Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-07
IT opened 1t and read as follows:

Il opened 1t and read as follows:
Il met Nine. Sara a week ago at the
house of a friend. I spoke to her about
CASTILLO Mondego. She admitted that she
was interested in 1t, that she knew Miss
sherwood, and hoped when she had taken
I possession to visit her in that romantic
spot l inquired further If she was aware
of the contents Of the strange will She said
she had heard of 1t. Her manner was per-
tectiy frank. but 1 saw that she was uneasy.
She TOOK the first opportunity of leaving
the mouse, and on making inquiries I hear
| tnat She left London by the first train this
morning, en- route for the continent. These
1acts may mean a great deal and I should
advise you to be more than ever on YOUR
guard"
Il put the letter into my pocket, got
o aua 70 promise all that was necessary,
and went away.
AT an early hour the following morning
we ieft Rocio station for Coimbra, and it
was nearly 2 in the evening when we finally
came 10 the end of our railway journey and
entered a light wagonet drawn BY two pow
er1ul bay stations for our 2O-mile drive
to the castle.
Inc scenery as we approached the spurs
VI the Estreila was magnificent beyond de-
scriptlon, and as l gazed I'D at the great
peaks, now bathed in the puppies and colds
or the sunset, the magic and mystery of our
strange mission became tenfold intensified.
PRESENTLY the steep ascent began along a
winding road between high ais that shut
out our view, and by the time we reached
Inc cdsIe IL was too dark to form any idea
OF its special features.
De Castro had already sent word Of our
PROBABLE arrival and when we rang the
bell at the old castle a phlegmatic looking
man opened the door for US.
All, Gonsalves," cried De Castro, there
we are! l trust you have provided comfort
able beds and a good meal, for we are all
as hungry as hawks"
The old man shrugged his shoulders, rails
ed his beetle brov,s a trifie and fixed his
eyes on Helen with some establishment. He
muttered, in 2 Portuguese dialect which 1
did not In the least comprehend, something
70 DE Castro, who professed himself salts
fed. Then he said something further, and
j.! noticed the face of my Portuguese friend
tQrn pale.
''Golsalves saw the specter three nights
ago." he remarked, turning to me. TT was
leaning, as usual, out of one of the win
dows of the northwest turret. But, come;
we must not terrify ourselves the moment
We enter your future home, Niece Helen.
You are doubtless hungry. Shall we go to
the banQueting hall?"
The suppe prepared for us was not ap-
petizing, consisting of some miserable goat
chops, and In the great hall, dimly lighted
by a few candles in silver Sconces, we could
scarcely see each others faces. AS sup
per was coming to an end l made a sug-
gestion.
I'VE have come here" 1 said, ION a seri-
Gus mission. We propose to start investiga-
ton of a very grave character. 1t is well
known that ghosts prefer to reveal them
~ ouC Ildh vi oIl< lOilC dlld "
to a company. l propose, therefore. that
we three should occupy rooms as far as
possible each from the other in the castle
and that the windows of our three bed
rooms should command the center square.
De Castro shrugged his shoulders and a
look of dismay spread for a moment over
his face, but Helen fixed her great eyes on
mine, her lips moved slightly as though
she would speak, then she pulled herself
together.
"You are right, Mr.. bruce" she said.
Having come on this inquiry, we must
fear nothing"
"Well, come at once, and we will choose
our bedrooms. You as the lady shall have
the first choice"
De Castro called Gonsalves, who appeared
holding a lantern in his hand. A few words
were said to the man in his own dialect and
he led the way. going up many stones
stairs, down many others, and at last ne
flung open a huge oak door and we found
ourselves in a vast chamber with five WIN
dows all mullioned and sunk in deep re-
cesses. On the floor was a heavy carpet.
A four-post bedstead with velvet hangings
was in a recess. The rest Of the furniture
was ANTIQUE and massive, nearly black with
age, but relieved by brass mountings,
which. strange to say, were bright as
though they had recently been rubbed.
s.This was poor Sherwood's own BED
ROOM said De Castro. DO you mlho
sleeping here?'
He turned to Helen.
mo, 1 should like It," she replied en-
phatically.
II am glad that this is your choice" he
said, "for 1 don't believe, although l am a
man. and you are a woman, that I could
myself endure this room. 1t was here 1
watched by his dead body. All, poor fell
low, 1 loved him WELL"
1--WE won't talk of memories tonight"
1 shall sleep. Strange as it may sound, 1
am NOT afraid. Mr., bruce, where will YOU