The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-07-01

called Sir John. and we followed him into
his quaint old sitting ROOM"
"See there, Trixic," he said, pointing
toward the sofa; there's ball dress
fresh from Paris Would YOU like to have
thenl-I mean dress, diamonds and all p
"Oh, godpapa," cried Beatrix, with
claspcd hands.
The dress was Of silkcn tissue of the
loveliest pink, trimmed with priceless
| lace, and adorned with tufts of moss
| roscbuds, and the diamonds were such
blinking, cleaning stars-tiars, necklace,
armlets ard girdle, like a belt of living
light
"Thcy're yours, Trixic," continued Sir
| John. "Maior Farleigh is likely to ad-
nirc you III that rig-hey, Trix? Well.
they're yours, and, moreover, when you
marry the major, mean that you shall
come and live with me. I'm an old man
now, and bit lonely, and think shall
make the major my heir"
ooh, Sir John, dear godpapa!" cried
Bcatrix, with swimming eyes.
stop, TriXie,' he interrupted "Wait
til! you hear MY eonditions-don't thank
me yct-I've made up my mind to do all
this, and to give you this trumpery here,
provided you arc willing to do one
thing"
"I'll do anything you wish, you good,
dear godpapa," answered Trixie, with
her eyes on the glittering gems.
Very well, you must sleep in the Grim
son chamber tonight"
"Alone :" faltered poor Bcatrix, grow
ing white.
NAY, yon may all go together, but
youmust enter the crimson room as soon
as the ball ends and remain there till day
light. If yon can stand it tonight, and
the ghostly pair do not eat you, mean
it for yonr bridal chamber when you and
the major marry"
I'm do it," said Beatrix, stoutly.
Girls, what do you say"
"We'll do it," we cried, with one voice.
Very well; collect your fnery, and
take yourselves off," said the baronet.
We obeyed, and Beatrix wore her ball
dress, and her diamonds, and dazzled the
poor major so completely that he came
nigh losing his wits,
At one O'Clock, to the minute, we
marched in solemn file to the door of the
haunted room. Mrs. Sinnott followed
us with an ashen face.
For Heavens sake, young ladies, give
over this mad folly" she entreated; but
Beatrix silenced her, and in we went.
A cheerful fire blazed upon the marble
hearth, wax lights glittcred in every
niche and corner, revealing the vast pro-
portions of the room, and the grand and
glowing richness of the crimson hang
ings and antique furniture.
at is pity, as godpapa says. for such
a handsome apartment to be deserted"
said Beatrix, as we surrounded the
hearth. 81 hope we shall come out vic
toriOus, girls
Weglanced ncrvously at the great cata-
falque of bed, with its crimson cano-
pies and concluded to keep watch before
the hearth. Two o'clock chimed from
the hoarse old clock above the stables.
We heard the roar of the surf on the wild
Cornish coast, and the mournful wall of
the wind amid the grim ttrrets, and by
the by, with beating hearts and suspend
ed brcaths we heard another sound.
Tap, tap, tap, against the oaken panel.
Beatrix became as white as death, and
der
Girls, they are coming" she whisper
false bride and her lover"
We chung together, huddling over the
CRATE. Tap, tap, tap, it came again. One
Of our party, little blond miss from the
Sussex hills, fell gently to the floor in a
swoon. Tap, tap, tap, and then faint,
rustling movement. Bcatrix thought of
her major and her bridal night, and rose
to her feet i'll trembling desperation.
"Who's there" she demanded, in a
voice that shook.
Tap, tap, tap! No other answer but
that faint, rustling swish.
a sort of heroism, born of despair,
seized upon Beatrix. Her white checks
famed, her brown eyes glowed.
'I'll solve this mystery" she said, "I'll |
liberatc this ghostly pair"
And straightway she marched across |
the crimson carpet, and lifted the GRIM
som velvet arras. Her hand shook like a |
leaf, and her checks whitened again, but |
she pressed her finger upon the little knob |
which moved the sliding panel.
Tap, tap, tap! again, and then the
carved, oaken panel slid slowly aside,
and friends, not the ghostly piar came
forth, but great, gaunt, gray old rat.
Bcatrix fell down i'll faint, but she |
had won her diamonds; and she slept in
the haunted chamber on her bridal night. |
New York Weekly.