Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-11-19
2ZN
p xllI-continued.


CHAPTER xliI-Continued.
ITO reach the carriage they must
pass the eastern wing. He flung his
coat around her to shut 1t out as they
hastcnd BY.
@'Hsrki' she said, and thrust his
hands away. and stood erect to listen.
"For over the ceasless downpour of
the rain. ever the bowling Of the wind
and rnmbling OF the thunder, rose a
shriek-an agonized. awful shrek.
"'False! false! false!'
@She wrenched herself from the
arms that strove to hold her; she
staggered back; she looked up. Far
above. in the eastern tower. framed in
by an orisl window, she saw. illumined
by the red glare Of the lightning, the
bloca stained and blood-dripping face
of her lover. He had seen her hasten
past; had thought her false to him!
Swift as o shot she wheeled around
and looked full at the man beside her.
~'Comei' he cried. 1t is too late to
draw back aew-he Is as good as dead.
Come ont
"He flung his arm around her and
stroye to urge her forward. For a
moment she resisted violently; in an
other she had calght sight OF a small
Spanish dagger--which he always car
ried-giittering In his bosom.
Before he could suspect, think, act,
she had tern 1t from him and haa
plunged 1t TO the hilt in her own
hearti
Not faisei' she cried. oh, my
love, not false. not falsei'
but even "a she fell-so runs the
story-even as the young blood out
gushed and the young life tided forth
In its current, q wild, strange peal
rang forth from above, where her low
er laughed exultantly In the awful
mirth Of madnessi"
There was no sound in the great
room when she had fnished-not a
whisper. All were awed and silenced
aud full OF vague fear.
"Oh--h, Cynthiai" Baby Earl whis-
pered, with a sigh SO deep and pro-
found 1t seemed TO have been drawn
from the toes OF her little bronze
slippers. what a storyl I'll feel as
II there was" wriggling round ner-
vously In her chair, "a-a caterpillar
on me somewheres--I dol"
They laughed at the childish de1ni-
ton OF horror. but it was rather q
forced laugh.
cit is a horrible storyi What be-
came OF Sir Rupert"
"He must have lived and fourisbed
If the Carringtons OF today are his
lineal descendants. Further concern
ing him the legend does not speak.
But you must remember that, after all.
II is merely o legend. and IS such must
be allowed wide latitude"
~And the ghost?"
well, they say that when poor,
wronged Claude Darlington died, his
spirit remained in the eastern tower.
The place has for years and years been
undisturbed and ~unentered."
docs he ever come to pay you a
friendly visit, C~ynthiaf" Baby asked,
coming to the surface as ir~repressibiy
as ever. "No? Now that's what call
unsociable-such q near neighbor,
too.
why was he-it-- called the Demon
Of the Tower?" asked Della Dent.
81 don't positively know" slowly
unless the eason be this: The story
says-and the story has become tradi-
tfon al Biackcastle--that ON certain
occasion that fearful laugh outings
from the eastern tower. and that when
ever 1t is heard 1t Ia an omen-an
omen Of misery. OF death-perhaps Of
both. Il proclaims evil and misfor-
tune TO the house OF Darlington Pre-
saging such, 1t Is little wonder they
have branded the poor ghost demon.
Harki Here come the gentlemen"
She rose and rang for lights. A
scrs1at brought them and drew the
Curtains close. Half q dozen gentle
ma came into the with Jest and
laughter.
Oh ladies', ladiesi" cried genial
James Cassard, In mocking reproof.
ave left you here three hours ago,
and here we find you still. What sub
feet has been so fascinating as to
c@a yea "a forget the story OF the
little busy beer"
raho~ts." promptly responded Baby
Ear,e.
"cNosts," the men repeated. and
burst out laughing. "Oh. Baby
snostsi-
"Hush!" Cynthia Lennox whispered.
w~.naaa,y, Ia the girls ar. You
mrsi not speak so before Lady Car
rington. Hore she isl"
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CHAPTER kin
At the Gates.