Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-01-14
,erked violently tie rope which hung

a INC sleepy WHlu WHO auSWC tSQ ZIG
Il bell. Miss Anterior has had another
relapse OF fever and has wandered
4 away from the house while delirious.
4 They must search the grounds and
bring her back"
In few moments feet were hurry
| Ing, bells ringing, lights flashing
throughout Blackcastle.
! Several of the guests, aroused by
the strange sounds, ventured out into
the corridor in various stages Of
i dishabille.
/ What is it?" Cuthbert Bracken
cried. What is all this fuss about?"
/ Cynthia Lennox was nearest him
| when he spoke and it was she who an
swered him.
Miss Lisle has gone away" she
said. They are going out to look for
| her.
1t was the second time she had, all
unconsciously, used the name and
showed the bent Of her convictions.
miss Lisle!" he repeated, startled
| But she had fastened Off and did
not hear him.
Poor thing!" in loud-voiced COM
passion. II always suspected 1t. So
| it is manifest at last-she is insane!
This explains the reason OF her wild
statements and accusations"
Perhaps you're right, after ALL"
| young Warren said, thoughtfully. at
does look strange, this going away IN
| the dead of night"
"Of course I'm right" was the posi-
tive reply. "It's the most charitable
view one can take of the case, too
Cyril Darlington, coated and capped,
rushed by them.
Hold on-Ill go. tool" Bracken
cried, and vanished In his room.
He reappeared in moment and
Joined the small group who stood in
the great, dark hall, each one with a
swinging lantern.
They went out into the snowy night
and the huge doors slammed behind
them.
And those within went drowsily
back to bed-all except my lady and
Miss Lennox
Gould She" the latter cried, as a
sudden thought struck her, have mis-
taken her way and taken the eastern
instead OF the western stairway. If
she went out, she must have done so
Immediately after / left her to go to
your room, and before the servants
had closed up for the night, for you
saw just now that every key and every
bolt and bar was in it's place. II she
took the wrong stairway she is still in
the picture gallery, Or" her eyes di-
lating and widening with swift, tiding
horror, perhaps she found her. way
into the eastern tower!"
''The esatern tower-the eastern
tower!" my lady: repeated, passionate
ly, and flung out her hands with ges-
ture of angry impatience. ''will You
never stop harping on that, Cynthia
never? How could she-how could
any one enter the place when YOU
know that old stone door which leads
into it has not been opened for years,
and that the key is lost7"
Cynthia brushed back all her bill.
lovy, black hair from her shoulders,
with languid fingers.
eyes, yes, dare say you are right.
j
but associate the place with misery.
All my vague dread, my undefinable
superstitious fear, centers there. Do
coming events cast their shadows be-
fore? II SO, upon my spirit lies the
first faint darkness of tragedy"
"Oh, let this be the end!" my lady.
moaned, YEARLY. "You will drive me
frantic, Cynthia. with your gloomy and
eccentric fancies."
Together, In silence, they sat the
night out. The snow ceased and slow
ly to birth shivered sun and dismal
Christmas day.
AS the first chill beam struggled
grayly in my lady rose from
her seat and came across the big.
shadowy hall, to where Cynthia stood
by the huge, stone-mullioned window.
She still wore the snowy wrapper,
and all her loose black hair tumbled
to her waist in heavy masses. She
was straining her eyes to catch a
glimpse OF returning figure. She
started at the sound of the step beside
her.
1T is morning" she said, "and they
have not comet.
She was looking very thin and worn.
There was not a tinge Of her old, rich,
color In the pale olive of her cheek.
Suddenly my lady put two shaking
arms about the girls rigid form and
leaning her white head on her shout
der, burst into weak. womanish weep
ing.
1T .s Christmas day, Cynthia
Christmas day!" she sobbed "And it
is the first the very first, / will not
have my boy!',
Cynthia soothed and caressed her In
gentle fashion, noticing all the time,
with q dull pain at her heart, how
CHASTITY the aged face looked in the
wan light.
"see!" she said. suddenly, and
pointed down the wide avenue to
where the yellow glare of lanterns be.
gan to show among the trees.
They came in sight, a dozen or more
men, walking toward the house In a
fafruead cy,irifiasa cfra oroIiv,t - sSr,,,,.