Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-01-14

The :. = =
/ Curse :. Cat ii, ggton
! By X. TEMPLE MOORE.

~ X. TEMPLE MOORE.

not, by that shameful and most IN
sensitive exposure was desecrated his
love, and profaned with common touch
the name OF the woman he honored!'
you have very high notions of hon
| or, Cynthia!"
| II have!" the girl answered. almost
| passlonately. II am faulty and rebel
Iious. but am honorable, and think
1 that which was sacred to me should be
sacred to u.s."
| She had begun to walk rapidly UP
and down the room, as was her habit
when excited. her white neglige. Dor
dered with darkest fur, sweeping
around her Her Handsome. high-hrea
face was all aglow.
IF this is the end, If this is the eli
max" she went on rapidly. at is well.
But doubt 1t. / feel that there is
more evil, deeper sorrow. lurking in
the future!.
/ "Cynthia!" my lady cried in alarm,
and rose from her seat. II cannot
imagine what has come to you! YOU
who are always so confident, go firm,
so cold-to babble OF fear like ner-
1 Fouo SI4li0t WI a10 hSI yOQ!SGll dI
ALI"
"No!" she cried, and flashed the
dark splepdor of her eyes upon my
lady SO suddenly that she started; IL
am not myself! OF 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 conviction! l have
| given full credit to all strange possi-
biiities! have thought 1t over and
over and over! But am not deaf!
am not child, to believe a ghost
story! am not fool, to give the lie
| to my own senses! For knew then,
| as I know now, that that laugh, how
ever wierd 1t sounded, was human! It
vast was!"
A gleam Of my 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. I heard
your last words as entered. The le-
gend had fired your brain. The excite.
ment produced by it was still VIVID and
intense when you passed the spot.
Naturally. your Imagination played you
a trick"
DON'T" she exclaimed. with snered-
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 Carripgton, who had never heard
the tradition, imagine it? Did the girl,
who was a total stranger to Black
castle, imagine it?"
"They heard it?"
The words were surprised from her
In spite Of herself.
aye, they heard 1t! 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 semhlance Of defiance van
ished.
She sat down suddenly, very pale
and trembling.
Cynthia" she pleaded, her voice
quite low and tremulous, ''don't ask
mo now! I am not strong enough to-
night. am most miserably i'll and
weak. ] will tell you another time"
''When?"
My lady put one thin hand to her
head in troubled reflection.
"One week from tonight she an
swered, slowly. Dear one. do not
press me-not hefore!"
As you WILL" Miss Lennox an
swered her, and bent and kissed her.
Then she went slowly across the
soft. dull carpet, q 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 SO Cynthia found her when. q
few minutes later, she flung wide the
door and hurriedly re-entered.
My lady started to her feet.
That has happ ened?" she cried.
For the girls face was full Of agita-
ton md dismay.
She is gone!"
Who Is gone?"
Tho first name she remembered she
said: d A,
Laurence Lisle."
CHAPTER xssvIii.
'Firel"
Yon are sure, Cynthia7 You must
be mistaken. dear. Have you searched
everywhere?''
For answer she held out On open