wine-brown eyes.
Eyes, let's all tell ghost Stories"
Uaro ic
good. You first, Miss Lennox. They
say you have genuine, bona-fide
ghost as a ledger at Blackcastle.
Pleased"
Hush! not so loud" Cynthia said,
holding up a slender, jeweled hand in
warning. Lady Darlington must not
hear you. And though it sounds like
laughing matter, she is extremely
and most unreasonably nervous on the
subject. Wait! What time is it?
Five! Draw your chairs closer and /
will tell you all know of the Demon
of the Tower"
There was faint, amused laugh.
what a name!" Baby cried, ex-
plosively. "You do bravely, Cynthia!
The title should be good for three
volumes of blood curdling sensation.
Please go on. We are waiting with
what is the authorized term? Bated
breath--that's it-bated BREATH"
Baby" protestingly, do be sensi-
ble-just for once! Go on, Miss Len
nox."
Cynthia laughed.
'Well, you know was quite little
child when first came to Blackcastle,
and the servants used to tell me such
tales of the disused eastern wing!
And how l would listen! laughing, yet
half-afraid to hear. Many night
lay awake from dark to dawn, quak-
ing with fear. But was too proud
to let Lady Darlington see my terror.
So she knew nothing of the stories I
had heard, and of the fantastic fancies
which fevered my brain. This was
the legend they told me of the Demon
Of the Tower"
This time there was no mocking
laughter. Cynthia's voice had grown
SO grave that even Madcap Baby lis
tened in silence.
ut seems that once upon time
and not very good time 1t was, |
should judge-there lived within
these very walls young fellow, wild,
handsome, hot-headed-a Darlington,
Of Blackcastle-and he fell in love,
as" with a faint laugh, 81 believe,
only a Darlington can fall In love
madly, passionately, insanely. She
whom he loved was in rank beneath
him-the daughter of peasant. pos
sessing grace and beauty above her
order. And she cared no more for
him than for the bronze Apollo in his
library. She had given her heart to
q cousin OF his, penniless young
who had been friend
and companion of the lord of Black
castle from their earliest childhood.
But one evning. quite by chance. Ru-
pert Darlington saw and overheard a
between the lovers. They
were arranging the hour and method
Of their flight.
"Then. for the first time, the knowl-
edge that he was supplanted, the con-
viction that the woman he loved was
oct 20 hi,,, forovor tho uhoJa ofropUa