Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-23

dtnerence In our privileges affected me strongly; consequently watched till her he Game g ogt and upon pQsitiyely rec, and jealous indignation to visit the old house myself on the following night and make one final attempt to learn the secret which would again make me feel myself the equal of this man, if not his superior
 Tt was early when went; indeed 1t was not quite dark, but, knowing the gloom of those old halls and the all most impenetrable nature of the dark ness which settles over the library the moment the twilight sets in, put in my pocket two or three candles, the candles, sirs, about which you have made such coil. My errand was two fold-I wanted first to see what MT. Jeffrey had been up to the night be- fore and next to spend m hour over a certain book of old memoirs which in recalling the past might explain the present You remember a door leading into the library from the rear room It was by this door entered, bringing with me from the kitchen the chair you afterward found there.
 IT knew where the volume of mem- oirs speak of was to be found-you do, too, see-for 1t was my hand which had placed it in it's present con cealment. Quite determined to reread such portions of it as had long before marked as pertinent to the very at tempt had in mind, brought in the candelabrum from the parlor and drew out table to hold it. But I waited few moments before taking down the book itself. wanted first to learn what MT. Jeffrey had been doing up- stairs the night before; so, leaving the light burning in the library, I proceed ed to the southwest chamber, holding an unlit candle in my hand, the light feebly diffused through the halls from some upper windows being sufficient for me to see my way. But in the chamber itself all was dark.
 The wind had not yet risen and the shutter which half hour later moved so restlessly on its creaking hinges hugged the window so tightly that I imagined MT. Jeffrey had fastened 1t the night before. Looking for some re- ceptacle in4Which to set the candle I now lit, failed to find anything but an empty tumbler, Do made use of that. Then glanced about me, but seeing nothing worth my attention Mrs Jef- freys wedding nxings did not interest me, and everything else about the room looking natural except the over turned chair, which struck me as inn material-I hurried downstairs again, leaving the candle burning behind me in case should wish to return aloft. after had refreshed my mind with what had been written about this old room.
 'tNot sound disturbed the house as I seated myself to my reading in front of the library shelves. I was as much alone under that desolate roof as nor tai could be with men anywhere with in reach of him. enjoyed the solitude and was making very pretty theory for myself on a scrap of paper T. tere from another old book when noise suddenly rose in frent, which, slight as it-was, was quite unmistakable to ears trained to listening Some one was un- locking the front door
 Naturally thought it to be MT. Jef- frey returning for second visit to his wife's house, and, knowing what I might expect if he surprised me on the premises, restored the book hastily to it's place and as hastily blew out the candle. Then, with every intention of flight, I backed toward the door by which | had entered. But some inn pulse stronger than that of escape made me stop just before reached it. could see nothing-the place was dark ms Tophetbut could listen. The per- son-Mr. Jeffrey or some other-was coming my way, and in perfect dark ness. could hear the faltering steps
 the fingers dragging along the walls; intruder to be a woman---a fact which greatly surprised me-then long drawn sigh or gasp.
 'sThis last determined me. The situ- ation was too intense for me to leave without first learning who the woman was who in terror and shrinking dared to drag her half resisting feet through these empty halls and into place cursed with such unwholesome mem ories. I did not think of Veronica. No one looks for a butterfly in the da2sks of a dungeon. But did think of Miss Tuttle-that woman of resolute will. Without attempting to imagine the reason for her presence, I stood my ground and hardened till the heavy mahogany door at the other end of the room began to swing in by jerks under the faint and tremulous push of a terrified hand. Then there came sflence-a long silence-followed by moan so agonized that realized that whatever was the cause of this panting woman's presence here, it was due to no mere errand of curiosity. This whetted my purpose. Anything done in this house was in way done to me: so remained quleI anu uae.->.
 the sounds, which now and then eamt from the remote corner upon which my attention was concentrated were very eloduent
 D q
 ,, :s,