The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-01-14
The =
Curse .. Darlington
By TEMPLE MOORE.

BY X. TEMPLE MOORE.

not, by that shameful and most un.
sensitive exposure was desecrated his
love, and profaned with common touch
the name of the woman he honoredi"
you have very high notions of hon.
or, Cynthia!"
II have," the girl answered, almost
passionately. II am faulty and rebel.
lious, but I am honorable, and think
that which was sacred to me should be
sacred to as!"
She had begun to walk rapidly mp
and down the room, as was her habit
when excited, her white neglige. Dor
dered with darkest fur, sweeping
around her. Her handsome. high-bred
face was all aglow.
IF this is the end, IL this is the ell.
max" she went on rapidly, at is well.
But doubt 1t. l feel that there is
more evil. deeper sorrow. lurking in
the future!"
"Cynthia!" my lady cried in alarm,
and rose from her seat, 81 cannot
imagine what has come to you! You
who are always SO confident, SO firm,
80 cold--to babble of fear like a ner-
vous child! You are not yourself at
ALI"
moi" she cried, and flashed the
dark splendor OF her eyes upon my
lady 80 suddenly that she started; II
am not myself! or many reasons,
here is one: ! have not been my old
self since that night in the avenue of
the eastern tower, when that fearful
laugh first smote my ears. Oh, | have
argued with my convictioni / have
given full credit to all strange posi-
bflities! have thought 1t over and
over and over! But am not deaf! |
am not a child, to believe a ghost
story! | am not fool, to give the lie
to my own senses! For / knew then,
as know now, that that laugh, how
ever wierd It sounded, was human! Il
was--it vast"
A CLEAN Of nay lady's old, dominant
self-control came back to her.
MY child" she said, her tones as
tonished and positive, you don't real
ly mean what you say! You had been
telling the story OF the eastern tower
on the evening in question. / heard
your last words as entered. The le-
gend had fired your brain. The excite.
ment produced by II was still vivid and
intense when you passed the spot.
Naturally. your imagination played you
a trick!"
"Don't!" she exclaimed. with incred-
ulous brevity.
She walked once up the room and
back to where Lady Darlington was
standing.
did we all imagine it," she ques-
toned, with forced calmness. did
Cyril CarriDgton, who had never heard
the tradition, imagine it? Did the girl,
who was total stranger to Black
castle, imagine it?"
They heard it?"
The words were surprised from her
In spite Of herself.
AYE, they heard It! Since you have
confessed its existence. confess more!
Who is there-wnat Is there in the
eastern tower?"
Before the gaze OF those clear, bright
eyes. her semblance Of defiance van
ished.
She sat down suddenly. very pale
and trembling.
"Cynthia." she pleaded, her voice
quite low and tremulous, don't ask
me- now! am not strong enough to.
night. / am most miserably Ill and
weak. I will tell you another time"
"when?"
My lady put one thin hand to her
head in troubled reflection.
Zone week from tonight she an.
swered. slowly. ''Dear one. do not
press me-not before!"
"As you WILL" Miss Lennon an,
swered her, and bent and kissed her.
Then she went slowly across the
soft. dull carpet white. majestic
vision.
And when the door had closed be
hind her, my lady slipped TO the floor
and, leaning on her chair, buried her
face within It.
And 80 Cynthia found her when, a
few minutes later. she flung wide the
door and hurriealy reentered.
My lady started to her feet.
"What has happeued?" she cried.
For the girls face was full Of agita
ton aud dismay.
"She is gone!"
"Who Is gomez"
The first name she remembered she
said:
Laurence Lsle!"