The Cairo bulletin., 1904-05-17
Uncle David Sives up

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Sucn poruons OF II as | nad long pelore
marked as pertinent to ihe very at
tempt had in mind, brought in the
candclabrum from the parlor and drew
ont table to hold it. But waited a
few moments before taking down the
book itself. I wanted first to learn
what Mr. Jeffrey had been doing up
stairs the night before; SO. leaving the
light burning in the library ! proceed
I'd to the southwest chamber holding
an uullt candle in my hand. the light
fecbiy dfIuscd 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 restlcssly on its crcakng hinges
hugged The window so tightly that !
imagined Mr.. Jeffrey had fastened ii
the night before. Looking for some re
ceptacle in which to set the candle |
now lit, failed 90 find anything but an
empty tumber, so made use OF that.
Then | glanced about me- but seeing
nothing worth my attention Mrs, JEFF
frey's wedding GXings did not interest
me. and everything else about the
turned chair. which struck me rs i'm
matcrial-I hurried downstairs again,
LEI wing the candle burning behind me
in case | should wish to return al0ft
after / had refreshed my mind with
what had been written about this old
room. p.
Not a sound disturbed the house as
| seated myself to my reading IN front
of the library shelves | 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 a very pretty theory
for myself on a scrap Of paper | tore
from another Old book when a noise
suddenly rose in front, which, slight as
il was, was quite unmstakable TO ears
trained to listening. Some one was un'
locking the front door
Naturally thought ii TO be Mr. JEFF
frey returning tor second visit to his
wlfc's house, and knowing what |
might expect If he surprised me on the
promises, | restored the book hastily
to its place aud as hastily blew ont the
candle. Then. with every intention Of
fight, | backed toward the door by
which | had entered. But some i'm.
pulse stronger than that Of escape
made mc stop inst before ! reached it,
! could see nothing tho place was dark
as Tophet-but 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;
then rustic rs of skirts. proving the
intruder TO be woman-a fact which
greatly surprised me--then long
drawn sigh or gasp.
This last determined me. The stu
alton was te0 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.
ogies. did not think Of Veronica No
one looks for a butterfly in tie depths
of dungeon. But did think of Miss
| Tuttle-that woman of rcs0iute Will.
Without attempting TO imagine the
reason for her presence. stood my
ground and hardened till the heavy
| mahogany door at the other end Of
tho room began to swing IN by Jerks
under the faint and tremulous push Of
terrified hand Then there came
silcnce-a long silence followed by a
moan so ag0pI2ed that realized that
lwhatftcr was the cause of this painting
womQn's presence here, it was due to
no mere. elTaud OF curiosity This
whettcd my purpose. Anything done
in this house was in a way done TO me:
50 | remained quiet and watched. But
! the sounds which now and then came
/ from the remote corner upon which
my attention was concentrated were
| very eloquent.
4 II heard signs and bitter groans. with
/ now and then a murmured prayer.
/ broken by low wail.ng. in which
caught the name of Francis. Aud still.
possibly on account of the utterance OF
this name | thought the woman near
me TO be Miss futile. and even went
so far as to imaglne Tie cause OF her
suffering if not the nature Of Der re.
| tribution. Words succeeded cries and
caught phrases expressive of feai
and some sort Of agonized hesitation
! Once these broken calculations wore