The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-05-14
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Win olnCuILy. ne naO no appeLlLe, DuC
1t was necessary to keep himself up, the
captain had said, and all his life he had
believed In Captain Peterson. He fell
| asleep after his meal, and when he woke
up he stared vacantly round, and fought
hard to recollect where he was, and how
long he had sat huddled in the armchair,
an angular distortion in his comfortlcss
slumber.
1t was night, and the huge room was
full OF darkness, which had crept upon
Sedge Hill before its time, or he had slept
long and late, and all in that unsettled
house had forgotten his existence, were
his first ideas when he began to remem-
Der that he was In the picture gallery
which Simon Culwick had built. What q
heavy sleep his must have been, to be
sure! He stood up, and tried to pierce
through the darkness, and a sudden chill
seized upon his veins. and turned him sick
as he fancied that he might have woke
up blind like his grandmother! Why not {?
it was in the family-and all before
him was awfully black and thick and i'm
penetrable. 1t was raining outside, too
that accounted for the kissing in his
ears which he had awakened with, and
which he had thought was his brain.
Finally he CROPPED his way toward the
door, keeping his hand on the wall, or ON
the vanished surfaces of the paintings
with which the wall was hung. He had
made up his mind, he would seek Grand
mother Eastbell, and tell her the truth,
and more than the truth If it were requi-
site. He was being imposed upon. Peo-
pie of no principle had taken advantage
of his slumbers, and were setting his near
est and dearest relation against him. Reu-
ben Culwick was at the head of affairs,
and poisoning the public mind. Even the
servants had turned upon him, and
brought him no dinner, and left him in the
dark. He came to a full stop, and fell
against the pictures, scratching them
with his trembling hands, in his alarm;
for the door behind him in the distance
the side door leading away from the
corridor-had opened suddenly and
sharply, and was shut again as he glanc-
ed towards a fitful CLEAN of light which
narrowed and then passed away. In that
Heeting moment he had seen enough to
scare a stronger nerve than his-for a
white figure had glided into the chamber,
and was advancing toward him, he was
sure! He remained silent and trembling
till the rustling of garments assured him
that something was approaching him
with noiseless steps, that reminded him
of the ghost In the Castle Specter."
which he had seen once from the gallery
of theater He made swift plunge for
the door in his horror.
1t was his sisters spirit he was sure
she had been murdered by those from
whose clutches he had made no effort to
save her-and she had come for him! His
last hour had arrived, and It was all over
with his dreams of glory.
tom Eastbell," said a sharp voice in
his ears, ARE you here2 Why don't you
speak to me?
Grandmother" he calculated; sis 1t
you them"
Come here and sit down-we can talk
best In the dark, and want to talk to
you"
I'D rather have light, thank you"
said Tom, who still had his suspicious
that all was not right. He found his way
to the principal door, and opened it, let
ting in a stream of light from the CORR
dor without. He looked back at his
grandmother, who was standing by the
chair which he had quilted, a strange
phantom enough In her white night dress,
and with a counterpart wrapped round
her toga-fashion, and trailing on the
ground behind her.
whats the matter?" said Tom irres-
olutely; "ain't you we'll? What have you
come downstairs for, such a night as
this?"
Il can't rest. There's something
wrong, Tom. I'm unhappy. They're ali
you with the rest Of 'em-keeping
something from me. Where's Sarah p
oh! where's my Sally?-tell me-"
"Wait a mOment-I'll tell you every
thing"
An idea had seized him at last. The
opportunity which he thought that lie
missed had come to him in this manner,
There was no time to lose.
"Sally's run away" he said.
"Eh-what?" shrieked Mrs. Eastb ell;
run away-from me-"
"Yes-that's it!' asseverated Tom, be-
coming holder In his statement as his
grandmother put implicit faith in every
word he uttered.
Run away-forever, do you mean?"
exclaimed Mrs. Eastbell, in her highest
key.
Yes, forever"
"Ah! don't say any MORE" said the old
woman, piteously; "I'll try and die now,
Tom. l don't want to live an hour long
er. was always so fond of Sally, Tom"
"Yes-so was l." he exclaimed; but if
she don't deserve our love, what's the
odds? I've been cut up all day, but I'm
getting more composed like. Don't die
that's what she wants-what she expects,
p raps-can't you see it allT'
The hands that were muff1ed in the
counterpart were brought down with
their covering from the face, which seem
ed harder and sterner now, and looked so
like her brother Simon's that any one
acquainted with the late owner might
have thought that he had come back in
the flesh.
"Ah, yes; I'm beginning to find out
what wicked and ungrateful world it
is, Tom" she said.
THAT'S right. Cheer up, and look
about you"
"She and that Reuben planned this,
then? They have gone away together,
amt they-gone without a wordT"
Thomas Eastbell hesitated in his reply.
He would have been extremely glad to
offer that as a solution to the mystery,
and turn the tables against Reuben Cul-
wick and his sister, but Reuben might